Bonding and Training: How I Taught My Dog to Behave Well and Learn Tricks Without Expensive Classes
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Hey, I’m Sophia, and I have a confession to make: I love my Molly girl soooo much!
She’s an almost 2-year-old Border Collie, and our journey so far has been quite an adventure.
I hope she’ll forgive me if I say the first year together was quite tough.
If you have a dog, you likely know how it can be: from chaotic walks to chewing up everything in sight and leaving little “surprises” around the house.
Long story short, now she’s the most obedient girl who knows tricks and lives her best life.
I managed to train her all on my own without spending a fortune on professional trainers!
I’m writing this article because my friends insisted I share my experience — they say I’ve “hacked dog training.”
This could be incredibly useful for anyone struggling with their dogs or wanting to train them without spending hundreds on classes.
So, if you’re facing similar challenges with your furry friend, I hope my journey can offer you some insights!
I’m not sure I completely understood how much a dog would change my life
I had never owned a dog before Molly, so everything was new to me.
When I brought her home, she was just 10 weeks old, and my friend — who already had a dog — warned me that my life was about to get a lot more chaotic.
And it indeed did!
I won’t go into too much detail, but my life quickly took a typical “now-I-got-a-dog” turn, leading to:
- Smelly “surprises” around my apartment.
This was my top priority to solve, and honestly, I thought it would be much easier!
- Stuff being destroyed.
I tried to keep everything on shelves or inside cabinets, but it’s impossible to keep everything under control all the time.
Sooner or later, you forget something, or it falls on the floor, or your puppy grows enough to reach previously unreachable spots.
So… RIP to my beloved perfume and flower/plant that I forgot on the table
- Neighbor complaints and my own heart breaking.
Molly quickly became very attached to me.
Every time I left, she would try to follow me to the door and whine and bark when I snuck out without her.
My neighbors even brought it up a few times.
But I also conducted a little experiment to see how long she continued this after I left.
Initially, I thought it would only take a couple of minutes, and then she would switch her attention.
To my surprise, she went on for about 15 minutes and probably longer, but I had to leave at that moment, so I couldn’t stay to find out.
Finally, our walks were also a mess
Usually, she would constantly sprint ahead, pulling the leash and making it uncomfortable for both of us.
If I tried to speed up to match her pace, she would rush to things on the ground, trying to eat them.
I won’t even list all the things I had to forcefully take out of her mouth.
Sticks and bones were among them, but believe me, you don’t want to know the rest.
Molly is also quite an emotional girl and loves people. She often shows her excitement by jumping and licking, which was another regular challenge.
Sometimes people (especially kids) couldn’t clearly read her intentions and got scared.
I get it — I wouldn’t be thrilled to have an unknown dog leaping toward me and then jumping on me either.
But the last straw was when Molly ran away from me!
We had just stepped outside, and my phone rang. As I switched the leash from one hand to the other to answer the call, she sprinted off, snatching the leash from my hand and quickly disappearing around the corner.
I spent the next two hours searching for her around the neighborhood with three friends helping me. We found her, but it was one of the worst days EVER.
But if we managed to overcome these behavioral challenges, I’m pretty sure what worked for us will also work in your case
Like many, I dreamed of having a well-behaved, happy dog but didn’t know where to start.
Basically, you have two options:
- Train the dog yourself
- Hire a professional dog trainer
Hiring a trainer wasn’t really an option for me.
The good ones near me charged $650 for basic classes and up to $2,600 for advanced ones. That was way too much for me.
So, I became a regular on YouTube, Quora, and Reddit — checking what worked and what did not for other people.
I managed to teach Molly when and where to “go to the bathroom,” but we hit a wall with other behaviors.
My friends, who could see my struggle, stepped in to help. One of them knew a professional dog trainer and asked for some recommendations to move things forward.
Since I couldn’t afford the full training program, the trainer suggested I try a personalized dog training book they often use at work.
I was skeptical, but the trainer had no reason to lie to me, and the book was on sale, so I figured I wasn’t risking much.
So, I decided to give it a try.
I didn’t even know SUCH training guides existed!
When my friend first mentioned that the book was “personalized,” I didn’t think much of it.
I mean, it’s just a book, right? How could it be personalized?
But when I went online to order it, I had to answer a few short questions first. It only took a couple of minutes, just ticking some boxes.
