Before becoming a parent, I believed I had a solid grasp on managing children’s behavior. Then I had my son and daughter, which made me realize I had much to learn. Fast-forward a decade, and now I have adopted a dog to take it to another level. In the two months since adopting our four-year-old golden retriever, Nala, I’ve noticed surprising parallels between dog training and how we support student behavior in schools.

To be clear, I’m not equating children with dogs. Unlike pets, students aren’t meant to be obedient followers—they’re developing individuals who need guidance to become thoughtful, resilient, and creative thinkers. This is more than what we strive for in a pet. However, we must ensure our students are ready to learn to be their best.

For one thing, I have noticed some students don’t respond when their names are called. Recently, as I was having my kindergarten students clean up after their physical education lesson, one student continued to play after I told him to put his noodle and ball away.

“Timmy!” I called. No response

“Timmy!” I shouted again, moving closer. 

He continued playing, and I said his name two more times, telling him to stop. Immediately, it made me think of Nala because one of the first things we realized when we adopted her was that she didn’t respond to her name. My wife carefully noted this, which became the first thing we worked on. Soon after some training sessions, she responded to her name when called. 

I’ve also learned that positive reinforcement, consistently applied over time, leads to meaningful growth, though setbacks are part of the process. Whether it’s a student misbehaving or Nala pulling on her leash, one mistake doesn’t erase progress. We celebrate the wins, offer encouragement, and keep going. For example, I’ll tell her “Good girl!” when she does as I command. The same goes for things like how to get students to enter the classroom or to put equipment away. I’ll give a high five or say “Good job” when I catch a student doing something positive. As the year goes by, more and more students follow the classroom cues, and there are fewer behavioral issues.

The biggest takeaway? Zoom out. When we look at the full arc of a school year or a new pet’s journey, the progress is clear. There will be tough days, but if we stay consistent and supportive, the results speak for themselves. Whether it’s Nala walking calmly or a student following routines, growth is always possible with patience and care. I will still have less than satisfactory days as we approach the end of the year, but when I ask myself if the class is better now than it was at the beginning of the year, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” 

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Pair this blog post with the following:

Finding The Real Purpose of Physical Education by Wyatt Franz

Changing the Perception of Physical Education by Wyatt Franz

 The Basics by  Donn Tobin

Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?