It should be clear to everyone: Dogs don't speak like we humans do. They don't use words - and yet they communicate with us all day long. They speak with their behavior, with their energy, with their body language. And they often speak very loudly.

Many dog owners believe that they simply have to trust their dog more. But trust is not something that you simply decide to do - trust has to be earned. Just because you trust your dog more does not automatically mean that he is trustworthy. Trust is not built through hope, but through experience, reliability and repetition.

Life has rules. It doesn't matter whether you believe in them or not - they still apply. You can play by them or ignore them, but that doesn't mean they stop working. We find these rules everywhere - even in education. And those who understand and follow them will always reach their goal faster, more stable and more harmoniously.

Many people believe that they make conscious decisions about what they do. But the truth is that almost everything we think, feel or do is controlled by subconscious beliefs. These beliefs are like invisible programs running in the background - often unnoticed, but incredibly powerful. They influence how you react to your dog, how you set boundaries, how you deal with setbacks and how you live authority.

People tend to compare themselves. We see our neighbor's dog walking easily on a leash, staying calm when other dogs pass by - and immediately the comparison begins in our heads: "Why doesn't that work for me?" "Why does it work so easily for them?" But this comparison only leads in one direction: to frustration, pressure and self-doubt.

When a dog is sick, injured or weak, it is clear what it needs: Affection, empathy, closeness and care. He should feel that you are there, that he can let himself go and that he is safe. However, many people make the mistake of showing the same reaction when the dog is nervous, overwhelmed or ignorant. And that's exactly what throws him even more off balance.

When we are children, we learn with enthusiasm. We discover, explore, try things out - without fear of making mistakes, without pressure, without judgment. We are intrinsically motivated - inspired from within to understand new things. But over time, many people lose precisely this feeling. Learning becomes something you have to do - no longer something you want to do.

For many families, Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year—but also one of the most hectic. Children look forward to presents, family and friends come to visit, and the kitchen smells of cookies and chocolate. But for your dog, this time of year can quickly become a challenge.

I grew up in the tough world of professional sport. In this world, one thing counts above all else: performance. Even as a child, I learned that if you're good, you get recognition. If you play badly, you don't get it. This conditioning shaped me for a long time - and deeply. I looked at everything through this lens: myself, my work, my fellow human beings. I evaluated, compared, measured - always in terms of performance. That was my metric. And I was convinced that this was the only way it worked.

Many people want their dog to take them seriously at crucial moments - for example, when a dog encounter escalates, when the recall doesn't work or when the dog goes completely crazy. But that's not how it works. You can't choose when you are taken seriously - you are always taken seriously, or never.

The path to a reliable and relaxed dog. When I accompany people with their dogs—in Zurich, throughout Switzerland, or online worldwide—I always focus on more than just exercises or technique. It's about a mindset that determines whether a dog will truly become reliable or not. A mindset based on acceptance, clarity, and genuine leadership. Because a relaxed dog always starts with a clear-minded person.

We live in a world where everything should work immediately. One click - and the food is there. One swipe - and the conversation begins. But that's not how it works with a dog. Many people want their dog to walk calmly on the lead after 1-2 days of training, to be able to be called off or to remain relaxed when visitors arrive. But real change - real, lasting change - takes time, patience and repetition.

Many people believe that their dog is "provoking" them or "testing boundaries". But the truth is that they are trying to find out something completely different: Whether he can rely on you. Dogs are highly refined observers. They read you - not by your words, but by your energy, your attitude and your reactions. And they test to understand who is leading.

We live in a world where everything should work immediately. One click - and the food is there. One swipe - and the conversation begins. But that's not how it works with a dog. Many people want their dog to walk calmly on the lead after 1-2 days of training, to be able to be called off or to remain relaxed when visitors arrive. But real change - real, lasting change - takes time, patience and repetition.

Sometimes people ask me: "Marc, why do you do what you do?" Why do I work with dogs and their people every day - and why do I love this work so much? The answer is simple - and at the same time profound: I believe that it doesn't really matter what you do in life. What matters is how you do it - and with what attitude.

Many people have a misunderstanding when it comes to freedom. They believe that freedom means having no limits - being able to do whatever you want. That sounds tempting, almost romantic. But this idea is an illusion.

The most common reason why people fail in training their dog is mental blocks and deeply rooted beliefs. These invisible beliefs not only prevent us from being successful in dog training - they also hold us back in life itself.

From professional ice hockey player to dog trainer - experience Marc Welti in person in this podcast. In this interview, Marc Welti talks about discipline, excuses, injuries, spiritual detours - and why dog training is ultimately always human training too.

You hear it again and again. The so-called flexi lead or pull-out lead is an absolute no-go for ambitious dog owners. But is a flexi lead really as bad as everyone says? As always, we need to take a more differentiated view and approach the issue logically and soberly.