When the book arrived, I finally got it: the tips inside were tailored to Molly’s breed, age, and my goals.
That’s because different breeds have different needs. For example, Border Collies respond well to commands, while Pugs might need more repetition and patience.
The same goes for the age: typically, the older the dog, the more time and patience training can take.
So, having this book adjusted for Molly was like having a personal trainer!
The book was pretty thick and covered a lot, including:
→ Comprehensive review of Molly’s breed, her life stages, and psychology
→ Fundamental principles for effective training
→ Step-by-step solutions for behavior problems (like the ones I had at home or on walks)
→ Fun tricks and games for bonding
→ Expert advice on nutrition and health
→ And even some grooming techniques
Basically, it covered everything from training steps to fun games and nutrition tips.
I couldn’t wait to start using it!
This is how you can make training your dog enjoyable rather than challenging
The first thing we focused on was our walks. This was the most stressful part for me, so I started applying the book’s tips one by one.
Nothing was too difficult, and I finally felt like we could speak the same language 🙂
Molly got much better at understanding what I wanted (and didn’t want) her to do, and I started to understand why she was behaving the way she was.
Of course, not everything worked on day one, but I noticed changes in her behavior almost immediately, which made me feel like we were moving in the right direction.
A month later, even my friends commented on how much more obedient she had become!
We learned to adjust our pace during walks so she had time to run and rest without constantly dragging me forward.
She nearly stopped picking up random things from the ground. When she did, she would listen to my command to drop it, so I no longer had to pull trash from her mouth.
The same improvement happened at home with chewing things. Little by little, I didn’t have to hide my shoes or personal items anymore because she wouldn’t destroy them.
Don’t miss nice memories and quality time together by giving your dog away for training
What I loved about the book is that it goes beyond the basics.
Once we mastered those, I moved on to advanced training to teach Molly some fun tricks.
We’ve known commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “lie down” for a while, so lately we’ve been working on “spin” and “play dead.” It’s so fun!
As I mentioned, Molly is quite an emotional and excited girl, so she really enjoys these sessions with me.
And now, she’s living her best life 🙂
To be honest, I’m really proud of myself too. The things we’ve learned (and are still learning) would have cost hundreds of dollars if I’d hired professional trainers. I’m literally saving 16 times the cost of those programs, if not more.
Sure, it might have taken them less time — maybe one month instead of two — but the learning process itself is fun.
Plus, I love spending this time with my girl.
Sending her away for training would mean missing out on so many great memories.
Training results may vary due to personal features
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I have rescued a 9 year old Italian Spinone from Italy. He is a soft gentle boy but pulls hard on the lead. He has been with us for only 2 weeks after being in a kennel over there for a year after his owner died. He is underweight but we are gently working on that so he is food-driven. He is coming to...
I have rescued a 9 year old Italian Spinone from Italy. He is a soft gentle boy but pulls hard on the lead. He has been with us for only 2 weeks after being in a kennel over there for a year after his owner died. He is underweight but we are gently working on that so he is food-driven. He is coming to the whistle and a treat, in the garden. I need help with walking nicely on the lead as I have another dog, so I need to walk them together. They are getting on well,but he does pull and has started having an unfriendly lunge at certain dogs for no reason on our walks.
I rescued a deaf Blue Heeler. She is under a year old, and full blown energetic puppy. I need some guidance/help with training.
I can relate to everything that you have written. Presently I have a 4 month old GSD. Who is very smart active and dis obedient. I had to train it myself write from the potty culture to obeying simple commands. Though it was a nightmare inthe beginning. It went on improving as the days passed. But generally he is very adaptive and learns things...
I can relate to everything that you have written. Presently I have a 4 month old GSD. Who is very smart active and dis obedient.
I had to train it myself write from the potty culture to obeying simple commands. Though it was a nightmare inthe beginning. It went on improving as the days passed.
But generally he is very adaptive and learns things fast which gives me a great pleasure.
I need all the help I can get, my dog does everything that is listed in the message.
My dog is a little (10 kg) mixed breed,18 months.
Problems…leash and barking.He learns everything good but inside the house,outside he can’t focus on me.
