The Problem With Social Media in Dog Training

I use social media in my work. There are so many helpful tutorials, creative training ideas, and accessible ways for dog owners to learn. It can be an incredible tool.

And also… it can really mess with your head!

One of the biggest issues I see is comparison. You are not comparing your real, messy, in-progress dog to someone else’s real life. You are comparing them to a final product. A highly edited clip of a dog performing perfectly, often after weeks or months of training that you do not see. This creates a pressure that your dog should be “there” already, and if they are not, you are doing something wrong.

Another trend that honestly concerns me is how much content is built on shaming other dog owners. Calling people lazy, dumb, or evil. Creating a mob mentality to shame folks who make honest mistakes or who just don't know better. Framing things in a way that makes viewers feel like they are failing their dog. It gets attention, it drives engagement, and it spreads quickly. But it does not create better learning. It creates fear, guilt, and confusion.

Real life dog training is not a 10 second clip. It is inconsistent, nuanced, and deeply dependent on the individual dog and human in front of you. It involves trial and error that might not look impressive on camera but matters a lot in real life. Social media tends to flatten all of that.

That does not mean you should avoid it completely! There is genuinely valuable information out there. You can learn a lot, get inspired, and find approaches that align with your values.

The key is learning how to filter what you are seeing.

Pay attention to how content makes you feel. If it leaves you feeling ashamed, overwhelmed, or like you are behind, it is probably not serving you. Look for content that explains the why, that shows process not just outcomes, and that respects both dogs and the people learning alongside them.

Real life is not a highlight reel. Your training does not need to look like anyone else’s.