Mistakes Are Opportunities to Learn: Supporting Dogs Through the Wobbles
- Deb from Busy Pawz
- Nov 27
- 4 min read
Let’s face it - sometimes dog training doesn’t go to plan.
You’ve worked so hard, you’re seeing progress, and then BAM… your dog barks at the neighbour, chews your new shoes, or completely forgets how to sit.
It can feel frustrating. Deflating. Like all your work has just unravelled.
But mistakes don’t mean failure. In fact, they often mean progress.
Because in dog training (and in life), growth isn’t linear.
Wobbles Are a Sign of Growth
When we stretch a skill - take it into the real world, apply it in a new context, or increase the challenge - wobbles are a normal part of the process.
The bark that seemed out of character isn’t a step backwards. It’s just feedback. A signal that, in this moment, your dog is feeling overwhelmed or unsure.
Behaviour always tells a story. When something shifts, it simply means they’re not coping in this moment, and they’re telling you clearly that they need a bit more support. Not forever. Just for now.
That is incredibly useful information.
Mistakes Are Just Missed Takes
We’re so conditioned to think in terms of school-style success: pass or fail. But dogs don’t operate like that - and neither should we.
Mistakes are literally miss-takes. They’re just an action taken that didn’t land. It’s not a reason to give up or assume it’s not working. It’s a learning opportunity.
If we can drop the pressure to “get it right,” we free ourselves up to respond more thoughtfully and help our dogs do the same.
What Causes a Training Wobble?
There are so many reasons behaviours wobble. Some common ones include:
Stress bucket overflow - too much stimulation builds up and spills over.
Growth or brain changes - adolescent dogs often regress before they improve.
Environment changes - new places, people, or dogs can throw them off.
Too much, too soon - the challenge has outpaced the dog’s current skill.
When we recognise what’s behind the behaviour, we can make a plan that actually supports progress, rather than pushing through and causing more stress.
Mistakes Don’t Erase Progress
This one’s important.
One mistake - or even several - does not undo all the learning you’ve done.
Your dog still has those experiences, still has those associations, still has that history of reinforcement. That doesn’t disappear. But if we respond with frustration, punishment, or inconsistency, we can undermine the trust we have built.
Progress not only takes repetition but also time to rest and reset. And maybe more importantly, it takes a mindset that accepts off days as part of the process - not proof that things aren’t working.
You’re Not Failing. You’re Learning.
Every behaviour is communication and every wobble is feedback.
If we start to look at training hiccups not as failure, but as data, we unlock a powerful shift in how we work with our dogs.
It’s never been about being perfect. It’s about being able to adapt as things shift. When something feels too hard for our dogs, we slow things down, reassess the situation, drop the difficulty, and go back to the foundations that help them feel safe. We pay attention to what’s changed and adjust our approach so they can succeed again.
That’s what good dog training looks like, and it’s what mindful dog training is all about.
So What Can You Do?
Here are a few tips for when your dog’s training feels like it’s gone off the rails:
🐾 Zoom out. Look at the last week, not just today. What’s been happening? Big emotions? Less sleep? Visitors? Your dog’s brain might just need time to settle.
🐾 Revisit the basics. Go back to what they know really well. Easy wins build confidence and help reset their stress levels.
🐾 Celebrate the effort. A wobble doesn’t cancel out the work. You and your dog are showing up and that matters.
🐾 Pause before pushing. If something feels like a slog, your dog’s probably struggling too. There’s no rule that says you have to push through.
🐾 Reach out. Sometimes fresh eyes help. A personalised consult can give you clarity, reassurance, and a tailored plan to move forward.
Final Thoughts
Mistakes are not something to be feared or avoided. They’re a normal, expected part of learning. They give us clues and they show us what still needs support. They’re often the moments that bring the most growth - when we know how to use them.
When we take the shame out of setbacks and just see them for what they are - wobbles, feedback, opportunities - we build trust. Not just in our dogs, but in ourselves as their guides.
So if your dog struggles with something they usually handle with ease, take a step back, breathe, and remember… this doesn’t mean you’re going backwards.
It just means you’re learning something new about what your dog needs right now.
And that’s exactly how progress is made.
🐶 Need help building calm foundations?
Download your free copy of Chaos to Calm – the Busy Pawz eBook that helps you understand what’s really driving your dog’s behaviour, and how to support calm from the inside out.
🎁 Get your free copy here
And if you’re feeling stuck and want a hand figuring out what’s next, reach out here and I’ll help you get started.
Thanks for reading!
And as always, throw your dog a treat from us!
Deb & the Busy Pawz Crew xo
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