Your Dog Is Three Years Old. Forever.

Your dog is three years old. Forever.

I don't care if your dog is six months old or sixteen years old, weighs eight pounds or eighty pounds. Mentally, they are working at the same level as a toddler.

I learned this from Lucy. When I met her at the rescue she was about two years old and had already been returned twice. The volunteer handed me a list of her problems. What I saw was a dog trying to get through a human world with a three-year-old's brain and nobody to guide her. She needed structure, not criticism.

So I stopped trying to fix her. I became her benevolent provider, not her boss. I showed her that keeping four paws on the floor got my attention faster than jumping ever would. Lucy went from "unadoptable" to passing her Canine Good Citizen test. Calm? Well, mostly. She still has opinions about delivery drivers, and that's okay.

Stop reasoning. Start redirecting.

Think about how you handle a toddler. When a three-year-old heads for the wall with a crayon, you don't give a speech about wall care. You hand over paper. Your dog on the kitchen counter is the same situation. Point them to their mat, ask for a sit, and reward it.

Your dog isn't being stubborn or spiteful. They are doing their best with a three-year-old's reasoning, and they need you to guide them.

Try this today

Next time your dog does something that frustrates you, stop and ask one question: "If this were a three-year-old child doing the exact same thing, how would I respond?"

Then respond that way. Stay patient, keep your boundaries clear and set realistic expectations. Make sure everyone in your home does the same, because consistency becomes non-negotiable.

Most of the time the toddler answer is the right one, and it's kinder too.

I'm an Air Force veteran turned dog trainer, and this idea is the heart of everything I teach.

This is where my whole book starts. If you'd like the full story and the method behind it, Four on the Floor is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0dF8HDfT

I also shared a short version of this on Instagram this week.

Want help with your own dog? Book a free 30-minute phone call with me: https://www.auntlucysdogtraining.com/phone-call

About Randy: Randy Walker, CPDT-KA, is an Air Force veteran and professional dog trainer with about a decade of experience, years of classroom teaching and many rescue dogs worked with. He comes to you at home or at a local park across the Denver metro area.