#185: Avoiding Triggers and Situations

In this episode, we discuss the practice of avoiding situations as part (or all) of a training plan. Often avoiding certain situations can be an important strategy, helping to prevent mistakes and reduce stress for both the dog and the handler. But it's usually not a long-term solution by itself and misconceptions about avoidance can result in teams getting stuck and unable to make progress. We also discuss: - Definition and role of avoidance in dog training. - Common client misunderstandings about avoidance. - Benefits of avoidance: preventing mistakes, reducing stress, and allowing time for skill development. - Challenges of avoidance: risk of over-reliance and restrictive lifestyle. - Practical applications - sometimes. - Long-term strategy: balancing avoidance with skill-building and controlled reintroduction. For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/185 This episode is supported by Zero to CD: www.zerotocd.com