Taking Time to Just BE with your Dog.

Taking Time to Just Be with Your Dog

Why slowing down might be the most important part of your training journey

We had a day off on Monday and it felt a bit odd!

No clients. No sessions. No building projects.
Just me and Bert.

We wandered through the Meadow, checked out the Scent Shed, strolled around the Training Field… and of course, the ever-popular new and improved Straw Bale search zone.

No structured dog training.
No scentwork setups.
No “let’s just practise one more thing…”

Just being.

And honestly… it was exactly what we both needed.

The side of dog training people don’t always see

Standing there with Bert this morning, I found myself thinking about the journey it’s taken to get here.

Years of hard graft.
Ideas that worked… and plenty that didn’t.
Moments of progress… mixed in with the occasional “what on earth am I doing?”

From building spaces like the Scent Shed and meadow pathways, to creating places where dogs can explore, learn, and enjoy scentwork and enrichment activities in a safe, calm environment…

It doesn’t just happen overnight.

And if I’m being honest?
While I’ve loved every second working with dogs and their humans…

The behind-the-scenes hasn’t always been as joyful.

The advice we give… but don’t always take

I often say to clients:

Take your time
Go at your dog’s pace
Enjoy the journey

Simple, right?

But like most things in life (and dog training), it’s easier said than done.

Because when you care deeply—about your dog, your progress, or building something special—it’s very easy to rush.
To focus on the end goal.
To keep pushing for “what’s next”.

Even in something as fun and natural as scentwork for dogs, where the whole point is to tap into their instincts and let them enjoy the process…

We can still forget to slow down.

Why “just being” matters for your dog

Here’s the thing…

Your dog doesn’t care about the finished field.
They don’t care about perfectly set-up training sessions.
They don’t care if your recall is 90% or 95%.

They care about:

Being with you
Feeling safe
Having the freedom to explore
Using their nose, their body, their brain

That’s why activities like scentwork, sniffaris, and simple enrichment games are so powerful.

Not because they look impressive.
But because they allow dogs to be dogs.

And sometimes… the most valuable thing you can do for your dog isn’t another training session.

It’s slowing down enough to enjoy the moment with them.

A quiet reset (that I probably needed more than Bert)

The day off felt like a reset.

No pressure.
No expectations.
Just fresh air, open space, and a dog happily mooching about doing what he does best.

It reminded me that whether you’re:

Building a training space
Working through a behaviour challenge
Starting scentwork with your dog
Or simply trying to strengthen your bond

How you get there matters just as much as where you’re going.

Moving forward (without rushing it)

There’s plenty more planned for Waggy Tails Field—new ideas, new spaces, and more ways for dogs and their humans to enjoy training, enrichment, and time together.

But one thing’s going to change…

I’m going to enjoy the journey a little more.

And if you’re on your own journey with your dog right now—whether that’s recall training, building confidence, or introducing scentwork—

Maybe this is your reminder too:

👉 You don’t have to rush.
👉 You’re allowed to pause.
👉 And sometimes, the best progress happens when you simply stop… and just be.