Remember this one thing: When your dog trainer is finished training your dog, and teaching you how to follow through, you NEED to stick with the follow through.  I learned this recently when I signed up for a physical therapy program.  I was dealing with a lot of pain and in dire need of help (working with dogs is strenuous and can be tough on the body)!  I purchased 8 sessions with a physical therapist.  It was a hefty investment, but I knew it would be worth it.  I met with my physical therapist every week for 2 months! I worked the programs she gave me 2 times a day every day without fail.  Then when the program ended, it was up to me to stay with my exercises.  They were simple, straight forward, and did not require much of my time each day.  This process of making my body stronger, made me appreciate what dog owners go through when they hire a trainer.  They get the dog trained, and things start improving at home, but then life happens, and somehow they get off track.  The same thing started happening with my physical therapy.  I started being too busy for my routine each day, and stopped altogether because I felt really good.  Slowly but surely, I noticed a little pain here and there creeping back in.  Thats when I realized I had to keep doing the program–maybe not 2 times a day every day like in the beginning, but I needed to do the routine regularly, and it had to be a non negotiable item on my daily list of habits.  That is exactly what has to happen with our dogs.   

While most of us are very busy with our work, children, and other committments, our dogs need us to be present.  

It really doesnt take much time or effort on our part once the dog is trained.  We stop with the structure, forget using the tools, get rif od the crate (because the dog is so good without it now), and sure enough all the things you invested in are eroded and forgotten. This happens to all of us at some point.  Best thing I can suggest (I’m speaking from experience) is to get back into a simple, yet straight forward routine with your dog.  Get those habits re-established.  They are there in the dog’s muscle memory–you just have to do the tough thing, and start again.