Every January, I see a wave of motivated dog owners. They say things like: 

•  “This is the year I’m going to finally train her.” 
•  “We’re going to stop the barking this time.” 
•  “No more letting him drag me down the street.” 

 I love the enthusiasm. But here’s the catch: motivation fades fast.

I get the logic, you’re hoping your dog will burn off energy and come home ready to relax. But most of the time, the opposite happens. 

Why? Because most daycares offer stimulation, not structure. And that kind of “tired” wears off fast.

You say “stay,” and your dog holds it for about two seconds.
You say “place,” and they stay…until you move.
You get a down, but not a down-stay.

Your dog won’t always have a treat waiting. They’ll need to listen when it matters, not just when you’re holding a hot dog.

When it’s done right, it creates calm, confident, and independent dogs who can handle real life without falling apart.

But here’s the truth: if your idea of socialization is constant interaction, you’re not building a stable dog. You’re building an overstimulated one.