The Reason I Don’t Set “Fix My Dog” Goals — Especially in January
- kadair0
- Jan 8
- 3 min read
Hello, I’m Karen Adair — the heart behind L.O.V.E Dogs
I’m a mindful dog trainer and Reiki practitioner and Master Teacher, supporting dogs and their guardians to find more calm, communication and connection together.
If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here before, thank you for coming back.
Happy New Year everyone, I hope that your year is blessed with joy, abundance and lot of cuddles!
For many people the new year in January represents a fresh start and every January, many dog guardians feel a surge of motivation to “fix” things.
“I want to overcome reactivity this year.”
“I want perfect recall”
“I want my dog to stop pulling on the lead.”
I don’t encourage my clients to set goals like this.
And here’s why.
Big Dog Training Goals Often Lead to Frustration
Large, outcome-focused goals sound inspiring, but they’re often too distant to support real progress.
As a dog trainer and Reiki practitioner, I’ve learned something important - humans need frequent reinforcement just as much as dogs do.
When your goal is far away, for example, achieving loose lead walking you may not feel a sense of success for months. That gap can quietly drain motivation and confidence, even when you’re doing everything “right.”
Most people don’t give up because they don’t care. They give up because they stop feeling encouraged.
Small Dog Training Goals Build Consistency and Confidence
Instead of one big goal, set multiple small, achievable goals.
These “mini goals” help you experience success regularly, which keeps your nervous system calm and your motivation steady.
Examples include:
Practising recall three times a week
Keeping a trigger diary for two weeks
Practising walking together in the garden
The more you struggle with consistency, the smaller your goals need to be.
Even something as simple as “I will practise for three minutes today” is enough to move you forward.
Set Dog Training Goals That Are Within Your Control
This is the most important part of goal setting.
You cannot fully control outcomes like:
whether your dog will never react again
whether they get distracted
whether another dog rushes over off-lead
When goals depend on external factors, setbacks can feel crushing.
So instead, I encourage process-based goals that are fully within your control.
Examples:
Training in three new locations each week
Practising after work five days a week
Choosing not to let your dog off-lead unless you feel confident
Continuing training even when conditions aren’t perfect
These goals strengthen partnership, communication and trust — which are the true foundations of calm behaviour.
Why Nervous Co Regulation matters
When goals feel achievable and self-directed, your nervous system stays regulated.
That regulation transfers directly to your dog.
Calm leadership isn’t about control or perfection — it’s about presence, consistency and emotional safety. When you feel grounded and capable, your dog feels it too.
A Gentle Invitation: 28 Days to Lead with L.O.V.E
If you’d like support setting realistic, compassionate goals and learning how to lead with calm confidence — I’d love to invite you into 28 Days to Lead with L.O.V.E.
This gentle January journey is designed to help you:
create sustainable habits
understand your dog more deeply
regulate your own energy and nervous system
build trust, connection and partnership — one day at a time
There’s no pressure to be perfect. Just small, meaningful steps that add up to real change.
You can learn more and join the journey here:
Join my FREE, supportive Telegram space for daily guidance:
Or for more information on my website
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