No Bad Dogs Podcast E345-Dog Owners Do This to Stop Stress — It Actually Makes It Worse
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Feb 18, 2026 A trainer recounts a client case where attempts to stop stress actually increased it. He contrasts gentle pressure tools like martingales with stopping or letting dogs decide. Practical scenes cover pancaking on walks, safe car entry, handling growling, and when medication masks problems. The focus is on teaching movement and boundaries rather than repeated forcing.
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Pancaking Dog Defeats Multiple Trainers
- Tom Davis describes a client whose dog would pancake and refuse to move, defeating multiple trainers and behaviorists.
- The dog made the decisions and the owners were stuck, prompting them to seek Tom's online help.
Use Controlled Pressure To Keep Walks Moving
- Use a Martingale or slip leash to give a little pressure so a pancaking dog will move without rewarding the stop.
- Turn and keep walking with a gentle bump on the leash rather than stopping to talk to the dog.
Stopping Teaches Dogs To Refuse
- Repeatedly allowing a dog to refuse (by pulling back or stopping) teaches more anxiety and gives the dog control.
- That pattern undermines the owner's authority and worsens reactivity and stress over time.