Recently I was asked how I became a dog trainer; actually the question was “how did you come to know dog psychology so well?” The question resonated with me because I had to think back to a time when I never thought about “dog training” as a profession. I was headed in a completely different direction. Having recently gone back to school to get a degree in film and TV production. Having already made a major pivot in life, I was super hesitant. But the universe has a way of shifting one into the right direction… we just have to be open to receiving it. The way dog psychology came into my life is firstly I saw something that intrigued me. Having grown up with dogs I never quite grasped that one could actually communicate with them so seamlessly. That opened a door that I was quite eager to walk through. One that said “to learn more” walk this way. So I would say the first step into becoming a dog trainer is to follow one’s curiosity. If being with dogs is something that resonates with you then be open to explore more. Be ready to work hard and to own your mistakes. What follows is a snippet of my journey, it doesn’t have to be yours. But the path from becoming a dog lover to a dog trainer is essentially that: follow your curiosity, be open to learning, working hard and to owning mistakes. For me, it was that simple.
Manual labour is hard. Training dogs is manual labour. So be prepared to work hard. Dog training is weather dependent. If you truly want to get the best out of dogs you should work with them (at least part of the time) outside. Exposing a dog to the real world is what dog training is ultimately about. So be prepared to check the weather regularly so you can time when it is best to be outside. That does not mean that the times I spent under pouring rain with dogs weren’t worth it. To me, all experiences that I have had with dogs, up to this point, have been a path to learning. I wouldn’t change it for the world. That is not to say I enjoyed it at the time. However, if following your curiosity has led you to this point and you are still finding joy, then you are on right track.
If you routinely feel more at ease around dogs than people then dog training or dog behaviorism might indeed be the right profession for you. Nevertheless being a good communicator, both to the dog and human is a key part to being an effective professional. I often say that it doesn’t matter if the dog behaves with me, I am not moving in. 50% of being a good trainer is being able to bridge the gap between human and dog. If the dog only behaves when the trainer is around, then a huge chunk of the job still needs to be done. Hence why being comfortable being around people is kind of essential if one wishes to be successful in this business. After all it is the humans that pay the bills.
The hardest part of any job is owning our mistakes. Nevertheless, in dog training that is one of the most important things one can do. Since we are working with living beings it is crucial to understand that no two dogs are the same and no training situation will be repeatedly verbatim. The importance of realizing when things went wrong, are not working or have switched dramatically is critical. That can save a lot of heartache. Not to mention a life. I often recommend anyone working with dogs to have someone they respect and trust to help them out in trick situations. Asking for help in this profession is almost inevitable. There will be that dog that challenges everything you think you knew and makes you work harder than you ever thought possible. Mistakes will be made, the most important thing is to realize when that happens and to learn from them.
I have been blessed beyond measure in being able to work in something I absolutely love. Growing up, this type of career was non existent. Hence I often say that I am living the life I never knew I wanted. The pleasure one gets from helping a being out of a stressful situation; the indescribable feeling that happens when a dog finally trusts you enough to face their fears; the gratification of seeing an owner and dog finally reconnect and recognize each other again… those are just a few of the things this line of work has offered me. It is an amazing thing to be a dog trainer. You truly do get to be around dogs all day, everyday. If this sounds like something you would love, then ask yourself if working outside under rain or shine is also something you love. Seek answers by shadowing, learning and searching different professionals that you think could help further that exploration. Once you have committed then be prepared to work hard, very hard. Then watch as a different species transforms your understanding of what is essential almost on a daily basis. Dog psychology changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. The journey from dog lover to dog trainer hasn’t been easy, but I would not change it for the world.
