Hey everyone! Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes and into the mind of a dog trainer? Ever wondered exactly what happens in the before / after stages of working with a dog, and wanted photographic evidence? Well, today is your lucky day! I have been training dogs for over 12 years and also photographing them for over 5 years, so I've compiled quite a few stories and images to share. Over the last two years of running a dog training business (the previous 10 years were learning the skills to even work in the field professionally), I've worked with too many dogs to count and I have a few images to share from each case.
So glad you stopped by the Dog Training 411 section of my blog, this is where I will be sharing weekly snippets of dogs I've worked with, a main takeaway from having worked with that dog, and possibly a story of how that dog is doing now. Don't be fooled, however, not all stories have a happy ending. Dog training is a process and it takes as much commitment on the end of the owners as it does on my part. You can expect to learn a lot by reading through these snippets because I will be going into detail about the dogs body language in each photo as well! Dogs communicate in energy and body language… if you want to learn more about dog behavior, you came to the right section of my website!
So let's get started! This first case is a serious throwback! I was obviously a tweenie when I started working with dogs, and Toby was my first true "aggressive" case (and I still have a scar to prove it, ha!) Yes, dog trainers make mistakes, too. He was absolutely resistant to walking on the leash, submitting in the presence of neighboring dogs, and just all round stubborn-willed. The owners brought me in to help his behavior but mainly to educate them on proper household structures to help Toby become the most submissive family member in the house rather than the most dominant. I went over the most important point with them that I will probably mention in each blog post I share in Dog Training 411: 1) Exercise, 2) Discipline, 3) Affection.
Dogs have a natural need to exercise (they have 4 legs and need to move them!) As well, they need structures.. rules, boundaries, discipline! Without clear rules, they will start guessing what the rules are and this is where behavior problems start. Thirdly, affection. Dogs obviously need love, but they need it after they've been exercised and disciplined.
Toby picked up on these structures quickly after I worked with him, but because he belonged to a friend and I didn't understand the concept of following up with my clients at the time, I didn't really know how he was for many years. Last year I saw Toby at a groomers and his behavior seemed so sweet and calm, I would say it was an overall success (especially since I never heard from the family that they needed more help). So a few takeaways are that often when I present new structures into a household, the family decides that they can take from what I've taught and make do, and that often works (though it also often doesn't work). Also, please, please, please entrust the care of your aggressive dog into the hands of a professional. Even if they get bit or make a mistake, they truly know what they're doing more than you may, and they can transfer what they know into your head so you can become the best pack leader ever!
