I was asked recently which one dog in my training history had the greatest influence on how I teach fulfillment through work, rest, and play.
The honest answer is, all of them.
But if I had to trace the roots of that philosophy back to one dog, one routine, one lived experience that quietly shaped everything I do today, it would be my first dog. And the way I was raised with dogs long before I ever called myself a trainer.
As a kid, my dad had hounds. They were his dogs. Not trained, not pets in the modern sense, just dogs who lived outside, attached to long chains with custom dog houses for most of the year. In the summer, they went to the cottage every weekend with us, and ran free, hunting rabbits, always coming back on their own later in the day, to relax with us for the evening.
At the time, I didn’t analyze it. I was a kid. I was conditioned to believe that this is just how dogs live. They existed alongside us, not integrated into our lives, and I didn’t have much to do with them beyond enjoying their presence.
Everything changed when I convinced my parents to let me have my own dog.
His name was Duffy. A black Labrador retriever. And from day one, he was my responsibility.
My job was simple and non-negotiable. Do something with him every morning before school. When I came home, I cleaned his run, fed him, let him move, and walked him to the park. After that, we hung out while I did homework.
That routine happened every day. No debate. No motivation required.
Work, then rest.
Work, then play.
Over and over again.
I didn’t call it fulfillment. I didn’t call it training. It was just life.
And that rhythm followed me everywhere.
When I moved out and had my own dogs, the same pattern existed. Whether my dogs went to work with me or stayed home, their days followed the same predictable structure.
One of those dogs was Brutus, an Alaskan Malamute. We lived in a tiny house on five acres. Every morning before work, we walked the perimeter of the property together. During the day, he rested outside, exactly where he was comfortable. After work, we repeated the walk before anything else happened. Then dinner. Then a final stroll on our back trail.
Everything in my life fit around that routine. Not the other way around.
It wasn’t discipline. It was obligation.
The dog came first.
And because of that, I had well behaved dogs without thinking of it as training. Predictability did the heavy lifting.
When I moved into competitive retriever work, the formula didn’t change. From puppyhood, mornings included short drills and fun retrieves. During the day, rest. In the evening, another brief drill, then field work.
Field work was play to them. It was what they were bred to do. There were many nights I ate Doritos for dinner, in a training field while my dogs worked. When we came home, the house was calm.
And when that routine was disrupted for more than a couple of days, the dogs told us. Not immediately. But confusion showed up. Restlessness. Frustration. Behaviour that didn’t match who they normally were.
The fix was never correction.
It was restoring the routine.
That lesson became glaringly obvious when I started my pet dog training business.
When I asked clients to describe a typical day for their dog, many couldn’t. They danced around the question. Or avoided it entirely. So I started asking directly, how often does your dog get walked?
The answers stunned me.
“Sometimes.
Weekends.
A few times a week.
Not really.”
And these were the same dogs pulling on leash, barking nonstop, chewing furniture, panicking in crates, unable to settle, and labelled as “bad dogs” by their owners..
That’s when it clicked.
These dogs weren’t misbehaving.
They were unfulfilled.
Dogs thrive on predictability. When a dog knows a walk happens before you leave, rest happens while you’re gone, and something meaningful happens when you return, they settle. They wait. They trust the pattern.
Dinner makes sense when energy has been spent. Evenings are calm when needs have been met.
That understanding became the backbone of my work.
Which brings me back to Duffy.
As a kid, I walked him off leash to the park every day. He sat at curbs. He waited for permission. Not because I drilled obedience, but because that was the picture we repeated daily.
Work first. Then freedom.
One day, years later, I couldn’t walk him. I’d been injured. My dad took over. Duffy took off toward the park like a rocket, my dad panicking behind him. When Duffy reached the busy street, he stopped. Sat. Waited.
He knew the rule. The reward only happened after permission at the curb.
That wasn’t leadership theory. That was habit.
Years of predictable structure had shaped his state of mind.
That’s when I truly understood something I now teach daily. Dogs don’t follow commands. They follow pictures. Repetition builds memory. Structure creates calm.
So when people tell me they’re too tired after work to meet their dog’s needs, I’m blunt. Your dog waited all day for you. Your fatigue doesn’t change that.
That’s why one of my earliest requirements for clients was simple. When you get home, don’t collapse. Change clothes. Go outside. Twenty minutes. One walk in the morning. One in the evening.
Not perfection. Predictability.
Those small, consistent actions become habits. And habits build bonds without force.
That is the fulfillment formula.
Work. Rest. Play. Repeat.
Not as a training technique.
As a way of living with a dog.
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Start today. Teach calm, lead clearly, and keep your dog safe every time the door opens.
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About Karen
Karen M. Laws is a seasoned professional with decades of experience training dogs, educating people, and mentoring aspiring trainers. She has bred, raised, and successfully trained Labrador Retrievers for field competition. She has judged competitions across Canada and the United States. With a background as a Certified Elementary School Teacher and a career as a public servant, Karen brings a unique perspective to the dog training industry—combining hands-on expertise with a deep understanding of education and leadership.
As a former President and Director of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), Karen holds multiple certifications in dog training and education and consistently advocates for higher standards in the profession.
She is the founder of The Ontario Dog Trainer (est. 2006), dedicated to helping pet owners create lasting, positive relationships with their dogs. She also leads the Dog Trainer TRIBE Training Online Academy, where she provides structured mentorship and education for trainers and dedicated pet dog owners looking to gain confidence, refine their skills, and create a successful, sustainable business and lifestyle with their dogs.
Karen’s approach goes beyond technique—she teaches trainers and pet dog owners how to understand the world from a dog’s perspective, foster strong client relationships, and develop their own unique style. Her blend of practical experience, straight-talking advice, and compassionate leadership makes her a trusted mentor for those looking to grow in the pet dog training industry.
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