Tricks, Treats & a Life Lesson from Dog School

In Canton Zürich, first-time dog owners are required to attend dog school. As someone who grew up with dogs—as did my husband—I initially saw this as a colossal waste of time. It felt especially tedious knowing we were obliged to attend 10 hours of puppy training, followed by another 10 hours of obedience training.

Honestly, it struck me as yet another form-over-content requirement—something we often experience in our professional or social lives. Most of the time, we conform to these formalities, even if grudgingly, whether it's to maintain harmony or serve a perceived greater good.

For me, the underlying reason was simple: I love living in Switzerland. It's safe, orderly, and clean—largely because people respect the rules. So I complied.

In the early sessions, the main thing I got out of dog school was uninterrupted one-on-one time with our dog. I didn’t feel like I was learning anything groundbreaking. But then, after a few classes, I started to notice something: the principles we were being taught—like building trust through eye contact—might have broader applications.

One evening, after a class where we’d been practicing sustained eye contact to deepen our connection with the dog, I decided to try the same technique with my 3-year-old son. I asked him to look at me before giving him a simple instruction. To my surprise, it worked. He followed through—without resistance. I was amazed.

That small success made me rethink my initial skepticism.

My biggest takeaway? Keep an open mind.

Even experiences that seem like a waste of time might surprise you—if you’re willing to see the value in them.