ime and time again, pet parents come to us with concerns about obedience and behavioral issues, believing that something is wrong with their dog. In most cases, the root of the problem isn’t the commands their dog does or doesn’t know—it’s the relationship the parent has with their furry companion.

In dog daycare environments, we see a common issue: dogs that don’t listen to their owners. That’s not necessarily a lack of training; it’s a lack of real connection and mutual respect between pet and pet parent.

When a dog doesn’t view their human as a trusted leader, obedience becomes optional in their eyes. So, the question is, how can we, as professionals in the pet industry, help bridge this gap and foster stronger relationships between dogs and their owners?

One of the best ways to help dogs build better habits—and improve their bond with their humans and handlers—is to incorporate training into their daily activities. In a daycare setting, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen a dog’s basic obedience skills while they are in an engaged, social environment.

A simple yet powerful exercise is the “name game.” Each time a dog responds to their name and comes when called, we reward them with love and affection. Once a dog is consistently coming when called, we introduce a follow-up command: sit. Now, the routine becomes: come, sit, receive affection.

Keep in mind that we do this as a “working up” project. This process isn’t meant to be rigid; it’s a fun, interactive way to reinforce commands while the dog is in an active, playful state.

The best part is that this training transfers to pet parents. As dogs progress in daycare, their response to commands becomes more ingrained. When they go home, their natural inclination to listen and engage carries over, making things easier for their parents. However, that’s only half of the equation. The pet parent must also take an active role in reinforcing this bond at home.

One of the most effective ways to improve a dog-owner relationship is through hand-feeding. Instead of serving meals from a bowl, encourage owners to feed their dog directly from their hand. This creates positive reinforcement, strengthens trust and ensures the dog looks to their human as a source of good things. If an owner feeds a raw diet, they can get creative, making “pupcicles” or using a portion of kibble for training exercises.

Even a half-and-half approach is better than nothing at all. For example, encourage pet parents to keep half of their dog’s kibble in a treat pouch (or their bathrobe pocket) and feed it by hand while they are getting ready in the morning. When they are watching TV at night, they can throw bits of kibble to their dog or ask them to sit and feed them by hand. Soon, your clients will see that their dog’s trust in them as someone who always leads them to a good thing is reinforced.

Clients should also be encouraged to keep integrating obedience into everyday routines. Simple acts like giving a command before providing food or asking for a sit before going out the door for a walk reinforce leadership and build confidence in both the dog and the owner. And that benefits you and your team, too!

By ensuring that we (and our team members) focus on fundamental commands like coming when called, waiting at the door, and reinforcing patience and structure, we set dogs up for success wherever they are. When owners pick up their dogs, they receive a more well-rounded, well-behaved pet—one that is primed to continue learning at home. And that makes for happier dogs and happier pet parents.

Remember, at the heart of every well-trained dog is a relationship built on trust, consistency and engagement. As pet boarding and daycare professionals, our role isn’t just to teach commands; it’s to guide pet parents in creating meaningful, lasting connections with their four-legged companions. And when that bond is strong, obedience naturally follows!

Eve Molzhon is the creator and owner of Dog Handler Academy. Dog Handler Academy is a 100% online, automated employee training program designed specifically for dog daycares and boarding facilities. Our real-life daycare videos and online quizzes fast-track your new hires into understanding dog handling and care, saving you time and money. Courses cover basic and advanced dog handler skills, social cues and safety, client relations, and more. The mission of Dog Handler Academy is to provide employers training new hires with comprehensive material in a cost-efficient, consistent, and effective program. Our end goal is to create better handlers within our industry to ensure the proper care of animals.