Thank you! I love Pepper, but I live in an old house. So I always need some repair or another. Dog training would be a luxury. The other dogs I have owned took a lot of time, but it was all worth it. Pepper is just two. Thanks again! Joanna
My first pup was easy to train. A rough Collie. Our second dog a Jack Russel was a nightmare dog. We hired a trainer . Still no joy . Our now forever dog is a Shiztu. He is a rescue dog. He is 5 years old. . He is great,although needs some behaviour Training. He is full of energy. Although smallish keeps his nose...
My first pup was easy to train. A rough Collie.
Our second dog a Jack Russel was a nightmare dog. We hired a trainer . Still no joy .
Our now forever dog is a Shiztu. He is a rescue dog. He is 5 years old. . He is great,although needs some behaviour
Training. He is full of energy. Although smallish keeps his nose to the ground.
He has to be kept on the leash. I am trying recall without success.
My border collie mini Aussie mix is 5 years. I can identify with everything you talked about. The only thing I have a problem with still is barking at the tv animals and dogs we meet on her outings. It was really enjoyable reading your post.
I need to know more
Bought the book! And I too have a border collie pup. Firstly, I’ve always had shepherds, so I’ve always worked hard on obedience, and shoes are so smart and easy to train. But my Luna is a whole nuther ball of wax!! She is SO SMART. I mean, it takes nothing to train her when I put in the time. Picks up the training...
Bought the book! And I too have a border collie pup. Firstly, I’ve always had shepherds, so I’ve always worked hard on obedience, and shoes are so smart and easy to train. But my Luna is a whole nuther ball of wax!! She is SO SMART. I mean, it takes nothing to train her when I put in the time. Picks up the training so easy. 6 mnths old now, and I’ve enjoyed your book immensely. Especially the backyon border collies. Can’t wait to start with the tricks. So many things I’ve taught her already with my basic knowledge, makes me look good, but SHE is just too smart. Not a dog for everyone for sure but wow! A border collie plus the right instruction makes an ama big combination. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
I love your story, it is so similar to mine. I did take my Mini Australian Shepard to a school and spent about that much money for beginning training. He was able to complete his Canine Good Citizen certificate. I couldn’t afford to do anything with a professional and have watched all kinds of videos and Willie can do many different tricks and we...
I love your story, it is so similar to mine. I did take my Mini Australian Shepard to a school and spent about that much money for beginning training. He was able to complete his Canine Good Citizen certificate. I couldn’t afford to do anything with a professional and have watched all kinds of videos and Willie can do many different tricks and we are now learning “Bang” means play dead and it is so much fun!! I am going to check out your book recommendation. It sounds awesome!
Izzie has many bad habits which I need help. She will soon be 6 months old and has so much energy. She jumps up and also grabs pant legs and shoes. She also is destroying my throw rugs.
I have a Belgium cross German Shepard long back that’s 9 months old. Still in training for some things. Looking something to help my challenge be a bit easier on myself and her.
I have a yellow lab 16 months. Graham. He does good put pulls walking he is 100 lbs and strong. How do I get him to walk by my side? I am 75 yrs old. Good shape Gid Bless.
I am training my two year old Maltipoo on a leash. She is smart but I am not consistent. Have decided to spend 7 days working working with Lillie rain or shine. Thanks for your info.
Worth a try. I will let you all know soon, if it’s possible and doable alone without a trainer. Ordering mine as we speak. Wish me luck! Finn is a 4 month old toy Australian Shepherd (Aussie). Please 🙏 for guidance and patience. Extremely intelligent, loves everyone and all dogs. He is perfect…..End of story!
I have à toy Aussiepoo. Her name is Molly also. Just turned 12 months. Maybe weighs 8 lbs. She is a pretty picky eaterŕ and somewhat strong willed.
Loves to play all day with me.loves all people and dogs. She is very excitable.
Thank you for sharing! I just got my puppy (zwergschnauzer) a few weeks ago and I have a lot of work ahead haha I’m glad I found your story early so I don’t spend so much time struggling as you did haha
I’m usually skeptical about books because they give you some general information but then it anyway comes down to the character of your dog, age, etc. I’ve never heard of books that adjust like this, so probably worth taking a look, thanks!
Uwww, Molly is such a cutie! I’m in college right now so I don’t have extra $2k for a trainer but your story sounds like something I could do! I have a border collie so I hope it should be easy but I still want to learn some tricks and spend some quality time together, not just wandering around!