This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with some of my fellow PPG Behavior Teams members! Not only that, my precious dog Barnaby got to attend, along with fellow pups Munson and Cahoots! (side note, dog pros have some of the best dog names in my humble opinion). Don’t think we talked much about our businesses, clients or cases, but rather, just got to hangout with fellow dog nerds and get to learn more about each other. What a treat! Our Bay Area team stretches far – like really far, way out of the bay area proper – but still, it’s nice to know that within about an hours drive, we have some pretty amazing people we can rely on.
This isn’t the only team of dog pro’s I’m a part of, and there is for sure some overlap within this team to some others. And I love it! While most of us work for ourselves, a few members also offer some group classes at established facilities, or might moonlight with another company from time to time. But the majority of our work is solo. Meaning, it’s rare we actually talk through cases together or bounce around ideas of how to approach clients or their care team. But these various groups changes that! I’m hoping this trend continues, this past year alone I’ve been able to join a number of these type of groups and can genuinely say they have made me a better behavior consultant, a better trainer, and a better business owner.
If you are a fellow dog professional out there on your own, I highly encourage you to join a group of likeminded dog pros. It doesn’t need to be in person. Some of my absolutely best mentors are people I’ve exclusively worked with online. Making sure the group is supportive and a safe space is key. It aligns with your ethics and you can be you. A good group is there to support you, not steal your clients or bad mouth behind you back. A good group helps you with the hard cases, helps support you through tough scenarios (client or dog!), and provides a reputable referral network for you. What I love most about these groups is that it’s not all the same exact profession. In one group we have VBs, vets, groomers, walkers, trainers, consultants, and so much more. Another group that is more trainer focused has members that vary the type of training they do, like puppies, service dogs, behavior modification, group classes and more. We’re not competing against each other, we are supporting each other.
I suppose my point of this post is to encourage fellow dog pros to reach out and find a group that can help them. It’s truly a gift to be part of these awesome circle of like minded dog pros!
What groups am I currently part of? Pet Harmony’s Pet Pro, PPG Behavior Team of the Bay Area, Dog Trainers Collaborative Support Group, & Transform Behavior Community.