One of the most effective ways to build a confident, thoughtful dog is to reward the choices they make — not just the commands they follow.
Why It Matters When your dog decides on their own to disengage from a distraction and come back to you, that’s a decision worth celebrating! You’re reinforcing their ability to think, not just react to a cue. That moment becomes a powerful learning opportunity:
“Wow, leaving that smelly bush and returning to my human was so worth it!”
If you always call them away from the distraction, they don’t get to practice the skill of disengaging on their own. They miss the chance to learn that choosing to come back pays off in praise, treats, and connection.
Here’s the beauty of it: When your dog chooses correctly, good consequences follow — like reinforcement, treats, and praise. If they don’t make the right choice, the consequence is simply that no reward happens. But the consequences are never about correction or intimidation. You’re not coaching them with pressure — you’re giving them space to learn through experience. That builds confidence, self-esteem, and strengthens your relationship.
Dogs who are allowed to make choices (and learn from them) trust us more. They want to be near us — because we’re fun, fair, and predictable.
Training vs. Management (both good!) There’s a difference between training and management:
If the situation is dangerous or overwhelming, step in and manage it — call your dog, leash them, move away. Safety always comes first.
But if the distraction is safe (like a leaf pile, a person at a distance, or a dog behind a fence), use it as a training opportunity. Wait quietly. Watch. When they choose to disengage and come back to you — that’s your moment. Celebrate it!
Confidence Through Choice Rewarding your dog’s good decisions helps them build confidence — and confident dogs:
Are better problem-solvers
Bounce back faster from stressful or negative situations
Make calmer choices in new environments
Are more fun and reliable to live with
So let’s set our dogs up to win:
✔️ Use training setups where the “right” choice is likely ✔️ Reinforce any good decision they make — not just the ones you ask for ✔️ Help them feel like the hero of their own story!
When we build a dog who chooses well on their own, we’re not just training obedience — we’re creating a relationship based on trust, respect, and mutual joy.
And that is powerful.
Have fun training and enjoy your dog!
Want help teaching your dog to make better choices? Contact us at marly@mydogsessence.com and book a free 30-minute consult. I’d love to help!
Dog Training 