Grease the Groove, Not Your Living Room Floor: The Sneaky Secret to Effortless Human AND Dog Training!
Alright, fellow dog geek extraordinaries! I just wanted to share a real life story, that really got me thinking, with you today. I’ve been on a bit of health kick this last few months. I managed to get really fit in 2023 but, with a big move to Wales in June last year, and all the important things that come with it, I took my foot off the gas and slumped back into my old ways.
A few months ago I decided to pick it up again. To make sure I avoided injury I decided to do a bit of research into the best ways to improve strength and limit breaking myself. It was during this research that I found a cool new way of training myself AND had a epiphany about how this translates to dog training.
Have you ever heard of "Greasing the Groove"? No, it’s not a questionable dance move from the 70s that your Dad pulls out at the local after a skinful, nor is it something you do when your door hinges get squeaky (though, also important). It’s actually a rather cunning training principle popularised by a chap named Pavel Tsatsouline, a sort of strength sensei, for getting seriously good at an exercise without actually breaking a sweat or, heaven forbid, feeling like you’re training at all.
Intrigued? You should be. Because what if I told you this sneaky method of building superhuman strength (okay, maybe just really good strength) has a direct, almost spooky parallel to achieving goals in dog training.
So, What in the Name of Burpees IS "Greasing the Groove"?
Imagine you want to do more push-ups. The traditional approach might involve gruelling sessions, sweat, tears, and possibly collapsing in a heap. Pavel’s GtG method, however, says: "Nonsense! Just do a few perfect push-ups, well within your limit, several times throughout the day. Every day." No straining, no maxing out, no feeling like you’ve wrestled a bear.
The idea is that you’re not aiming for muscle fatigue; you’re training your nervous system. You’re making that neural pathway for a perfect push-up so slick and well-used that your brain just goes, "Oh, a push-up? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. We do those all the time." You’re essentially "greasing the groove" of that specific movement, making it effortless and second nature.
Enter the Canine: "Greasing the Good Boy/Girl Groove"
Now, let's look at our dogs. We all dream of that perfect recall that withstands the allure of a rogue squirrel, that calm loose lead past distractions or, an awesome start line wait at the Hoopers session. And how do many of us approach it? With intense, hour-long training marathons, leaving both us and our doggo students a bit frazzled, brain-fried, and possibly questioning our life choices.
But what if we took the pressure off and "Greased the Canine Groove" instead?
Think about it:
Tiny Training Titbits: Instead of one big session, how about three to five teeny-tiny sessions a day? We’re talking 2-5 minutes. The time it takes for the kettle to boil. During the ad break of your favourite show. While you’re waiting for the toast to pop (mmmm toast).
Focus on Flawless: Just like GtG aims for perfect reps, in these micro-sessions, you aim for a few really good responses. One perfect "wait," a few steps of lovely loose-lead walking in the hallway, a super speedy recall from the garden.
No Pressure, All Pleasure: Because the sessions are short and you’re really focusing on not pushing your dog (or yourself), they stay fun! Your dog thinks, "Ooh, another quick, fun game with my favourite human where I get treats/praise? Sign me UP!" No overwhelm, no shutdown, just positive vibes.
Building Brain Bridges: Just like GtG builds those neural pathways for physical skills, these short, frequent, successful repetitions build super strong neural pathways for the behaviours that will give our canine friends a better life. Your dog’s brain effectively gets "greased" to offer those good behaviours more readily.
The "Exam Cram" vs. "Language Whizz" Conundrum
I had another epiphany during my recent journey. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t tried to cram for an exam? Remember those late nights, fuelled by questionable energy drinks, trying to stuff an entire textbook's worth of information into your brain, only for it to ooze out your ears the moment you put your pen down? That’s the dog training equivalent of those long, infrequent "boot camp" sessions. Some stuff might stick, but a lot of it is a hazy, stressed-out blur for your dog.
Now, think about learning a language. The most successful polyglots (yes I only learned this word today too) often swear by short, consistent daily practice. Think of apps like Duolingo – that little owl isn't hounding you for a three-hour grammar session. It’s doing a owly nudge for 5-10 minutes of practice, every day. You’re greasing the groove of new vocabulary and sentence structures. Little and often. Suddenly, you’re ordering croissants in Paris like a the coolest Parisienne on the block (or at least, you don't accidentally ask for a "soap dish" when you want a coffee).
This "little and often" approach is not new to the world of dog training but it is gold for our dogs. We know they learn a new behaviour much more effectively through repeated, positive, brief exposures than through one long, potentially confusing lecture.
Making "Grease the Groove" Your Dog Training Superpower
The beauty of this is its simplicity and its kindness – to both you and your dog. No more dreading "training time." No more feeling like a failure if you don't have a spare hour. Just tiny, joyful interactions throughout your day that add up to BIG results.
Recall Practice: Call your dog from one room to another a few times while you’re tidying up. Massive party when they arrive. Groove greased.
Loose-Lead Magic: Practice three steps of perfect loose-lead walking from the sofa to the kitchen. Treat. Repeat later. Groove greased.
Now, our GtG fitness gurus don't just do easy reps forever; every now and then, they like to test their newfound, beautifully lubricated skill. It’s not an exam, mind you, more like a "Hey, look what I can do now without even thinking!" moment. And guess what? We can do the same with our expertly greased canine companions!
Once your dog’s ‘recall’ is so greased they’re practically gliding through the back door, with no hesitation, every time the whistle blows, maybe you gently test it with one of the legendary "3Ds." Perhaps you ask for that recall from a tiny bit further away (Distance), or even (gasp!) attempt it while a single, very boring leaf blows past the window (Distraction).
The key is, just like GtG, you’re not throwing them into the canine equivalent of the Olympics; you’re just seeing how that beautifully polished skill holds up with a teeny bit more challenge, always ready to make it easier again if needed. It’s all part of the fun, proving that those little-and-often moments are crafting some seriously solid skills.
To Conclude…
So, ditch the cramming mentality. Forget the training marathons. Embrace your inner Pavel (minus the very serious Russian accent, perhaps) and start "Greasing the Groove" with your dog. You might just find that achieving your training goals becomes a fun, no-pressure affair, building skill almost by stealth, with the occasional "ta-da!" moment thrown in for good measure. And who doesn't love a bit of sneaky success?
Happy (micro) training!