I usually don’t mind my corporate job. I don’t love it, but it’s ok, and it definitely pays well enough that my dogs “live in the manner they’ve become accustomed to.” (Looking at you and the yak chews, Xephyr!).

Recently though, there have been a lot of high-priority projects. My last three timesheets have shown 66 hours, 76 hours, and 70 hours. I’m on track for 70+ again this week, and boy am I tired.

What does this have to do with dog training?!?!?!?

Did you know that dogs can suffer from burnout too? Even with an activity they enjoy, if they are being “overworked”, you can end up with a dog that doesn’t want to play.

We’ve all probably done it. We get involved with a new activity (for me it was agility), and it’s so much fun that we want to practice every day, maybe multiple times per day. We read books, watch videos, take classes, and then we go try out all of our new knowledge on our dog.

Signs of Burnout in Dog Sports

Here are some things to watch for so that “playtime” doesn’t become “overtime” for your dog.

Your Dog Starts Performing With Less Energy and Joy

If your dog’s attitude toward something they previously enjoyed becomes a bit lackluster, the first thing to check is their health. You want to make sure they don’t have an underlying injury or illness.

If the checkup is clean, assess your training time. Are you training every day? Multiple times per day? Long periods in each session? Dogs, like human athletes, need at least one “down day” every week. It gives them a chance to mentally and physically recover from the stresses of training.

During the less busy agility season, it’s not a bad idea to give your dog two or three weeks off. That doesn’t mean you don’t train at all those weeks, just that you don’t train your primary sport. If you’re an agility competitor, try tricks or nose work. If you primarily teach complex tricks, try playing frisbee or do some canine conditioning.

Your Dog “Forgets” How to Perform a Known Behavior

If your previously perfect retrieve turns into a “trot back and drop it” exercise, again, first check your dog out for physical issues. Then check out your training schedule. Have you been drilling that behavior to get ready for competition? Has the reward frequency gotten a little low? It might be time to set that behavior on a shelf for a week or two and come back to it after the dog has had a break.

In the meantime, spend some time just letting your dog be a dog. Take some sniffing walks. Jog around the park. Play hide and seek. Get out of your routine for a bit and then come back to the heavy-duty training (which should always feel like play).

Your Dog Is Less Enthusiastic About Your Training Area

When you start your ritual that says “we’re going out to train”, does your dog seem less than excited? Is he avoiding the room you normally train in, or reluctantly coming with you when you grab your treats and clicker?

If your dog is normal in every other location, but shows less enthusiasm for the training area, he might be trying to tell you something. Time to switch things up and just have a play session in that locale, giving your dog a break for a bit.

Today’s Tip

The bottom line is that dogs can suffer from overwork or burnout just like people can. Today’s Tip is to watch their behavior and adjust your schedule and activities accordingly, and you’ll always have an enthusiastic partner who is up for whatever you want to do.

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