Look, if you are here on this website, you likely do not need a dog trainer. If you are dealing with some pretty serious behaviors with your dog, the need for training is really small. Yes, I’ll clarify. As if I’d start being vague now, ha!
There are some pretty big time influencer accounts online that recently have been fostering or adopting dogs with some pretty intense dog behavior issues. One was a really tragic case of severe neglect and the rescue this influencer was working with placed the dog in her care for foster. In the middle of New York City. With another dog in the home. With no real guidance. She thought it was just a case of needing love and some food. Yes, those are wonderful, but it’s not enough. This dog went on a leashed walk in a very dense urban setting and bit and latched on to another dog causing damage. This influencer was so shook up and just devastated (of course!) and immediately puts out a video that this dog will go straight to training. Ugh, my heart dropped. This dog (and this well meaning foster parent) should never have been in this situation. This dog should not have been put in this environment. It was way too fast to be walking on urban streets and the poor dog was needing so much more then just a good meal and love. It needed decompression, it needed understanding. The dogs needs were vast and the poor foster parent was set up to fail by the rescue organization. My heart dropped further when I went to the rescue and saw they partnered with an abusive trainer.
This isn’t a post about abusive trainers. This dog could have been enrolled with the most loving and caring and ethical force-free positive reinforcement trainer. It just wasn’t what that dog needed at that moment. The foster parent and this dog needed to fully understand how to help the dog and figure out this dogs exact needs. I only saw as much as the influencer posted on instagram so can’t speculate what the exact needs are, but I can assure you learning to sit, heel, lay down on a mat and stay were absolutely not at all close to that needs list.
This dog was not a rare case. There are many many more stories just like this on all the social media platforms. Yesterday I read someones account of a dog biting people and reached out asking for help. They repeatedly mention they’ve been training with a “behaviorist” for two years and they were formerly FBI. What on earth does an FBI agent have anything to do with working behavior cases? (look, I’ve already posted about the unregulated industry, and unfortunately abusive trainers love using the word behaviorist or behaviorialist – seriously, it’s not a word but they use it a lot) Anyway, this well meaning person reaching out on Threads was getting some good advice and hopefully learned a bit about the difference between a vet behaviorist and a “behaviorist”. But again, this dog doesn’t need a trainer. Knowing nothing about this particular case, this dog needs someone that will work with their humans and learn about how to manage the environment, figure out the exact needs of the dog and the root issues underlying the dogs behaviors.
Most dog guardians that have been struggling with their dog behaviors are some of the most dedicated dog guardians I’ve ever worked with. They have the most patience, the most love and just need some help that will bring them both relief. A dog who is stressed, anxious or showing signs of deep fear, I promise you, they do not need to learn loose leash walking. They literally are incapable of it in that state of mind.
When we work together, we figure out exactly what your dog needs. We also learn how to help you! Your dog is not alone in this journey. We are working on a much bigger scope then mechanical training and body positions. We go through all factors affecting your dogs behavior. We dive deep into their history, their medical and health, their environment and discuss at length their exposure to their triggers. I want to learn about your pain points, your goals, how your dog’s behaviors are effecting your life. I want to learn about what you are able to do, where you might need additional support, and learn about your lifestyle with your dog. As we continue our work together, in time we might be adding in some skill building. This is just as much for the guardian as it is for the dog. I’ll be honest, the skill building section is human centered first almost every time.
When we work together, we figure out exactly what your dog needs.
By the time we are working on those skills for your dog, we have already established a solid foundation and things are already much better. They need to be. If your dog is still constantly stressed, or in the above stories, the dog is still exposed to triggers and actively biting humans and dogs around them, we still have a lot more foundation work to work on and your dog is still not in a state to learn. And these skills I speak of, they will be customized to you and your dogs actual needs. We are likely going to be speaking to de-escalating, learning to relax, meeting your dogs needs in ways that reduce stress for you both. Learning to move with your dog in the environment is a great skill I love teaching dogs and their humans, but I promise you, it will never look like a strict heel.
You might be thinking, that’s nice and all, but I thought I needed my dog to sit for visitors at the door, or for my dog to walk right next to me when we pass another dog on a tight sidewalk, and man, I think I’d really like my dog to lay down on a mat during our meal at that hot new cafe that’s all abuzz. Well, again, if you are here, we are likely going to be discussing the reality of these goals, and more importantly, why you feel the need to accomplish them. More often then not, most people have these ideas based on some vague idea of something they read, or what they see out on their walks, or maybe a friend or family member told them that was what they need to do. Thankfully there is no absolutely needs and must and these ‘rules’ are made up.
So yes, we’ll work on skill building. But only things that are actually going to be relevant to you and your dog. We are not going to be spinning our wheels and wasting your time teaching your dog skills that have no baring on our actual goals and needs. We will not be meeting in group settings and running through a laundry list of tricks. We are working on bigger concept training skills and so, so much more.
See also the post: the difference between a behavior consultant and dog trainer