Why Reward-Based Training Needs to Go Beyond the Classroom

If you've been through my (or any!) puppy course, I want to give you a massive high-five! 🙌 You've done the hard work, attended the classes, and your pup is probably mastering those foundation level cues at home. But here's where things get a bit tricky—training doesn't stop when the class ends, and your pup isn't fully trained just because they've learned to sit or stay in your living room.

The reason I'm sharing this is that I’ve seen it happen so many times: a puppy graduates from training, and the parents think, "Great! We’re done!" But then they wonder why their dog doesn’t listen during a walk or when they’re at the park.

The answer? Structured, real-world practice and, most importantly, rewards!

Let’s dive into some simple analogies to show why it’s so important to continue using rewards as you take your pup out into the real world.

1. Learning to Drive vs. Real-World Driving

Remember when you first learned to drive? 🚗

Maybe it was in an empty car park or a quiet street. It was all about getting the basics down without too many distractions. But once you hit the open road, everything changed, right? Suddenly, you had to deal with other cars, pedestrians, and traffic lights. If you hadn't practised in those real-world conditions with structure, driving would’ve been much scarier and a lot more difficult.

Your puppy is the same way. Sure, they might be a superstar in the living room, but out in the real world, there are distractions everywhere—squirrels, other dogs, strange smells. If they don’t practise in these situations, it’s like expecting a new driver to navigate rush-hour traffic without any experience. They need structured, real-world practice to respond to you no matter what's going on around them.

2. Studying for a Test vs. Applying Knowledge on the Job

Let’s say you studied hard for a test—flashcards, notes, the whole deal. 📚 You might ace the test, but when it comes to applying that knowledge in a real-world job, it’s a different story. You need to use what you’ve learned in practical ways, not just answer multiple-choice questions.

For your puppy, walking on a lead or coming when called during a walk is like "on-the-job training." They need to practise their skills in the environments they’ll actually be in, like your neighbourhood, the park, or even the vet’s office. If you only train at home, it’s like studying for a test but never using that knowledge in real life.

3. Gym Workouts vs. Real-World Physical Challenges

Hitting the gym is great—you lift weights, run on the treadmill, and follow a structured routine. 🏋️‍♀️ But what good would that strength be if you never applied it outside the gym? Imagine having to carry heavy groceries up three flights of stairs. If you haven’t practised using your strength in the real world, that task could be overwhelming.

Just like your gym workouts prepare you for real-world challenges, your puppy’s training needs to be practised in different environments to be effective. They need to learn how to behave from home on walks, then at the park, and then in busy places where things aren’t as predictable as they are at home - at their pace!

4. Learning a New Language vs. Travelling to a Foreign Country

You might take language classes at home, learning vocabulary and grammar in a quiet, controlled environment. But what happens when you travel to a country where that language is spoken? Suddenly, you're surrounded by native speakers, street signs, and cultural nuances you didn’t encounter in your classroom. 🌍

Similarly, your puppy needs to "travel" into the real world to practise their "language" of training. At home, they might sit, stay, or come on cue easily. But in the park with other dogs, or on a walk with all those new smells, it’s a different story. They need to practise in environments where distractions are slowly increased to truly learn what you want them to do.

5. Performing Music at Home vs. on Stage

You might practise playing an instrument at home, perfecting each note in a quiet room. 🎸 But performing on stage is a whole different experience—there’s an audience, bright lights, and maybe even nerves. Without practising in that environment, you might not perform as well.

In the same way, your puppy needs to practise their training in different environments so they can do it when it really counts, like during walks or in busy parks. At home, they might be the perfect student, but out in the real world, they need more practice to be just as good.

6. Workplace Motivation: Salary vs. Recognition

Imagine you’re doing your job, and your boss suddenly says, "We’re not going to pay you anymore." 😳 Would you want to keep working as hard? Probably not. Your salary is your reward for your hard work. For your puppy, treats and praise during walks are like their "salary." Without them, they might not see the value in listening, especially in distracting environments.

7. Studying a Recipe vs. Cooking in a Busy Kitchen

You can study a recipe in your quiet kitchen, following each step meticulously. But if you’re thrown into a busy restaurant kitchen, the pressure is on—you need to be fast, focused, and ready for anything. 🍳 Practising the recipe in that environment is crucial. For your puppy, walks are like the busy kitchen, where they need to practise their "recipe" of training amidst all the distractions and excitement.

So, to highlight why this matters: just as humans need to practise and apply their skills in real-world settings, so do our puppies. If you want your pup to listen to you outside, on walks, or in a busy park, you need to practise in those environments—and reward them for getting it right!