One difference between (most) pet dog owners and pet dog trainers is the use of strategies when training dogs. It is important to distinguish strategy from philosophy, method, or technique. A strategy is a master plan, a grand design, or a policy. It can be distinguished from a philosophy because it is a plan of action. It is different from a method because it does not mention the use of particular procedures or techniques. One of my strategies for productive, efficient dog training is what I call “The 80/20 Rule.” 

The 80/20 Rule is simple and effective. Here it is. “The team* should practice being 100% successful 80% of the time and 80% successful 20% of the time.” This rule determines when, where, what, and how I practice dog training. By applying it, I can ensure my dogs are ready for the challenges I set for them. I would never give a second-grader a tenth-grader’s exam. I would not expect a dog new in training to follow through like a dog experienced in training. However, we must transform a new dog into an experienced one as effortlessly and effectively as possible. 

When I adopted this rule many years ago, my goal was to learn to predict the types of situations in which my communication training would break down due to the difficulty of the situation, environment, or distractions. 

My application of this rule starts with teaching the dog a routine. A routine can be anything from a basic sit command to how I would like them to behave when the doorbell rings. I begin teaching the routine in the lowest possible distraction environment. I want it to be easy for the dog to pay attention and for us to learn. Once the dog shows me that they understand the request and can do it 100% of the time, I apply the 80/20 Rule. 

Out of 100 repetitions, 80 should be completed 100% perfectly. The remaining 20 should average 80% accuracy. Those 20 reps are the interesting ones. Out of those 20 reps, you can have 0% accuracy on four repetitions as long as you have 100% on the other 16. In other words, there is an acceptable misrate. 

The acceptable misrate fosters learning. Through experience, the handler learns to rank the difficulty of different environments. Like schools, departments rank the difficulty of schoolwork and place the students in a grade corresponding to their proven ability. This ranking system allows the handler to predict success or failure in many situations to avoid setting themselves and their dogs up for failure. 

I modify my practice in line with the 80/20 Rule. As I continue to practice in situations that allow for 100% success 80% of the time and test myself 20% of the time, I experience success with high-ranked environmental distractions. Applying this strategy causes 100% confidence in high-ranked environments and to seek out the most ridiculous levels of distraction. 

The point of the entry is to encourage you to practice routines with your dog. It is okay if you practice easy things in low-stimulation environments. By doing that, you will also be creating a habit of success. With an experienced coach, achieving your dog training goals will take less time than you think.  

Click here if you want to hire me as your coach, and as always, Enjoy Your Dog!!!

*A team includes the dog and their teammate =  The dog and the person holding the leash (Handler)