The Three Keys That Change Your Training

This week I dig into the three keys that drive real progress in training and life. Timing, consistency, and motivation. Miss one and your results slow down. Dial all three and things click.

Timing
Dogs live in the moment. That is why your mark has to land in the second the right behavior happens. Use a clear marker. I like “good” for duration and “break” as a terminal mark. You can use yes, free, clicker, pizza if you want. What matters is that it is clear and immediate. Think like a photographer pressing the shutter at the peak moment.

Consistency
Short daily sessions beat long irregular workouts. Five minutes, three to five times per day, will outperform an hour once a week. Be consistent with marks and cues. Then add deliberate variety so your dog becomes resilient and does not just run a script.

Motivation
Match the reinforcer to the dog and the environment. Food, toys, affection, sniffing, freedom. If the park is more interesting than kibble, level up the reward or the strategy. A powerful reward can also be a powerful teacher when removed at the wrong behavior. Timing and motivation always work together.

Try this
Pick one behavior. Choose your duration mark and terminal mark. Do three micro-sessions per day for a week. Celebrate each small win. You will feel the momentum build.