Why Training Your Dog Is Like Running a Half Marathon – Lessons for Dog Guardians

Last Sunday, I ran my first ever half marathon after coming back from a long-term injury. As I reflected on both the achievement and the training that led up to it, I realised something interesting – there are so many parallels between preparing for a half marathon and supporting a dog with behavioural challenges. In this blog I’ll be sharing some of those insights, and how they can help us as dog guardians reframe what progress really looks like. Whether you’re a runner or not, I hope it gives you a fresh perspective on your dog’s journey.

Crossing the finish line of my first half marathon reminded me how much patience, preparation and consistent effort matter – both in running and in helping dogs overcome behavioural challenges.

Train hard, fight easy

This is a phrase that boxers use to stay motivated while preparing for their next fight – and it applies to many other sports too. At its core, it means that success on race day comes from the consistent groundwork laid in training, not from one big effort at the end.

The same is true in dog training. We build skills like recall, loose-lead walking, calmness and a strong relationship in contexts the dog finds easy at first. These foundations mean that when real-life challenges crop up – such as another dog appearing unexpectedly or a stressful situation unfolding – your dog has something solid to fall back on.

It can sometimes feel like the training you’re doing doesn’t directly relate to the specific behaviour problem your dog is struggling with. But just like miles logged before a race, these small, steady efforts add up. And once those core skills are in place, you’ll often be surprised by how much easier it is for your dog to cope when things get tough.

That doesn’t mean jumping straight into the hardest version of the challenge, though – just as in running, progress needs to build up gradually.

Building foundational skills like recall, loose-lead walking and impulse control gives dogs the confidence to handle real-life challenges – just like training runs prepare a runner for race day.

Small steps, big gains

When I first started training for my half marathon, I didn’t immediately try to run 13 miles at full pace. Instead, I gradually built up the distance over time, balancing harder, speed-focused sessions with longer, slower runs. If I had tried to tackle the full distance straight away, I would have felt demoralised, exhausted, and likely picked up another injury along the way.

The same principle applies in dog behaviour support. Whether your dog struggles with separation anxiety, reactivity, or handling new experiences, progress comes from starting small and gently stretching their comfort zone. For example, when I work with a dog with separation anxiety, I don’t expect them to cope with being left alone for half an hour straight away – we build up their confidence in minutes, or even seconds, at a time.

Jumping too far ahead can set your dog back, leaving them stressed and making future training harder. It’s all about small, steady steps that ultimately lead to lasting success – and learning to focus on gradual progress rather than perfection makes the journey far more manageable for both you and your dog.

Progression over perfection

I’ll be honest – not every training run went to plan. Some days my energy was low, my mindset wasn’t great, or unexpected challenges cropped up. That’s why it was so important for me to focus on the bigger picture – the improvements I’d made over time – rather than judging progress by a single session.

This is one of the main reasons I encourage clients to keep simple diaries of their dog’s behaviour. It’s easy to get caught up in one tricky walk or a day when their dog growled multiple times. But when they look back at where they started compared with where they are now, the progress becomes clear.

Not every training session with a dog will be perfect, and setbacks are completely normal. Dogs, like people, have off-days, but that doesn’t mean progress isn’t happening. What matters most is gradual improvement over weeks and months – consistency and patience outweigh the occasional imperfect session or walk.

Crash may not have come first, but celebrating small wins – like earning his 4th place rosette in a scentwork competition – is what keeps motivation high and progress meaningful.

Rest and recovery matter

It’s important to remember that progress isn’t determined solely by what happens during training sessions – what happens in between matters just as much. In my half-marathon training, recovery days were crucial. Between runs, I focused on eating well, getting quality sleep, and giving my body time to consolidate the work I had done.

The same is true for our dogs. They need around 12 hours of sleep a day, as well as quiet periods of rest. Without sufficient rest, they can’t fully process learning or recover from stressful experiences. Nutrition and general wellbeing also play a big role in emotional resilience, which is essential for managing behavioural challenges. A dog who doesn’t feel their best physically is less able to cope with difficult situations when they arise.

The key takeaway is that training sessions alone don’t make progress. To set our dogs up for success, we need to consider their environment, routine, and overall wellbeing – creating the conditions that allow them to thrive and tackle new challenges with confidence.

Just like runners need rest days to recover and consolidate their training, dogs need plenty of sleep and quiet downtime to process learning and build emotional resilience.

Everyone’s journey looks different

Just as runners each have their own pace, recovery needs and goals, every dog’s training journey is unique. Some dogs pick up new skills quickly, while others need more time and gentle repetition to feel confident. Comparing your dog to another – whether at the park, in a class, or online – can be tempting, but it often overlooks the individual factors that shape their progress, like temperament, past experiences and health.

Celebrating your dog’s small wins, no matter how incremental, helps keep both you and your dog motivated. Progress might look different from what you expected, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. By embracing your dog’s individual pace and focusing on steady, consistent growth, you’re giving them the best chance to feel secure, confident, and happy.

Crossing the finish line

Training your dog is a lot like preparing for a half marathon. Both require patience, consistency, and a focus on the bigger picture rather than individual setbacks. From laying the groundwork with foundational skills, to taking small, steady steps, embracing gradual progress over perfection, and prioritising rest and wellbeing, the journey is just as important as the outcome.

Every dog’s path looks different, and that’s okay – what matters is celebrating the small wins along the way and recognising the progress you’ve made together.

If your dog finds certain situations tough to cope with, you’re not alone. I offer 1:1 behaviour support designed to help you understand and support your individual dog – with gentle, realistic expectations.

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