Why Dog Training Doesn't Always "Work" (And What's Actually Impacting Learning)

Hey friends. If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated that training isn’t going as planned—even though you’re “doing everything right”—this one’s for you.

As someone who’s worked in both the mental health world and the dog behavior space, I’ve noticed something that rarely gets talked about: what gets in the way of learning for both you and your dog in a training session. 

This blog breaks down what’s really going on beneath the surface—so you can stop shaming yourself or blaming your dog, and start training with more compassion, clarity, and success.

Training Isn’t Just About the Dog

When you hire a trainer, there are at least three nervous systems in the room:

• yours 

• your dog’s

• and your trainer’s.

Each of you comes with your own stressors, emotional regulation levels, sensory processing abilities, and past experiences. And all of those impact how well you’re able to learn and apply new skills.

Your trainer might’ve had a bad night’s sleep, skipped breakfast, or is navigating personal stuff that affects their focus and ability to show up fully.

You might be feeling overwhelmed, guilty, or checked out because of work, relationships, or life in general.

And your dog? They may be processing the world through smells you can’t even perceive, struggling with overstimulation, or carrying past experiences that affect how safe they feel learning new things.

Sensory Processing: It’s a Thing (for Dogs and People)

Some dogs can’t learn in loud or chaotic environments.
Some people can’t either.

Whether it’s a dog overwhelmed by background noise at the park or a client who struggles with auditory processing (🙋‍♀️ hello, same), what seems like a “training problem” is often a sensory processing mismatch.

When the nervous system is overstimulated, learning is basically on pause. It has nothing to do with your dog or human client being "dominant", "stubborn", or "stupid".

That’s why it’s so important to adapt training plans to both the dog and the human—because if one of you is struggling to take in information, the session isn’t going to stick.

ADHD, Executive Functioning, and the “Forgetful Human” Myth

A lot of people I work with beat themselves up for not following through with training plans.

But here’s the thing: it’s not always a motivation-thing.
Many people—diagnosed with ADHD or not—struggle with executive function. That includes things like:

• managing time

• organizing plans

• remembering to check emails

• following multi-step directions

So if I send you a training summary, and you say “I’ll look at it later,” then your dog barks, the dishes pile up, the laundry buzzer goes off, your mom texts you, and—suddenly—it’s three days later and nothing’s been implemented…

That doesn’t mean you’re lazy or uncommitted. It means your brain and nervous system interact with the world around you differently and you got "off track" more easily by your environment than you realized.

Life Happens—And That Affects Training, Too

I’ve had clients who were crushing it in the beginning—practicing every day, showing up, staying consistent. Then they lost a job. Or went through a breakup. Or their chronic pain flared.

And suddenly, they ghosted our sessions or chronically no-showed.

At first, I took it personally. I thought maybe I sucked at training and they hated me. And then, once I matured as a trainer, I started asking clients more directly what was really going on. And the answers never included me sucking...

Nor was it because they didn’t care about their dog.

Almost every single time it was because their emotional bandwidth just wasn’t there anymore from external stressors that had nothing to do with me or their dog.

That’s why creating psychological safety is so key. We need spaces where people (and dogs!) can say,

“Hey—I’m struggling. Can we adjust?”
and not be punished for it. 

Breed Traits and Learning Styles: One Size Doesn't Fit All

Your dog’s genetic background also plays a huge role in how they learn and what distracts them.

For example:

• Herding breeds (like Aussies or border collies) tend to be hyper-aware of visual movement—making skateboards, kids, and frisbees tough distractions.

• Terriers and scent hounds may struggle more in outdoor spaces because of their powerful noses and prey drive (did anyone say squirrel?!)

• Natural breeds (like huskies or malamutes) are often independent thinkers and not as intrinsically motivated to “please” humans. So they often get out of fences and are generally less keen on being "obedience dogs".

• Toy companion breeds tend to be on the smaller size and bond very strongly with one person.  They may make great lap dogs, but struggle in chaotic spaces that can make them feel unsafe or overwhelmed when anyone untrusted comes up to them or "their person".

Bottom line: expecting a pit bull, a border collie, a chihuahua and a husky to learn the same way, in the same amount of time, in every context, isn’t fair or realistic.

If you want to geek out more on this, I highly recommend reading the book Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophy.

Nutrition, Movement, and Emotional Regulation Matter Too

Here’s the part where I get a little crunchy (but also backed by experience):
There are often physiological factors that affect learning and emotional regulation too.

• Dogs and humans with nutrient deficiencies or hormone imbalances may struggle to focus.

• Over- or under-exercise can drastically change how well your dog can participate in training.

• Even the type of breathing we do can upregulate or downregulate the nervous system.

So if your dog is “failing” to learn something, ask:

• Have their physical needs been met?

• Are they under- or overstimulated?

• Is there a health issue under the surface?

• Are you feeling grounded and regulated?

Sometimes, it’s not about doing more training and throwing more treats at them. It’s about tending to the nervous system first.

What Actually Impacts Learning

Dog training doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
It happens in the real world, with real bodies, real nervous systems, and real life stressors.

When we understand that learning/training is affected by:

• Sensory processing

• Emotional regulation

• Stress and life changes

• Breed tendencies

• Executive function

• Physical and environmental factors

…we can approach training with more flexibility, compassion, and creativity.

Because ultimately, training isn’t just about what your dog can do.
It’s about how well everyone involved can process, regulate, and connect in the moment together. 

If this resonated with you and you're looking for support, look no further! I offer coaching and training for both dogs and humans that honors the full picture—emotions, stress, behavior, and connection.

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Let’s create a training life that works for everyone!