You are going to do what!!!!

Why become a dog trainer? Like many people I have always loved animals, when I left school, I worked at a vet surgery (I moved on to be a registered ‘human’ nurse but that is a whole other story) and as soon as I got my own home I got a puppy George who was awesome. I considered myself an experienced dog owner, and when George passed away (RIP) I decided to adopt. I saw Rupert being advertised by a charity a six-month-old Podenco cross and decided to offer him a home. I passed all the home checks and Rupert arrived at my home and I was faced with this extraordinary dog who is clever, a complete clown, lives life a 100miles an hour and is enthusiastic about everything. I worked hard with him went to training classes and even took him to agility as boy can he jump!! He just got more hyper, more challenging, and now occasionally reactive to other dogs whilst on the lead. Just to add to the mix I decided to adopt Mila (what was I thinking!!), I saw her adoption video (it’s on my Facebook page 😊) and was besotted. I met with her and foster mom and after much discussions (and meetings with her and Rupert) decided to adopt her. Totally the opposite to Rupert, calm, reserved and glued to my side but came with her own set of issues reactive in the house and extremely nervous. It was a good mix of dogs and they get on well but in hindsight it probably wasn’t one of my better decisions. I had a lot on my plate and probably like a lot of people just always felt that I wasn’t succeeding with them, I often felt frustrated and helpless in the face of the behaviours and choices they made and even considered re-homing at one point. But I couldn’t give up on them they were both good dogs and I just needed to understand more. I started studying for a certificate in dog behaviour (still am!) and the more I learnt the more I wanted to learn. I read everything I could on behaviour and training and then my lightbulb moment. I read Victoria Stillwell’s book ‘Train your dog positively’ noticed that she ran and academy and thought ‘I wonder?’ I researched lots of other training schools but this was the only one (that I know of) that not only gave a lot of information about dog behaviour, the latest science behind training but also ran a mentor programme and had intensive in person classes with a number of experienced dog trainers. I took the plunge and for me it was a life changing experience, and the difference in my two dogs since implementing all I have learnt has been amazing. I still have a way to go with them but finally feel confident that what I am doing is enriching their lives and they are fast becoming (even more!) amazing dogs. Confident, calm and enjoying life. What more can you ask for. 😊

I became a dog trainer to help people and their dogs. I want to make training fun and want to ensure that dog ownership is everything you imagined; it should be a pleasure not a chore. My mission is to help dogs find and stay in forever loving homes. Karen