A Mentor Who Shaped My View on Dog Training — And Why It Still Matters
A Mentor Who Shaped My View on Dog Training — And Why It Still Matters
Updated for Kansas City & Shawnee Dog Owners
Many of my friends and long-time clients know this already, but Ian Dunbar was my first real mentor when I started my dog training journey years ago in the Kansas City area.
He was someone I paid attention to early on — not because I agreed with everything blindly, but because he forced people in the dog training world to think differently, ask better questions, and stop defaulting to outdated assumptions.
This blog post brings up a lot of important ideas about the current state of dog training — where we’re headed, what we’re doing right, and where we continue to miss the mark.
If you’re a dog owner trying to sort through conflicting advice, loud opinions, and training trends that change every five minutes, this is worth your time.
Why This Conversation Still Matters
Dog training today is louder than it’s ever been.
Everyone has a platform. Everyone has a “method.” And everyone seems convinced they’ve found the answer.
What often gets lost is context, common sense, and the long-term impact of how we teach dogs.
One of the things Ian Dunbar consistently pushed — and something that shaped my own approach — was the idea that dogs are learning all the time, whether we’re aware of it or not.
That means what we reward matters, what we ignore matters, and what we think we’re teaching isn’t always what the dog is learning.
Why I’m Sharing This
I’m sharing this article not because it’s trendy or controversial, but because it raises important questions about how dog training has evolved — and in some cases, gone sideways.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the training industry is still asking the right questions, this is a good read.
Click here to read the blog — Is Dog Training Broken? (Dunbar Academy)
A Local Perspective
At K.I.S.S. Dog Training, we’ve been helping dogs and their owners in the Kansas City area for over a decade.
Based in Shawnee and working with families throughout the metro, the focus has always been simple: understand how dogs actually learn, remove confusion, and strengthen the relationship between dogs and their humans.
Good training isn’t about forcing compliance — it’s about clarity, communication, and consistency.
If You Need Hands-On Help
K.I.S.S. Dog Training has been helping dog owners build better relationships for over ten years.
If you’re tired of guessing and want help that actually fits your dog and your home, start with a conversation.
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s understanding — and better teamwork with your dog.
