Mistakes I Made Training My Puppy

Atticus was my first dog as an adult. I was rather besotted, and like many new owners, I erred on the side of generosity. In my wish to make him feel confident and untroubled, I underestimated how much structure matters at the beginning. What follows is an account of the mistakes I made, and what experience has since taught me I should have done differently. 

The first mistake was freedom without recall. I let him off leash before he had learned that coming back was not optional. He learned very quickly that listening was a suggestion rather than a requirement. Once that lesson is absorbed, it is remarkably difficult to undo. What I thought was trust was, in fact, inconsistency. Freedom given before understanding teaches independence, not cooperation.

The second mistake was socialization without boundaries. I let Atticus meet everyone. Every dog. Every passer-by. Every hand that reached toward him. The prevailing wisdom encouraged this openness, but what it taught him was that all encounters were his to initiate. As he grew larger, that assumption became a problem. He had learned that the world was always available to him, rather than something he needed permission to engage with.

Then there was fatigue, which I misunderstood entirely. When Atticus became unruly, I tried to exhaust him. Longer walks, more stimulation, more activity. It took time to realize that his behavior was not excess energy, but the opposite. He was overtired, overstimulated, and unable to settle. Much like a child, he needed rest before he needed correction. Sleep would have solved what exercise never could.

Finally, there was the retractable leash. It seemed practical at the time, even kind. In reality, it removed clarity. There was no clear boundary, no consistent feedback. When Atticus grew stronger, correcting pulling became a negotiation rather than a lesson. By then, habits had set in and I had to spend months walking back and forth with a regular leash on the same street to teach him walking manners.

None of these mistakes came from neglect. They came from affection. If I were to do it again, I would choose structure earlier. A leash as a boundary. Rest before stimulation. Permission before greeting. Freedom earned slowly.

Dogs do not resent limits. They relax into them. Atticus taught me that structure is not the absence of love. It is often its most practical expression.

Below are some trainers whose approach I’ve come to respect.

Cherry Hoggs 

Southend Dog Training 

Eric and Capri