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Progress Isn’t Linear (Dog Training Plateau)

Is your dog a little woo?

We often imagine training progress as a nice neat line: start here, finish there, smooth sailing in between. But real life doesn’t work like that especially when emotions, stress, and learning are involved.


In reality, progress looks more like this:


🐾 A burst of improvement

🐾 A few wobbles

🐾 A bit of a plateau

🐾 Another leap forward

🐾 A backslide

🐾 Some regrouping

🐾 More progress


It’s messy. And that’s okay.


Dogs are learning how to process the world in a new way and like us, they need time to absorb, adjust, and rebuild when things get tricky.

Why Plateaus Happen


Plateaus in training can show up for all kinds of reasons:


  • Your dog is consolidating what they’ve learned. Learning isn’t just about doing - it’s about processing. Sometimes the brain just needs a pause.

  • They’ve grown in confidence… and are testing the waters. This is super common! Especially with anxious or reactive dogs. They start feeling braver, and you might see behaviours resurface as they explore new boundaries.

  • Adolescence. That magical stage where your sweet puppy turns into a lanky teenager who “forgets” everything you’ve taught them.

  • Stress in the environment. Change in routines, illness, weather, or human energy shifts all impacts behaviour.

  • You’ve made huge progress… and now the next steps are a little trickier. This can feel like hitting a wall, but it’s often just the next layer showing up.

What Should You Do?


If things have slowed down or started to slide backwards... breathe. You’re not going backwards. You’re just in the messy middle. Here’s what helps:


Take a step back. Revisit the basics. Go back to the games, routines, or boundaries that did feel good.


Give your dog time. Sometimes they just need a little space to reset especially if emotions have been running high.


Shorten the sessions. Simplify the picture. Set them up for easy wins to rebuild confidence and engagement.


Reflect on the past wins. Remind yourself how far you’ve both come and that plateaus don’t erase progress.


Real Story, Real Reminder


Just the other day, a lovely client reached out feeling a little disheartened. She’d seen huge progress with her dog - calmer walks, better focus, more confidence. But lately, things had levelled out. A few old behaviours had crept back in. She was worried she was doing something wrong.


But she wasn’t.


What she was experiencing is exactly what so many people do and it just means it’s time to pause, reassess, and support her dog where they are now, not where she wishes they were.


And that’s what progress actually looks like.


Final Thoughts


Plateaus aren’t failures. They’re pauses. Opportunities to take a breath, reassess, and get ready for the next stretch.


So if you’re feeling like things have stalled - give yourself and your dog some grace. Don’t forget how far you’ve come.


Step back when needed, go back to basics, and move forward when you’re both ready.


You’ve got this - and so does your dog.


Thanks for reading!


And as always, throw your dog a treat from us!


Deb & the Busy Pawz Crew xo


P.S. Want support with exactly this? Download my free guides Chaos to Calm and Beyond Behaviour  - they’re full of practical strategies to help you support your dog when things feel wobbly.d with practical strategies to help you bring more calm into your home, one simple step at a time.










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