Every once in a while I am asked why I became a dog trainer and my answer is always the same: "I don't know."
My answer is not meant to be pejorative in any way and I can't speak for others in this profession, but I never had any deep desire to train dogs. I didn't wake up one morning after an inspiring dream shouting, "That's it, I'm supposed to be a dog trainer!" But a dream is what I followed, nonetheless. I pursued my love of animals and my passion for dogs. One thing led to another and I began training dogs and their people. Being a dog trainer may seem like an ideal job for someone who loves dogs, but I can't say this profession is for everyone who loves dogs. There is a great deal of competition between trainers and since many focus on just one particular training style, there tends to be a lot of criticism of one another.
At a training seminar many years ago a colleague once said to me, "The only thing two dog trainers can agree upon is what the other one is doing wrong." And he was right. There are so many opinions and criticisms of techniques that at times I feel sorry for dog owners trying to do the right thing for their dog. They speak with one trainer who says one thing, then another who tells them something else, then a third who disparages the first two trainers and gives them another technique.
After almost two decades in this business I have learned that everything changes. What was once new is old and what was once old becomes new again. There are many techniques to use when training dogs and as long as you are not causing any intentional physical distress or discomfort, the technique will work if you believe in it. Treats, no treats; praise, no praise; toys, no toys; clickers no clickers - one method is not better than the other. The rewards can be different for every dog as no two dogs are the same. One dog will work for food while the other ignores food and seeks play. Dogs are no different than humans when it comes to having a preferred reward for a job well done. As a trainer, you just have to be experienced enough or intuitive enough to recognize this.
There are good trainers, there are bad ones and there are exceptional ones. What I have learned is that the exceptional ones have a true gift and use their intuition and internal guidance. They are open minded and rarely, if ever, speak judgmentally of another trainer.
The good ones are book smart with years of experience, have learned training techniques at seminars and workshops and apply those techniques with precision.
The exceptional trainer is often criticized, judged and at times admonished by their colleagues because they are misunderstood. When one works through intuition, it is hard for those who do not have that internal guidance system to understand. What one does not understand, one fears, and when one fears, one becomes defensive, critical and judgmental.
Having an affinity for dogs is an obvious requirement to be a dog trainer, but you also have to love people, or at the very least enjoy their presence.
Judging an owner's choice of dog, choice of care and their experience (or lack thereof) will only create a negative environment. This does not allow for a positive training experience no matter how many treats, clickers or toys you have in your pockets. People, just like dogs, pick up on negativity and judgment. Regardless of how successful a training session was (or wasn't) with a dog, an owner should still leave the session feeling good. Those good feelings come from working with a trainer who is empathetic of what you are going through with your dog, not judgmental.
On a grander scale, becoming a dog trainer has given me the courage to buck the system of conformity, the security of the mainstream and work within the daily uncertainty of autonomy. It has given me the fortitude to follow all my dreams.
Following a dream does take a great deal of courage, but if your passion for something ignites a fire within you, then follow it. You never know where it will lead.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
