May 2026 - 2 Minute Trainer

The Most Powerful Force in the Universe (Use It To Train Your Dog)

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When we start a new dog training class, one of the first questions we ask is, “What’s the most powerful force in the universe?”

About half of the class gets all gushy and says, “Love.” The other half usually goes with “Gravity.”

They’re all wrong. The most powerful force in the universe is habit. Which you already know if you’ve ever tried to break one.

Dogs are creatures of habit, just like we are. And just like it is for people, a dog’s habits can be good, or… not-so-much.

Use Your Power

New, good habits can be built in as little as 50 repetitions, according to neuroscience. That means a new behavior, practiced for just two minutes a couple of times a day, can be established in less than two weeks.

Let’s say you want your dog to pay attention when you say their name. If you play the “Name Game” for a couple of weeks, your dog’s default habit will be to snap their eyes to yours the moment they hear it.

You may think your dog already does this. We’d lay a wager you’re wrong. Try it right now if your dog is nearby.

Say their name. If they look, you have our humble apologies. If they don’t, you’re not alone. People over-use dogs’ names constantly. Most of the time, the dog has zero reason to pay attention because they know, from experience, that nothing interesting is happening.

You can change that in just two weeks.

Building Value with “Touch!”

Even more useful than the Name Game is “Touch!” If your dog is excitable or ill-mannered in public, making “Touch!” the most valuable game in the world is worth your while. It’s the game you play when another dog is down the street barking behind a fence, or when a bunny darts across your path.

But you have to establish the habit of “Touch!” in the house before it can be used in the wild. You have to build that muscle memory until it’s a pure reflex.

How to Play “Touch!”

It’s an easy game to play, yet most people get it wrong. Here is how to do it right:

Position your hand: Plaster your hand, palm out, against your leg at your dog’s nose level. (By your ankle for a Dachshund; by your hip for a Golden Retriever).
Invite them over: Wiggle your fingers.
The “Bop”: The moment your dog checks it out and touches your palm with their nose, say “Yes!”
Deliver the reward: Give them a treat with your other hand directly into your dog’s mouth on your palm.

⚠️ Critical Step: Always use your opposite hand to deliver the treat. If you pre-load your “Touch!” hand with food, your dog is just following a bribe. That’s luring, not rewarding. If you don’t have treats on you later, you’re stuck—the dog’s nose will tell them you’re lying.

Reward Every Single Time

When you’re building the “Touch!” habit, reward every single time your dog bops your palm. Every. Single. Time. That’s how you’re building that habit – the most powerful force in the universe.

Think of this desired behavior like a savings account in your dog’s brain. Every time you practice, the balance grows. Each reward deposits a little more interest. Pretty soon, you are flush with success.

Eventually, you’ll be in an emergency where you don’t have treats—like if a stray cat hisses at your dog on a walk. You call “Touch!” and your dog’s habit compels them to do it.

You’ve just made a huge withdrawal from that savings account. That’s okay! That is exactly what the account is there for. But remember: afterward, you have to go back to basic training and make a few deposits to keep the account in the black.

Your 2-Minute Homework

Ever heard the old joke? Tourist to New Yorker: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” New Yorker: “Practice, practice, practice.”

You don’t need to be a virtuoso to have a well-behaved dog. You just need two minutes. Start practicing now. Set a timer on your phone, grab a handful of treats, and go get your first 5 repetitions of “Touch!” out of the way. Your future self will thank you.

When is Dog Training Actually Done? (Spoiler: Never!)

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When is training done?

Most people will take an obedience class when they get a new dog or puppy. Then, unless a major behavioral issue pops up, we never see them again.

And honestly? That’s fine.

There’s a great saying among dog trainers: “Every dog is trained to its owner’s level of comfort.” If a specific behavior matters to you, you’ll make sure your dog knows the rules. If you don’t care, it doesn’t matter.

That’s exactly how it should be. Your house, your dog, your rules. If you don’t want the dog on the couch, you teach them to stay off (at least until the front door closes behind you). Everyone understands the assignment, and the household rolls merrily along.

Training is more than just “The Rules”

But real dog training isn’t just about enforcing boundaries like keeping paws off the furniture. That’s a small piece of the puzzle.

Playing quick training games with your dog throughout their life is about ensuring these amazing creatures have the biggest life and the most fun possible. It’s how we repay them for their unconditional love and enduring companionship.

