“I Don’t Have Time”: When Life Feels Too Full for Dog Training
Written by Lauren Tsao, MS, CDBC, CPDT-KA, DDP
There’s a phrase I hear often as a certified dog behavior consultant and dog trainer. It usually comes after a long sigh or an apologetic look. Sometimes it’s said with frustration. Sometimes with guilt.
“I just don’t have time for this.”
And every time, my heart aches a little.
Because I understand. Truly, I do.
You’re doing your best to keep everything afloat with work deadlines, grocery runs, kids’ schedules, the mounting pile of laundry, the texts you haven’t replied to yet, and the dog hair clinging to your favorite leggings. You're holding a lot. And in the middle of all that, there’s your dog who’s barking at the windows, growling at guests, lunging at other dogs, or refusing to be touched without a meltdown. You already feel overwhelmed. The thought of squeezing in behavior work and training feels like trying to build a house in a hurricane.
But here’s the part that’s hard to say gently: when it comes to serious behavior concerns, especially aggression or reactivity, time isn’t a luxury, it’s the lifeline.
It’s the thing we must make, not the thing we wait for.
When Time Runs Out, the World Steps In
Many dog guardians wait to start training until something forces their hand. And that’s not because they don’t care, it’s because life is loud. It’s easy to believe we can manage a little longer. That the barking will taper off. That the snapping was just a one-time thing. That our dog is “usually fine” except when they’re not. But behavior doesn’t pause. It compounds. Quietly. Steadily. Until something breaks.
Sometimes that “something” is a neighbor’s complaint after one too many loud, reactive outbursts on morning walks. You start changing your route, walking at odd hours, holding your breath every time you pass another dog. The joy of walking together gets replaced with dread.
Sometimes it’s a boarding facility or daycare that calls after a behavior evaluation and says, “We’re sorry. We can’t take them anymore.” You’re left scrambling for options, feeling judged and alone, and wondering what happened to the playful pup you used to drop off without a second thought.
Sometimes it’s your vet’s office, where you’re told they can no longer safely examine your dog without sedation. Appointments are canceled or rescheduled, and suddenly your dog’s basic health care becomes a logistical and emotional mountain to climb.
And sometimes, heartbreakingly, it’s a bite. An incident that “came out of nowhere,” except it didn’t. The warning signs were there, subtle but steady: a stiffening body, a side-eye glance, a growl ignored, or a lip lick dismissed. And now you’re dealing with legal consequences, emotional trauma, or even the terrifying possibility of losing your dog.
In all of these moments, the behavior problem hasn’t disappeared. It has simply grown and quietly, while you were busy holding everything else together. That’s why making time before the crisis matters. It’s not just proactive, it’s protective. It’s how you give your dog a voice that’s heard long before that voice becomes a warning. It’s how you stay in control of the narrative, instead of reacting to it. Early behavior support means more options, more flexibility, and most importantly, more trust. It means you and your dog get to work together from a place of understanding, not panic. It’s a foundation built with intention, not fear.
And in a world that’s always rushing, that might just be the most compassionate gift you can give your dog and yourself.
Time Well Spent Doesn’t Have to Be Time You Don’t Have
Here’s something many dog guardians don’t realize at first: meaningful behavior change doesn’t require hours of training every day. It’s not about carving out giant blocks of time you already feel short on. It’s about learning how to make the time you do have matter.
Progress often comes in small, consistent moments. It can begin with five intentional minutes, a shift in your daily routine, or a quiet change in how you move through the world with your dog. These efforts are less about perfection and more about presence. They’re about showing up, even briefly, in ways that help your dog feel safe and understood.
Behavior work might look like giving treats when someone walks past during your evening stroll and turning a moment of stress into one of support. It might mean practicing a few gentle brush strokes while your dog chews a favorite treat, building their comfort with handling one small step at a time.
It could be choosing to greet guests differently by using pet gates or leashes or treats to help your dog navigate the excitement rather than expecting them to “just behave.” Or it might mean recognizing when your dog has had enough for the day and honoring that with rest, not more effort. These aren’t grand gestures. They’re small ones. But they add up.
And unlike the time spent scrambling after a bite incident, dealing with fallout from a fearful meltdown, or struggling through another vet visit gone wrong, these moments give back. They offer you peace of mind and a growing sense of confidence. They offer your dog relief and trust in the world around them. And they offer your household a much-needed breath of ease. The kind that comes from working with your dog, not against them.
Don’t Wait Until Time Isn’t Yours to Control
So many dog guardians find themselves in this exact place. They’re exhausted, unsure, and doing their best to keep up. There’s no shame in that.
You don’t have to have all the answers today. You don’t have to fix everything at once. But waiting until things fall apart until the vet refuses to see your dog again, until a bite happens or until the daily stress becomes too much to bear only makes the path forward steeper.
It’s easier to build trust than to repair it. It’s easier to support a dog who is whispering their discomfort than one who has been pushed to shout.
So if you’re able to take a step today, any step, no matter how small, that is better than waiting for the worst. Whether it’s reaching out for help, changing how you respond to one tricky moment, or just taking a breath and deciding not to give up, you’re moving in the right direction.
We’re Here to Help
At Faithfully Yours Dog Training, we specialize in behavior support that meets you where you are. Our services are designed with real life in mind and are flexible, realistic, and grounded in science and compassion.
We work with dogs who bark, bite, bolt, or just can’t seem to settle. We also work with the humans who love them. The humans who are tired, busy, scared, and trying their best.
Whether you're prepping for a vet visit, dealing with daily reactivity, or simply trying to make life more livable, we’re here to help you build a plan that works for you and your dog.
📍 Based near Jackson, MS.
💻 Virtual sessions available worldwide.
Ready to stop waiting for the world to force your hand?
Let’s reclaim time on your terms. Contact me here to book a session.
