A few words about dog trainers and a good collaboration between dog owner and dog trainer.
Your relationship with your dog trainer should be like your relationship with your doctor. That's right. You should always be frank with your trainer and know that he will never judge you, he will only advise you just like your doctor will.
Whether it be smoking, drinking alcohol, using substances, eating junk food ,not exercising you will tell your doctor because you know that being honest is the only way to get the right diagnosis. Frankly answering your doctor's questions , even if it makes you feel uncomfortable, is something you will do knowing he will not judge you.
Because it is not his job to judge you, his job is to make a correct diagnosis and give you correct advice. The doctor cannot force you to go on a diet, give up smoking or take up walking. He will diagnose according to your examinations and will give you advice. If you want you will follow his advice and you will improve your health. If you do not want to follow his advice , you will go on and die. As simple as that.
It is exactly the same with your dog trainer, as simple as that. There's no need to elaborate. Your dog trainer will not judge you, it his not his job to judge you. Your dog trainer understands we can all make mistakes in raising our dogs and his job is to train your dog and you, not to judge you and your mistakes.
Answer to all the questions your dog trainer asks and say everything you've got to say. Especially things you have done that you may feel ashamed to talk about. When your dog trainer gives you advice , listen to what he has to say and do not get insulted. You are not being reprimanded, you are being advised. Feeling bad about mistakes you have made is your problem, not your trainer's. Your trainer is not responsible for your feeling uncomfortable so there is no use in being defensive towards your trainer or trying to justify your mistakes. Your dog trainer is not concerned about the reasons why those mistakes were made. What matters is that you listen to your trainer's advice and follow it.
Just like when your doctor gives you a diagnosis you do not express your opinion, do not express your opinion to your dog trainer unless you are asked to. When did you go to your doctor with an opinion on why you got fat, why started drinking too much and so on. Never. When was the last time you disagreed with your doctor on the prescription he gave you? Never. Because there's no use in telling your doctor how to do his job. It's his job, he knows what to do and you trust him.
It is the same with your dog trainer. Do not tell your dog trainer what you think should be done to correct your dog's behaviour because if you knew what should be done to correct your dog's behaviour you would not have reached the point of correction needed.
Your dog trainer will say what he has to say. Whether you will follow his advice or not is up to you. Your dog trainer cannot force you to do anything. If you selectively follow his advice, or if and when you remember to do so , the results will be analogous.
Whether the dog trainer takes up training your dog on his own or shows you how to train your dog yourself, if you are not frank with him from the beginning and you do not follow his instructions do not expect notable results.
You chose your dog trainer with your criteria. Nobody forced you to hire him to train your dog. Show him the trust and respect he deserves.
Chose your dog trainer according to the work he has to show., not according to how suitable the things he says are to you. The dog trainer has to be honest with you and tell things as they are. You do not need flatters , you need knowledgeable and honest dog trainers. Any trainer that says what you want to hear, says yes to everything you say and says everything is nice and easy and will be all right, is not suitable.
Whether you chose our On-line dog training courses or you chose to take dog training courses with someone else, the aforementioned apply. Honesty and respect above all. Hide nothing, tell everything and follow the advice of the trainer you have chosen.
Wishing you successful training sessions, the Working Bull Terriers Kennel Team!
Comments