Why Your Dog Deserves a Tailored Approach

Ditching the ‘cookie-cutter’ approach

You’ve probably heard that humans have different learning styles — maybe you even describe yourself as a visual learner, or someone who learns best by doing. It makes sense, then, that dogs have different learning styles too. But you wouldn’t know it from a lot of the dog training advice out there.

There’s so much content promising quick fixes: “Do this ONE THING to transform your dog’s behaviour!”. But if you’ve ever tried one of those tips and been disappointed by the results, you’re not alone.

The truth is, dogs are incredibly diverse — not just between breeds, but within them too. Cookie-cutter approaches to training and behaviour rarely work because they’re not designed for your individual dog. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It doesn’t mean your dog is broken.

It just means your dog deserves an approach that’s as individual as they are.

What does a ‘tailored approach’ really mean?

When I talk about a tailored approach, I don’t just mean choosing between treats or toys, or picking the “right” cue. It’s deeper than that. It means looking at the whole dog — their personality, history, emotional world, and the relationship they have with the people around them.

For some dogs, learning might come quickly. For others, it might take time — especially if they’ve had a tough start, are navigating big feelings, or simply see the world a bit differently. A tailored approach takes all of that into account. It asks, “What does this individual dog need to feel safe, understood, and able to learn?”

Take Olive, for example. Her guardians had been told to teach her to settle on a bed using food rewards. It’s advice that works for lots of dogs — but for Olive, it just didn’t click. She’s so food-motivated that the promise of a treat kept her in a constant state of excitement, overriding her ability to relax or really engage with what was being asked. When we shifted to rewarding her with calm praise and gentle strokes, something changed. She started to settle more easily, and her whole body language softened.

Olive, taking a moment to relax in nature. Sometimes, all it takes is the right approach to help a dog feel calm and confident.

That’s what a tailored approach looks like. It’s not about throwing out commonly used techniques — it’s about applying them thoughtfully, with flexibility, compassion, and curiosity.

It also means listening to you. You know your dog better than anyone else, and your experiences matter too. A good behaviour plan doesn’t just work on paper — it needs to fit your life, your dog, and your shared goals.

Why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work

It’s easy to feel frustrated or even disheartened when you follow popular advice and it just doesn’t seem to work for your dog. You might start wondering what you’re doing wrong — or worse, whether there’s something wrong with your dog.

But here’s the thing: most of that advice isn’t wrong, it’s just not designed with your dog in mind.

A lot of training tips you see online are based on generalisations. “If your dog jumps up at people, ask them to sit first.” “If your dog barks and lunges at other dogs, feed them a treat whenever they see another dog.” “If your dog won’t recall, use higher value treats.” These suggestions can work for some dogs, in some situations — but they don’t take into account the full picture.

They often overlook what’s really going on beneath the surface: things like past experiences, emotional state, and even pain or discomfort. Two dogs might show the same behaviour, but for completely different reasons. And that means they’ll need very different kinds of support.

When we try to apply one-size-fits-all methods, we risk missing what the dog is really telling us. And often, it’s not that the method is flawed in itself — it’s that it wasn’t the right fit for this dog, in this moment.

That’s why tailored support matters. It’s not about dismissing guidance — it’s about being curious enough to ask, “Is this really right for my dog?”

The power of compassion

Tailoring your approach isn’t just about strategy — it’s also about compassion. Because behind every behaviour is a feeling, and behind every feeling is a need.

When dogs struggle, it’s often because they’re overwhelmed, confused, or unable to cope with a situation. Responding by yelling or tugging on the lead might seem effective in the moment, but it risks damaging trust — and making those feelings even harder to manage in future.

Compassion means recognising that your dog isn’t giving you a hard time — they’re having a hard time. It means pausing to ask, “What do they need from me right now?” rather than jumping to what we think they should be doing.

Me and Crash, sharing a moment of connection. Compassionate training means meeting dogs where they’re at, embracing their uniqueness, and showing up with understanding — every step of the way.

I know how hard that can be, because I’ve lived it myself. When I adopted my own dog, Crash, over three years ago, I quickly realised we weren’t going to have the smoothest journey. He’s reactive, and over time it became clear that he also has a number of medical and physical issues affecting how he moves through the world. The reality is, he’ll never be a ‘normal’ dog — and that’s not a reflection of my skills as a trainer or behaviourist. It’s just who he is.

I’ve had to learn to give myself grace, to let go of expectations, and to meet him where he’s at. Not with resignation, but with respect. Because compassion doesn’t mean giving up — it means showing up, again and again, with kindness.

And that goes for guardians too. Supporting a dog through tricky behaviour isn’t always easy — especially when it feels like everyone else has a ‘perfect’ dog, or when you’re exhausted and unsure what to do next. You’re doing your best, and that matters.

In my work, compassion isn’t an add-on. It’s the foundation. Because when dogs feel safe and understood, they learn better. And when guardians feel supported and empowered, change becomes sustainable.

Progress over perfection

One of the biggest gifts we can offer our dogs — and ourselves — is letting go of perfection. Social media is full of well-behaved dogs doing exactly what they’re told, seemingly unbothered by the world around them. But real life is messier than that.

Progress doesn’t always look like a straight line. Sometimes it means celebrating tiny wins — like your dog choosing to walk away instead of bark, or settling five minutes sooner than last time. Sometimes it means taking a step back, adjusting, and finding a new path forward. And sometimes, it means accepting that your dog may always struggle with certain things — and that’s OK.

When we let go of those picture-perfect expectations, we make space to notice the important stuff: the trust building, the confidence growing, the relationship strengthening.

That’s the kind of change that lasts.

Sid, relaxed and content. With thoughtful, tailored support, even the most sensitive dogs can learn to feel safe and confident in their world.

Tailored, compassionate training isn’t about chasing an ideal. It’s about understanding what matters most to you and your dog — and finding a way forward that feels sustainable, supportive, and kind.

Moving forward together

If this resonates with you, remember — you’re not alone in this journey. Every dog has their own unique story, and so do you. If you're feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or like things aren't progressing as quickly as you'd hoped, I offer 1:1 behaviour support designed to help you understand and support your individual dog, at their pace.

We’ll work together to navigate the challenges, celebrate the progress, and most importantly, build a relationship founded on understanding and compassion.

If you’d like to learn more about how I can help, get in touch — because your dog deserves to feel supported, and so do you.