You may not have the time, energy, or budget to compete in dog sports. You don’t have to. You may not have access to weekly training classes. That’s fine, too.

But you should be willing to spend just a couple of minutes every day focused entirely on the dog you love. Just that microburst of attention leads to a stronger, deeper bond that cements their “best friend” status.

Let’s make it more fun

The biggest problem here is the terminology. “Training” sounds like a chore. “Playing Training Games” sounds better, but it still shades into the work zone. We wish there was a word to describe it without all the hefty baggage.

Maybe we should adopt Tom Sawyer’s strategy and dare people to play training games. A good “betcha can’t” is irresistible—most of us would rather die than admit we failed a challenge!

So here’s the challenge:

Teach your dog a new trick every month.
Get it on video.
Post it online.
Count the reactions and comments.
Bask in the glow of your team’s triumph.

Not only will you have a blast playing with your dog, but you’ll love seeing the reactions to your dog’s awesomeness. (And yours!)

Never stop having fun with your dog

If you stack up enough tricks, you can even apply (via video!) for the Trick Dog titles offered by the AKC. It’s not just a piece of paper to frame; it’s an enduring record of your dog’s accomplishments. For as long as the American Kennel Club exists, there will be proof that your dog was loved, and your relationship mattered.

Fran has trained Tango (Brussels Griffon) to put his toys away, into a bin.

When you carve out those precious few minutes every day with your dog, you can forget about all the stressors of everyday life. Each day, those five minutes can bring you pure joy—for the entirety of your dog’s short, special life. Because no matter how long they live, it’s never long enough.

We lost Tango, Fran’s Brussels Griffon, last November at the age of 16. He played training games every day, right up until his last couple of days. The distance he walked to “Put Your Toys Away” diminished as he aged, but he still played. He absolutely loved it. And we loved celebrating his achievements every single day of his life.

Why Running Away is the Best Way to Save Your Dog’s Life

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Running away can save your dog. Yes, dogs can be bribed, but it’s usually not worth the effort. You can be holding the juiciest, most delicious-smelling ribeye ever grilled. But if your dog is rolling on a dead worm (or something worse), they won’t care. That steak doesn’t even exist in their aromatic nirvana. Yelling “Dog, COME!” isn’t going to work.

That’s a life-threatening problem.

“Come” is one of three cues that can save your dog’s life. (The other two are “Stay” and “Drop It.”)

Imagine the internet tech left the gate open. You didn’t notice, the door opens, and your dog makes a mad dash for the street just as a car is turning the corner. What’s the best way to get them to turn around?

The answer makes complete sense, yet most people struggle to do it: The most effective way to get your dog to come to you is to run away at top speed, yelling their name.

Why Running Away Works (The “Chase” Factor)

It feels completely counter-intuitive. When your dog is running toward danger, every fiber of your being screams to run toward them. But to a dog, you running at them is either:

A Game of Tag: “Oh boy! Mom is joining the fun! I run, she runs, we all run!”
A Threat: If you’re yelling and charging, a sensitive dog might actually bolt faster to avoid the “angry human” coming their way.

By running away, you flip the script. You trigger their predatory chase drive. Suddenly, you are the most interesting, fast-moving thing in the environment. Their brain switches from “I’m exploring” to “I have to catch my human!”

The 2-Minute Game: The Chase Recall

Getting your dog to chase you works with the dog’s natural instincts. It works even better if the dog knows the “Chase Recall” game and loves it. You get your dog to love the game by playing it frequently with high-value rewards.

If your dog has a reliable “Stay!” cue, you can play “Chase Recall” by yourself. If your dog’s “Stay!” isn’t great, you’ll need either another person or a heavy piece of furniture with legs.

How to Play:

Set the Stage: Have your dog sit and stay.
Build Tension: Walk half the distance of your space, turning every couple of steps to look over your shoulder and prompt your dog: “Ready?” “Ready?”
The Release: Take off running to the other side, calling your dog’s name. (If you have someone holding the dog, they should release them the second you say the name).
The Celebration: When your dog reaches you, celebrate! Many treats, pets, and dance for joy.

The Golden Rule: You always, every single time through their entire life, reward your dog for coming to you.

All Alone? The “Furniture Version”

If your dog doesn’t “Stay!” and nobody else is around, you can play by yourself with some precautions:

Put a long line (10 to 15 feet) on your dog’s collar or harness and feed it around the bottom of a heavy piece of furniture.
Your dog should sit near the furniture, but not too close.
While you’re still close to the dog, take up most of the slack and hold the dog in place as you walk a couple of paces away.
When you have a little distance, drop the line and run, calling your dog’s name.

