The Positive Academy

A lot of working puppy owners I meet aren’t struggling because they don’t care enough.

They’re struggling because they’re trying to fit a puppy into a day that already has work, school runs, meals, family responsibilities, errands and their own need to rest.

And when the puppy is difficult in the evening, the first thought is often:

“Maybe I need to walk him more.”

“Maybe I need to tire him out before work.”

“Maybe I need daycare.”

Sometimes those things may help.

But before adding more, I’d rather ask a different question:

What is the actual gap in this puppy’s day?

Is it toileting?

Too long without interaction?

Difficulty being alone?

Not enough appropriate movement or exploration?

A difficult transition when everyone comes home?

Too much being squeezed into the evening?

Or something else entirely?

Because two owners can both be away at work for the same number of hours and still need completely different plans.

One puppy may benefit from a midday toilet break.

Another may need help coping with being alone.

Another may be managing the workday fine, but the whole evening becomes one long attempt to “make up for” the day with walking, play, training and enrichment all packed together.

And cost matters too.

Not every family can afford daycare, a sitter or a walker every day. That doesn’t mean the conversation ends with “just spend more money.”

It means we look honestly at what can change, what can be shared, what can be managed differently, and what matters most for that individual puppy.

This is also why a big part of puppy training with me isn’t actually about teaching cues.

Sometimes we spend a lot of time planning the day.

How do we set up toileting better?

Where does enrichment fit?

When does the puppy get opportunities to explore?

How do we create quieter periods?

And how do we make all of that work around the family’s real routine?

A good puppy plan shouldn’t require you to pretend you don’t have a job, a child, responsibilities or financial limits.

But it also shouldn’t ignore what the puppy genuinely needs.

The work is finding the gap between the two.

Working puppy owners — what is the biggest gap in your day right now?

A lot of puppy owners I meet don’t come to me because they “don’t want to put in the work.”

It’s usually the opposite.

They’re already doing a lot.

They’re walking the puppy.
Playing.
Buying enrichment toys.
Trying training exercises.
Trying to tire the puppy out before bedtime.

And by the time they contact me, some of them are already really stressed and quite lost.

I’ve had owners tell me things like:

“I don’t even dare to let him out anymore.”

Because once the gate opens, they’re expecting another round of running, biting, grabbing things, accidents, barking, or needing constant attention.

So they start thinking:

Maybe he needs a longer walk.
Maybe I need to play more.
Maybe daycare will tire him out.
Maybe I’m just not doing enough.

But sometimes, adding more activity isn’t actually answering the problem.

I want to know what the puppy’s whole day looks like.

How long have they been confined?
What happens before the evening craziness?
What opportunities have they had across the day?
Can they be awake without someone constantly entertaining them?
Can they transition from activity into doing less?
And is the routine we’re expecting actually realistic for that puppy right now?

Sometimes the puppy needs a skill.

Sometimes the routine needs adjusting.

Sometimes it’s both.

That’s also why I’m cautious when owners expect one training exercise to make the whole problem disappear.

One session can absolutely help us understand the pattern, identify priorities and create a much clearer plan.

But if the problem has been developing across the puppy’s entire day, the solution usually has to look at the entire day too.

Working puppy owners — I’m curious about your experience.

Which part of the day feels hardest for you right now?

Leaving for work?
Wondering what happens while you’re away?
Coming home?
The evening craziness?
Getting your puppy to finally settle?

Or is there another part nobody seems to talk about?

Tell me in the comments. I genuinely want to hear what your day looks like — your answer might become the next post.

Leash walking can look like random feeding when there is no clear structure.

But we are not simply rewarding “walking nicely” again and again.

A real walk can ask your dog to notice something, control their speed, turn back, follow, continue after food, earn access to sniff, leave the sniffing spot and restart the walk.

Those are different skills.

Some should be practised first in easy situations. Then, when the walk becomes harder, your dog is using a familiar movement pattern rather than trying to learn everything in the most difficult moment.

That is why reward-based leash walking can feel slow at first. You are building several connected parts, not buying attention with food.

I would love to hear your own experience.

What has been your biggest leash-walking success so far, and which part of the sequence is still the messiest for your dog?

Share your story in the comments. Your experience may help another owner feel less alone.

Most owners are not frustrated because they do not want to reward their dog.

They are frustrated because they reward the dog…
the dog comes back, eats the treat…

and two seconds later, they are pulling again.

It starts to feel like:

“I did what I was supposed to do. Why are we back to square one?”

Or:

“Is reward-based leash walking just not working for my dog?”

But the treat may have worked for exactly the moment you rewarded.

Your dog came back.

That is useful.

What the treat did not automatically teach was what to do next.

Stay near?
Slow down?
Move with you?
Keep the leash loose?
Stay connected while something else is interesting?

Leash walking is not one behaviour. It is a package of skills.

A dog can understand one piece without yet understanding the next one.

That is why the part after the treat matters.

Not because you need to keep feeding endlessly.

But because the next few seconds may be a different skill from coming back for the reward.

I want to understand what this looks like on your walks.

Your hand is not a business card.

You don’t need to present it to every dog for approval.

Most people do this because they mean well:

“Let him sniff me first.”

But here’s the thing — the dog can already smell you.

And for some dogs, a hand moving toward their face is not a polite introduction. It is pressure coming closer.

Same with food.

Offering food can be kind, but if the dog has to stretch forward, grab it, and retreat, that may not mean they felt comfortable. It may mean the food was tempting, but the closeness was hard.

A better greeting is less about trying harder and more about making things clearer:

stand sideways
keep your hands relaxed
let the dog approach
touch briefly
pause
let the dog decide if they want more

Because every greeting teaches the dog something.

Either:

“People listen.”

or

“I need to create space myself.”

So next time, before you reach out your hand like you’re closing a business deal…

pause first.

Let the dog choose.

Did you know you can scare a dog by trying to feed it?

Comment “trigger stack” and I’ll send you the one-page overview infographic — made to save, share, and refer back to when your dog’s reaction feels like it came out of nowhere.

Today, at 3:51 pm, our dear Precious gained her wings. She left this world as gracefully as she lived in it, nestled in my arms and savoring her favorite treats, finding peace in love and familiarity. She passed without pain, and that brings some comfort in this time of sadness.

Although this is a private farewell, I know that Precious held a special place in the hearts of so many who had the joy of knowing her. For those who visited our dayschool, Precious was a constant presence and a gentle teacher, guiding others with her playful spirit and no-nonsense wisdom. She had a way of helping every dog discover boundaries, fun, and friendship, reminding us all of the joy and importance of connection.

To anyone who wishes to say a final goodbye, we welcome you to follow the directions below. Let’s celebrate Precious’s life together, honoring the moments she brightened our days and the lessons she so naturally shared. She may have gained her wings, but her spirit will forever remain with us, guiding us gently, just as she always did.

Directions:
The Green Mortician, 21 Toh Guan Road East, Toh Guan Centre, #07-07, Singapore 608609.

Directions upon reaching the building:
- If you are planning to drive, you can either take the ramp up to the 7th floor, or park in the building’s basement carpark (take the passenger lift - Center of building).

- For alternative modes of transportation, look out for the loading bay located at the center of the building. From there, you can access the passenger lift lobby that will take you up to the 7th floor.

Additional: you may want to bring a jacket or an outerwear as the room is set in a cold temperature.