Why Delaying Dog Training Rarely Pays Off

Why you shouldn't delay dog training

Welcoming a new dog is exciting, but it's easy to let training slip down the priority list when life gets busy. Delaying training can leave lasting marks on a dog's behaviour, and the confusion doesn't help either: there's so much conflicting advice online that owners often try a half-hearted fix for a specific problem, without addressing the underlying issue in the dog's wider behaviour.

Why owners put it off

Dog ownership competes with everything else going on in life, and even the most loving owners can end up hoping their dog will simply grow out of bad habits. Unfortunately that rarely happens on its own, dogs need guidance to learn which behaviours work and which don't, and without training many end up unable to be trusted off the lead, which limits their quality of life and often deepens the very behavioural issues owners were hoping would resolve themselves.

Royvon's managing director on procrastination

Darren, Royvon's managing director, has worked with countless families over the years and puts it plainly: "When it comes to procrastinating on your dog training, I get it. There are countless reasons why you might do it, we all procrastinate on things that would genuinely help us. I saw the success my parents had with training from an early age, so it was easy for me to jump straight in. Once you see how successful it can be, getting started becomes a no-brainer." He adds: "I've seen people miss perfect training windows because they wait until their dog is older, and while you absolutely can teach an older dog new things, it does get more challenging the longer bad habits are allowed to set in. My advice to anyone facing a behavioural problem, big or small, is simple: don't accept the hand you've been dealt, just get started. It doesn't need to be perfect, it probably never will be, just begin."

What options are available

We offer two main routes: helping you train your dog yourself, or training your dog for you first (residential) and then teaching you how to build on it. If life keeps getting in the way of consistent training at home, the residential route often works better, your dog learns the fundamentals with us while having fun, and you take over from a much stronger starting point.

Getting the right support

See also our guide on our puppy training philosophy. Book a one-hour assessment with us to talk through your situation and find the right starting point for you and your dog. Learn more about our residential training programme and our cognitive enrichment hub and How Should I Train My Puppy? Building One Strong Relationship First.