The Power of Change: Why Data and Structure are Key to Dog Training Success

In the world of dog training, we often look for that magic moment when everything clicks—when the dog and handler work in harmony, achieving something truly remarkable. But what if I told you that magic doesn’t happen by accident? It’s built through structure, data, and—most importantly—change.

Change is where the magic happens

I owe much of what I believe in and practice today to my mentors, Bob and Marian Bailey. They instilled in me a deep respect for the history and science of animal training. We’ve been training animals for more than 10,000 years, as ancient cave drawings suggest. But despite this long history, one thing remains true: we trainers often fail to document our learning steps. We know that collecting and analyzing data is essential, yet too often we overlook it. Bob and Marian were relentless about this. “Collect data, analyze it, and then CHANGE!” they told me. Change is where the magic happens. As Albert Einstein once said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Darwin’s idea of “Survival of the Fittest” echoes the same concept: the ones who adapt, survive. The same is true in training. Those who are willing to make data-driven changes are the ones who achieve true breakthroughs with their dogs.

The Reality Check

Before I met Bob and Marian, I took notes, but I quickly realized something about memory: it’s biased. Our brains tend to remember the successes and forget the struggles. After a training session, many trainers will say, “It went well,” but how often is that the full picture? In my experience, true progress only reveals itself when you collect and analyze training data. So what’s holding us back? Many trainers might say, “It takes too much time,” or “I don’t know what to collect,” or even “It’s too complicated to track during training.” But none of these reasons should stop us. Data is your key to growth. When we fail to track the amount of odors, quality, results or even the duration of training sessions with detection dogs, we’re operating blindly. Ask yourself: what does it mean to achieve “operational level” for a detection dog? Without data, you’re guessing. But with it, you’re building structure—and structure is everything in dog training.

Why Boundaries Matter

Structure only works when you define boundaries. And no, I’m not talking about obedience training or rigid rules. I’m talking about setting clear criteria—the simple, honest guidelines that provide structure to your training. Think of it this way: imagine watching a tennis match with no lines, no net, no scorekeeping. Chaos, right? There’s no progress without structure, and there’s no structure without boundaries. But in dog training, boundaries aren’t about controlling the dog—they’re about setting expectations. It’s not about obedience to odor or strict commands. Instead, it’s about encouraging curiosity within defined parameters, allowing your dog to take ownership of the alert through autonomy and consistent criteria.

Cato boards are giving clear boundaries

Target training example

Take a memory from my own experience: I was working with Pat Nolan on target training. As I walked a young field trial Labrador to the training site, the dog suddenly darted under a trailer, nearly catching a duck hiding underneath. For the rest of that training period, every time we passed that trailer, the dog dived under it, full of energy, hoping to find the duck again. This behavior taught me something powerful: dogs remember vividly when something excites them. By allowing autonomy within boundaries, you create the structure needed for your dog to reach the next level. You may decrease the target odor, introduce stronger distractions, or extend the search time—all of this is possible when you balance freedom with structure and support it with data.

The Role of Science

Science is the backbone of progress in dog training. Too often, trainers rely on anecdotal stories, claiming success based on isolated experiences. But what science teaches us is the value of peer review and transparency. When we record and share our steps, other trainers can attempt to replicate the process. However, we know training a dog isn’t like baking a cake. It’s not as simple as following a recipe and getting the same result every time. In fact, my son is a chef, and whenever we cook together, even when we use the exact same ingredients, his skill and experience elevate the dish beyond anything I can make. The difference is in the finesse, the timing, and his understanding of the process—and you can taste it in the food. The same is true in dog training. You might follow the same steps as someone else, but their experience, timing, and understanding of their dog will create a different outcome.

Dogs are living, breathing creatures

Why? Because dogs are living, breathing creatures with their own personalities, emotions, and motivations. They experience fear, excitement, and stress, just as we do. This means there is no one-size-fits-all protocol. Each dog’s journey is unique, and training plans must be flexible enough to accommodate their individuality. Bob once shared something that stuck with me: “Scientists ask the kinds of questions trainers can’t lie to.” It’s both hilarious and incredibly true. Science forces us to move beyond anecdotal evidence and into measurable, repeatable results. In operational work, whether it’s hard surface tracking or real-world detection, the truth is clear—we need science to refine our training.

Learning from the best 

I’ve had the privilege of learning from experts like Nathan Hall, Paola Tiedemann, and Lauryn DeGreeff, whose research continues to illuminate the gaps in our understanding. Science doesn’t give us all the answers, but it gives us better questions. And it’s through these questions that we, as trainers, can refine our practices and prepare our dogs for the unpredictable realities of real operations.

Your Next Level Awaits

If you want to build a successful training program, start by setting clear criteria, collecting data, and analyzing it. This isn’t carved in stone. Training is an evolving process, tailored to the dog and handler in front of you. You have to ask: Where are they now? Where do they want to go? And sometimes, you have to be brutally honest—not every dog will become a world champion or an operational star. But every dog, like every trainer, has the potential to reach its next level. The important thing is to keep pushing, to challenge yourself and your dog, and to enjoy the process. Training isn’t just about following a protocol; it’s about having fun, learning from mistakes, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. When we collect data, share our findings, and work alongside scientists, we begin to unravel the mysteries of dog training together.

So go out there, set your boundaries, collect your data, and embrace change. And most of all—enjoy the journey.