Simple Mindset Shift when you struggle with your dog

Mindfulness
2 min read
May 13, 2026
Your trainer
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Bianca Barlow
Founder, Dogfulness
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Feeling annoyed, overwhelmed, or even defeated by your dog's behavior? You’re not alone—I totally get it! It’s frustrating when all your efforts seem to make things worse.

But here’s the thing: your mindset matters.

Next time you feel stuck, try adding the word “yet” to your challenge. Instead of saying, “My dog won’t listen,” say, “My dog won’t listen yet.” This small shift can help you stay patient, motivated, and open to progress.

Training takes time—keep going! 💛🐶

Instead of saying:

🐶 “My dog doesn’t stand still for grooming.”“My dog doesn’t stand still for grooming yet.”

🐶 “My dog doesn’t listen when distracted.”“My dog doesn’t listen when distracted yet.”

🐶 “My dog won’t settle when guests come over.”“My dog won’t settle when guests come over yet.”

Adding yet reminds you that progress is always possible! 💪

Using the word "yet" helps shift your mindset from fixed to growth-oriented thinking. This has several mental benefits:

1️⃣ Encourages Persistence

Instead of seeing something as a failure, yet reframes it as a work in progress—motivating you to keep trying instead of giving up.

2️⃣ Reduces Frustration

When you say, “My dog doesn’t listen yet,” it reminds you that improvement takes time. This reduces stress and frustration in training.

3️⃣ Builds Confidence

It reinforces the belief that both you and your dog can learn and grow. Small steps forward start to feel like wins!

4️⃣ Strengthens Patience & Positivity

Dog training is about consistency and patience. Using yet makes challenges feel temporary rather than permanent, keeping the process more enjoyable.

A simple word, but a powerful mindset shift! 💡

"Bianca truly gets to the root of the problem."

"Hands down, Bianca is the best and most experienced dog trainer on so many levels--she's more than a trainer--she truly gets to the root of the problem. We've worked with several trainers over the years, and we've never had one with such an incredible disposition and strong animal behavior acumen. Her feedback, tips and overall approach made everything feel achievable. The analogies Bianca uses truly help things click—we finally understood the why behind the training. We've always felt overwhelmed by dog training in the past, but this was easy to grasp, practical, and made complete sense. She's made our home of four dogs much more pleasant and calm!"

Tara Burke with Penny, Malinois Mix, and 3 Boston Terriers (Behavior Mod.)

"Bianca truly gets to the root of the problem."

"Hands down, Bianca is the best and most experienced dog trainer on so many levels--she's more than a trainer--she truly gets to the root of the problem. We've worked with several trainers over the years, and we've never had one with such an incredible disposition and strong animal behavior acumen. Her feedback, tips and overall approach made everything feel achievable. The analogies Bianca uses truly help things click—we finally understood the why behind the training. We've always felt overwhelmed by dog training in the past, but this was easy to grasp, practical, and made complete sense. She's made our home of four dogs much more pleasant and calm!"

Tara Burke with Penny, Malinois Mix, and 3 Boston Terriers (Behavior Mod.)

"Bianca truly gets to the root of the problem."

"Hands down, Bianca is the best and most experienced dog trainer on so many levels--she's more than a trainer--she truly gets to the root of the problem. We've worked with several trainers over the years, and we've never had one with such an incredible disposition and strong animal behavior acumen. Her feedback, tips and overall approach made everything feel achievable. The analogies Bianca uses truly help things click—we finally understood the why behind the training. We've always felt overwhelmed by dog training in the past, but this was easy to grasp, practical, and made complete sense. She's made our home of four dogs much more pleasant and calm!"

Tara Burke with Penny, Malinois Mix, and 3 Boston Terriers (Behavior Mod.)

"Bianca truly gets to the root of the problem."

"Hands down, Bianca is the best and most experienced dog trainer on so many levels--she's more than a trainer--she truly gets to the root of the problem. We've worked with several trainers over the years, and we've never had one with such an incredible disposition and strong animal behavior acumen. Her feedback, tips and overall approach made everything feel achievable. The analogies Bianca uses truly help things click—we finally understood the why behind the training. We've always felt overwhelmed by dog training in the past, but this was easy to grasp, practical, and made complete sense. She's made our home of four dogs much more pleasant and calm!"

Tara Burke with Penny, Malinois Mix, and 3 Boston Terriers (Behavior Mod.)
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