5 Reasons why I am still training dogs...

I have been working with dogs of all ages, breeds, dispositions, and origins for about 16 years now, and I have had the pleasure of owning my own dog training company for the last 8.5 years. There are a handful of reasons that I am still doing what I do, and I wanted to share these with you because this is my WHY.

1. I believe that God placed it on my heart from a young age to commune, play, and abide well with dogs.

Last night I was chatting with a client, and she reminded me that I didn't choose this talent or ability or skill. As far back as I can remember, I have been able to get an affect and a behavior out of dogs that others couldn't. This is inside of me, and I'll never be able to shake it. It doesn'mean that I always want dogs encroaching on my space or that I have to always even own a dog. It just means that my nervous system relaxes around them.

2. If this was endowed on me, I have a calling to answer.

Business ownership and marketing are not my strong suits because I don't like tooting my own horn - it's uncomfortable. This is why I barely ask clients for reviews. It makes me uncomfortable to read the stuff they say. I'd rather get criticism. If something bigger than me is pushing and pulling me towards it, anything else feels like breathing under water.

3. I absolutely love working with people.

There are plenty of dog trainers who really couldn't care less if they ever saw a human being again. I think that's super weird - maybe alittle mentally ill. People are what represent a connection to me. I am so grateful to each and every member of my client family, and I love educating and coaching to bring about hope, predictability, and freedom.

4. The market will never be saturated.

Dog trainers have the unique distinction of being able to do a really bad job and simultaneously not grant refunds for their work. Anyone today can call themselves a dog trainer. Marketing and Ads can make people look like someone they're not. I have trained with some who I thought were the best, who ended up being really awful, deceitful, greedy people. All I need to do is be myself and keep showing up, telling the truth loudly over and over again. And when I believe it's enough, to say it again.

5. There is an ideologically death cult of veterinarians, canine behaviorists, and "force-free / positive-only" trainers who would rather medicate, rehome, or kill a dog than train it.

Lately, I have been appalled at the amount of individuals who have come out of the woodwork. They are subtle and quiet at first, but then they show themselves: ignorant, voyeuristic, and insecure. They don't really believe that dogs can be rehabilitated for aggression or reactivity. "It can only be managed," they claim. Well, that is not my experience. Lifelong, real change without endless management and prevention is possible.

I want to encourage the up and coming dog trainer out there to observe and watch closely. Is the trainer you're apprenticing under listening to the dog? Or are they listening to their own ego? Are they giving the dog a choice and responding in turn, or are they treating the dog as if they are too stupid or evil to make the right decision when given the opportunity.

People often ask me, "But will you actually trust the dog after training, even with kids and strangers?" My answer is pretty simple. I will return the dog back to it's basline nature. Your job is to give the dog the biological fulfillment they need through freedom & play to rebuild that trust yourself. I cannot trust the dog for you.

This is the only style of training I have seen rehabilitate the dog's worldview along with the client's belief system of the dog. And there are plenty of trainers out there who are doing it right. Anyone can do this. It's not complicated. We're not extra special. We just have to be willing to listen, to be led, and to lead the way with freedom and play.