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Coton Connection: An Oldie but Goodie: Dog Training and Dieting- Issue# 121
March 27, 2025

Welcome Coton Lovers:

Happy Spring

Here in the US it’s Spring and the start of wonderful dog walking weather.

This month I thought I’d continue our discussion on the best approach for dog training so you can enjoy your walks together.

I came across this 10 year old newsletter article I wrote in 2015 that I thought would be valuable to resend, since it still holds true.

Why dog training is like dieting

My friend just got a new puppy named Jack.

I went to their house to meet this new puppy, and it was immediately evident that Jack had this household wrapped around his cute little paws.

When I asked my friend how the puppy training was going, she started complaining "he's not responding to potty training – he’s having accidents all over the house and he doesn’t sit on command or come when called."

Meanwhile, I’m watching Jack roaming all over the house unattended.

While I was listening to my friend talk about how hard it was for her to train Jack, it occurred to me that dog training was similar to dieting.

Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but does this sound familiar?

*You want to see dramatic results right away without exerting a lot of effort. You wish there was a magic wand or an easy button so you can have instant results.

*You’re inconsistent. If you miss one day it won’t matter, right? One bag of chips can’t hurt. Missing one puppy training session won’t make a difference.

*You make excuses. I had a stressful day at work and these cookies will make me feel better. I’m really tired and it won’t matter if we miss our dog training walk today.

*You’re all over the map. You have to choose a path and stick to it. If you try the Paleo diet in the morning and then switch to vegan in the afternoon, you will certainly not find success. It’s the same with dog training; pick one training method and stick to it. If you decide on crate training, don’t vary from that. Give it a chance to work.

*You take large unsustainable steps instead of small, steady steps. Running marathons and eating 500 calories a day will take pounds off, but they will come right back because who can live on lettuce alone? It’s the same with dog training. Long, complicated training systems won’t benefit you or your dog in the long run.

*Rewards are key. Positive reinforcement always works better than punishment. Reward yourself with a bubble bath or flowers when you accomplish your dieting goals. Reward your dog with praise or his favorite toy when he goes potty outside or sits on command.

Do you know the single biggest mistake that most people make when training their dogs?

Whether you’re teaching your dog to go potty outside or to come when called, most people fail when they give up too soon and don’t provide consistent training.

Making a successful change is the result of taking small cumulative steps every day. The difference between success and failure is understanding this. When you take small steps toward a goal, you may not see tangible results for a while. But if you stop taking these steps, you’ll never see the results you’re seeking will you?

Don’t give up too soon – one day you’ll turn around and notice that you have a well behaved dog. It will seem like it happened over night like magic, but it was really the culmination of the small steps you took every single day without exception.

It’s now been ten years since Jack's puppy days, and I’m happy to report that he is such a happy, well-behaved (mostly) little dog. All the time and effort paid off for Jack and his family.

Coton Mother’s Day Gifts

I’ve started adding coffee mugs to my Etsy store. If you’re looking for some Coton inspired gifts for Mother's Day, check these out. And let me know if you have any ideas for your own custom mug gift.

Click on the photos below for more information.