I Need a Trainer!

What a great article. Brought a little smile to my face.

I'm just starting in the dog training business and although I am not a qualified dog trainer, I'm pretty good at training dog's.(my-my the head swells sometimes)

Like yourself, I regularly get complimented about how well behaved my two springers are on and off-leash, in the house or other peoples houses and in public. I've even given some basic training to neighbours and friends dogs.

Now "The Flood Waters Have Opened". If these people saw sometimes what I let my springers get away with, all playful stuff, they may have second thoughts about my training ability. The scratched lip or arm are what come with having a dog, just as baby vomit on your best suit as you are going for that promotion comes with having a baby. Lets see just how many of the professionals will own up to this type of behaviour with their dogs. I'll bet secretly that it's a lot. The dog training is the profession and the dog loving is the emotion. So come on all you prof's out there...tell the truth and shame the devil

Keep smiling
John Kearns
JK Tiling

I am a pretty new trainer - been doing it professionally for almost a year but been involved in training and studying animal behavior as a hobby for the last several years. I find that with the instruction that I give my students, the dedicated ones do AMAZING things with their dogs (we're really people trainers after all) but I don't always follow my own advice...

I totally admit that at home, when playing, I roughhouse with both dogs all the time! We all wrestle on the bed and they jump all over me and on my head and I occasionally get a nipped nose (that stops the play, of course, but not for long *grin*). I totally let them bark too much (though my landlord doesn't mind it - he likes feeling like he has 'guard puppies' on the premise) and every time we go anywhere new we need to spend a few minutes re-training just to get them to pretend they can walk nicely on leash! They chase each other all over the couch & loveseat whether or not there are people sitting there and I think it's funny even when I get tromped on. They go craaaaaazy whenever we have company over - I always feel a little guilty when my students tell me how well their dogs are doing with maintaining the quiet down stays we practiced while company comes through the door. We still work very very hard at home to maintain a stay until the door closes behind our guests - it's just that we so rarely have company I don't work on it like I know I should.

The real kicker for me is that individually their obedience is pretty solid, they know loads of really cool tricks and are very good with other dogs, people, children etc - but put the girls together and it's like half of their training flies out the window. Yet, I spend much of my class time reminding students repeatedly about proofing, proofing, proofing...Doh!

Let me say, though, that compared to to the average pet dog they are well trained...it's just obviously a much different standard when you are 'The Dog Trainer'. I guess it's good to remember that there is always more to learn and more training to do. :)

Sometimes my students will tell me about a behavior their dog does... in a "oh, I'm feeling a little ashamed" kind of way. And then ask, "Is it wrong?"

Hmmmm... "is it wrong?" I'll answer something like, "do you think it's wrong? Do you not mind it? 'cause if you don't mind it, than that's your personal choice/decision."

As trainers, we may know *how* to get all the behaviors many of our clients want, but then with our own dogs, we train for what we personally can live with. or want to live with. or what we have time for.

But this is really the same thing any dog owner will do. Some people will like such things as crazy zoomie demon dogs at midnight, wreaking havoc on the furniture and any body parts in their path. Some people will eliminate such shananigans immediately. (I just happen to be part of the latter crowd) ; ) hee, hee

I do happen to be a part of the crowd that loves/enjoys/allows insanely slobbery, kissy, must have my extra large tongue on the nearest human skin if it's within a one foot radius around my head... kind of dog.

regards - Debbie Bickford

My dogs and I have our times when we are off in relaxation and play mode. I don't expect my dog to not play with me, and sometimes I might get scratched. It's no big deal, sometimes my big clumsy feet step on my dogs toes. My dogs are equally forgiving.

Of course, even as a professional trainer, you are going to have moments that are just about you enjoying your dog, and you do not need to be "on". There are periods of time that my dogs get trained more or less. I get lazy sometimes. That is not my dogs fault, it's mine. On the other hand, we all need a time where we can let things go and just enjoy. All the upfront part and foundation of my training as allowed me to be able to do that, and NOT be on top of my dogs every single minute.

As far as I know, there is nothing wrong with that. And as long as within a group of trainers, one is clear about where they are or are not in their work, rather than saying NO ONE every needs to have standards for their dogs, then that is fair.

Maurice Peaches
All Good Doggies

Glad there are other people in the same boat--I often think about that when taking our two Husky/Malamute-mix girls on a walk--they want nothing more than snow, a sled, and for me to get out of the way (which ain't gonna happen on the Texas/Mexico border...) I remind them not to act like "preacher's kids" and pull me down the street like maniacs, *especially* if I happen to be wearing a work shirt with my company name, logo, website, telephone number, address.....

Glenda Herrin
Owner, Heeling Hounds Dog Training
www.heelinghounds.com

I'll give you one even wackier: I own a dog-walking business and I don't currently have a dog! I got into this almost 3 years ago as a side job working for another company because I couldn't have a dog where we lived. One thing led to another and here I am: around 75 clients served weekly, 8 dog-walkers, tons of great stories and over-abundant doggy-love and not one in my own home!! I'm so busy with client dogs these days that when the hubby and i moved into a new place that allows pets, we decided against adding a family member. Why? Well, I'd have to hire a dog walker!!

Jane
Top Dog/Owner
Paws-N-Effect Dog Walking
Chicago, IL
www.pawsneffect.net