08/29/2026
Thousands of dogs since day one have walked through our doors. Funny enough I still remember those first dogs. I remember them so clearly. Our relationship with the dogs is unique, special, and one that few will understand. When I see those early puppies I trained now turning grey or having health issues. I still see the rambunctious or goofy puppy they were. When they come in tail wagging though and a peace about them that you can’t quite describe because they know they are safe and loved here. Best feeling. A good trainer can teach your dog to obey commands. But there is a difference between that training, lifestyle training, behavior training, and reliable training. However it is not just about teaching the dog. It is teaching the owners too. A lot of trainers struggle with that more than anything. Myself included at times. But I pride myself on being one of the most patient, supportive, and caring trainers that you will find. For the humans too, not just the dogs. Even if I can get the dog to do it, it means nothing if I can’t get them to do it with you. So we practice, and we make sure you know what you are doing before ending a graduation. But it doesn’t end there. If you struggle we will happily get you back on track. Sometimes years later. I don’t care, I love seeing owners take advantage of having their dogs listen and enjoy all that they can during their life. It’s short enough as it is, so to be able to enjoy more of it with them. Truly is priceless. All of that being said. When did we as people forget that we can correct our dogs (fairly) and it be ok. If half the people would treat their dog like they treated their child in terms of rules and holding them accountable. You’d see a different dog. Example. If you told your child to sit on a chair and stay and they didn’t. Most parents would grab the child quickly and put them back. Potentially with more consequences or tone. So if we tell our dog to stay at the door. Why don’t we block them with either a door shutting in their face or our knee blocking them abruptly if they move. There are so many other examples I can give, but I don’t want this to be about that. The biggest difference between a trainer and an owner is your accountability. Dogs aren’t dumb. They know who is going to back it up. Yet we as the trainer will get blamed in a minute if things don’t go right. Now again a professional trainer should be willing to continue to help. Because truly training never stops and people and dogs will have good and bad days. Having a support system is helpful. The worst thing you can do is do nothing or just deal with it. Also I don’t mean just using an ecollar to correct them. There are so many ways to teach a dog, to correct a dog, or to hold a dog accountable. Again, going back to a stay at the door scenario. No ecollar needed there. Can teach that with just movement and action. I do get frustrated hearing some client stories that come to me after trying other trainers and they tell me that the trainer couldn’t help anymore or wouldn’t. Support is a huge part of our title. So for someone to fall short there is not helping the rest of us earn our clients trust. Same goes for those that have abuse or neglect issues. You are a disgrace to the profession and make it so much harder for the ones that truly give their business their whole heart. The ones that love every single dog that walks through their business, like it was their own family. Because they are. I have hugged teary eyed owners that needed to know there was help or hope. I have calmed owners that were so mad they were ready to give up. I have cried tears of joy alongside owners at a success that none of us thought was possible. I have cried tears of sadness with illnesses or passing of older dogs. Because it’s never enough time. But to know they weren’t the only ones that had an impact from their dog’s life is a comfort. A dog trainer should be that person for you and your dog. I have never turned away a client that asks for more help. But we can’t help if you don’t ask. Just this past week I had a client that graduated some years back stop by and say she needed a refresher. We spoke about her struggles, gave her some ideas to try at home and will follow up with a lesson from there. A month or so ago had one that needed help in public after graduating. Met them at the store and had a great time figuring out their struggles and improving it. Have a graduate visiting now that needs a reminder on listening when excited. Great, love to help that, and will get them back on track. There is no single right way to train every dog. Like us, they are all different. Personally I love that, keeps my job interesting. Find out what makes each dog tick. I have spoke about the lightbulb moment before. That moment it clicks with the dog and you see they get it. Best feeling. Actually had one graduate today that didn’t “perform” as perfect as I wanted. But we worked through it and ended great. Never once during that time did I get frustrated at that dog. It was about finding out what was stopping her from doing what she knew how to do and working through it. We did and she got through it. Dog trainers that relate to this article. You are awesome. Keep on being you. Clients that support us and literally have grown with us. You mean more than you’ll ever know.
