Behind The 'NO.'

1️⃣ What Are Reasonable Training Boundaries? 

2️⃣ Why Do Training Boundaries Matter For Dogs & Humans?

 

It was a long session at the market for Ganache (top 2 pics)—complete with a nail trim—and he did really really well! By the end, he was tired, checked out, and not interested in treats or toys. 

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That’s fair; young, high-drive dogs have limits, and part of training is learning to respect when they’ve given their best to the session.

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As we were leaving, I wanted to practice one more important skill, holding a down while a crowd and another dog passed by. 

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In this moment, Ganache wasn’t motivated by anything —he was mentally done. So I crouched down next to him. Not to “make” him do something, but to guide him through a challenge without disrupting another handler and their calm dog.

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Then came a common scenario many handlers face…
Someone approached asking to pet Ganache.

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My answer was a polite but firm: 
“No, I’m sorry, we’re training.” 

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When they pressed for his name next, I declined again with a simple, “No, we’re training.”

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They responded rudely as I continued to manage Ganache. 

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Here’s the thing, I didn’t say ‘No,’ to be rude. 

I said ‘No,’ because names, voices, and attention are all distractions. 

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And in training, every ounce of focus matters—especially with a 6mon, high-drive Belgian Malinois learning to hold composure in a stimulating environment.

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A few takeaway’s from today that came to mind…
➡️ We are not entitled to pet or engage with someone’s dog. ❌

 

➡️ A handler saying “no” is not personal—it’s about protecting the training process. 🫶

 

➡️ Raising a high-drive competition dog requires boundaries, consistency, and respect from the public, just as much as from the trainers and handlers. ❤️

 

🤘So next time you see a working team, cheer them on silently or wait till they are clearly done with their training session before approaching. If you’re not sure that they are done training, then do not approach and appreciate from afar. 

 

🙏 Most handlers are working hard to cultivate reliability, resilience, and self-control in their dog. Respecting their space helps both the dog and the handler succeed.