Safety First: When using the furniture version, ensure the line is fed around a smooth, sturdy surface so it doesn’t snag or tip anything over.

Pro Tip: Prevent the “Recall Gap”

To be sure you can get hold of your dog when you really need to, make a habit of grabbing their collar or harness as you’re rewarding them for coming. Let it go immediately.

Your dog will get used to you reaching for them and will learn that the fun doesn’t stop just because you held on for a moment. This prevents the “Recall Gap”—where a dog comes close but dances just out of reach.

Make it a Favorite

A reliable recall is crucial. Knowing your dog will come when called gives you tremendous peace of mind. Practice often, even after your dog already knows the game. You never know when you’ll need it. And it’s better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it.

The 2-Minute Challenge

Set a timer for 120 seconds right now. See how many “Chase Recalls” you can fit in before the buzzer goes off. Keep it fast, keep it happy, and stop while they still want more!

When to Fire Your Dog Trainer & Finding the Right Fit

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How’s That Working For You? (And When to Fire Your Dog Trainer)

You didn’t get a dog to add a line item of stress to your life. You got a dog for the zoomies, the companionship, and the “welcome home” wiggles. If your dog is currently causing more headaches than happiness, that’s a problem. But if the “experts” you’ve hired aren’t actually helping, that’s an even bigger one—especially if they refuse to acknowledge your unique life, your schedule, or your dog’s specific quirks. Here’s how to know when to fire your dog trainer.

Dogs Aren’t “One Size Fits All”

As varied as their coat colors are dogs’ personalities. A rescue from a rural farm has different needs than a puppy from a suburban breeder. Your family dynamics matter. Your living situation matters. Anyone you turn to for help should be treating those factors as essential data, not inconveniences.

Fire Them Immediately

One of the biggest red flags in this industry is a trainer who claims their method works for “every dog, every time.” That “my way or the highway” attitude is a one-way ticket to burnout for both you and your pup.

You need a trainer who:

Listens more than they talk.
Remains flexible and creative when Plan A fails.
Suggests solutions that actually fit into your real life, not a textbook.

This Isn’t A Sales Pitch

We aren’t here to tell you to “buy now” for a private consultation. Look, we’re fantastic trainers—we know our stuff. But for most people, the gold standard is hands-on training.

Sometimes you need a professional in the room who can see the subtle flick of a tail or the exact timing of your reward. While we’re here for “2-minute” fixes, perspectives on training, and ideas for new games, we’ll always be the first to tell you when you need a local pro to step into the ring with you.

Flexibility in Action: The “Archie” Case Study

We love it when people bring the whole family to our training classes. This week, Archie’s whole family showed up—mom, dad, and his two-legged sisters. They brought a specific dog-walking issue with them: How do they get Archie to behave when the rest of the family is walking a few steps ahead?

It’s a common issue, even if it’s rarely talked about. Dogs are pack animals; they like it when everybody is within reach and they can keep an eye on their people. When part of the family “breaks rank” and moves into the distance, dogs can get anxious and start pulling to close the gap.

Just because a problem isn’t in the standard training manual doesn’t mean there isn’t a solution. Here is the spur-of-the-moment game we created for them:

The Family Walk Game: “Stop And Go”

Step 1: The person holding the leash is the “Game Lead.” Everyone else stands a few steps in front of the dog.
Step 2: The Game Lead says “Go!” and everyone starts walking. (The dog will likely pull to reach the front group).
Step 3: The Game Lead says “Stop!” the second the leash gets tight. Everyone freezes.
Step 4: Wait. The moment the dog releases tension on the leash and looks back at the Game Lead, they get a treat.
Step 5: “Go!” again. Repeat the process, rotating who holds the leash so Archie learns the rules apply to everyone.

Archie started catching on in just three repetitions. He’s a smart boy—he knows who’s holding the treat pouch.

Speak Up For Yourself (And Your Dog)

There are multitudes of dog trainers and methods out there. With training, like everything else, you have to be a savvy consumer.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. If anyone ever tells you to do something to your dog that makes you uncomfortable, walk away. And if the advice you’re getting doesn’t work, let the trainer know. If they can’t pivot to “Plan B,” be willing to find someone who can.Training should make your life better, not harder. If it isn’t… how is that working for you?