There’s No Such Thing as “Just a Pet Dog”

By Nino Drowaert | STSK9

How do you apply advanced training principles to the everyday pet owner?

That’s one of the most common questions I get — and the truth is, nothing really changes.

A dog is still a dog.

The only thing that changes is the format and the energy. You can have a big dog, a small dog, a calm one, or a high-drive one — but the principles remain the same. What shifts is how you apply them to that specific dog and goal.

Defining What You Actually Want

Before we talk about “obedience,” ask yourself: what do you want from your dog?

People often say, “I just want basic obedience — sit, stay, come, walk off leash.”

Okay, but let’s look closer at that come.

Do you mean a recall in the kitchen while holding food — the easy one where your dog comes running because he knows you’ve got the good stuff?
Or do you mean a recall when he’s about to chase a rabbit across the street?

If it’s the second one, that’s not “pet training.”
That’s performance training.

The Truth About Recall

A reliable recall is the pinnacle of drive control.
You’re asking the dog to switch from a natural hunting or chasing drive into cooperation and movement with you.

Think about it — he’s locked on a target, visually and mentally. Then, in an instant, he has to disengage, turn his focus back to you, and finish the movement by returning to your position. That’s not “basic obedience.” That’s a complete drive switch — a mental and physical redirection of instinct.

So when people talk about “pet versus working dog,” I have to say — it’s still a dog.

The potential might differ between breeds or individuals, but the principles behind what we train never do.

Pet Dog, Working Dog — Same Principles

A pet dog recall still runs on the same drives.
Because why would you train it if it didn’t? The dog’s instincts are always there — you’re simply shaping and redirecting them.

Maybe your dog isn’t going after a rabbit, but he still wants something: a toy, another dog, a smell. You’re teaching him how to make choices through drive balance, not suppression. The setup may change, but the essence never does.

The Misconception About “Focus”

A common misunderstanding in pet training is the obsession with focus on the handler.
People think that if their dog is staring at them, they have control.

It’s actually the opposite.

When your dog’s world revolves entirely around you, you’re limiting his ability to make choices and interact naturally with his environment. Instead, your job is to facilitate what the dog wants — to become the source that connects him to value, not the distraction from it.

For example, with my Pomeranians, I let them look at what they want — the food, the toy, the reward. Because when they know I control access to that value, their focus becomes genuine. It’s not forced eye contact — it’s real engagement.

Respect the Dog’s Nature

Now, that doesn’t mean you can turn every dog into a protection dog or sport dog.
You have to respect what the dog’s genetics and instincts allow.

If you have a Lab who’s happiest retrieving and wagging his tail, you can’t expect him to suddenly show the aggression or defensive instincts of a Malinois. That wouldn’t just be unrealistic — it would be unfair.

Training isn’t about changing a dog’s nature.
It’s about understanding it — and then building on its natural drives and potential.

Final Thoughts

The real difference between a pet and a working dog isn’t in the principles.
It’s in the potential.

The same structure, the same drive balance, the same communication apply — no matter the breed or purpose. What changes is how deep you can go with each dog’s instincts.

So whether you’re training a family companion or a competition dog, remember:
It’s never “pet versus working.”
It’s always — dog.

Watch the talk on YouTube here.

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