Is your dog’s behavior driving you crazy? Hiring a dog trainer will help, but the dog training process might look a little different than you think!
Most of my clients want their dog’s behavior to improve, and they want it now! I don’t blame them. By the time I’m sitting in their living room, they’re at their wits end. It’s difficult to stay calm when you’re on your last straw.
Dog behavior doesn’t always work that way, though. More often than not, dog behavior change takes time. I can get your dog under control in less than ten minutes, but the process doesn’t end there – it’s only the beginning.
I think it’s our natural reaction to feel like I’m the dog trainer, I should be able to do something to or with your dog to make him “better,” right? I’m sorry to tell you it doesn’t work that way either. It doesn’t matter if your dog can behave for me, he has to behave for you when it matters most. I can get your dog to behave for me, but that doesn’t mean a darn thing! My job is to teach you how to do what I know how to do, so that your dog can behave for you.
Teaching a dog to make better behavior choices is all about the little things and consistently doing these little things right, day in and day out. As a dog trainer, my job is to teach you which little things matter, why they matter, how to handle them, and how to do this consistently.
My job is not just to teach you how to do it, but why it’s important. This way, when you have that moment of doubt and frustration, you can remind yourself of the big picture. I think understanding why we need to do these things is just as important as understanding how to do it. I take this responsibility very seriously, but I think the “why” is something many dog trainers fail to explain.
Overall, my message is this: your dog can’t do it without you! Your dog’s behavior change can’t occur without your involvement. Your dog needs your consistent guidance. You may need professional guidance (a dog trainer) to learn how to do this. That’s okay – in fact, that’s great. With professional guidance, you’ll know you’re doing it right. Just keep in mind that the dog trainer can’t fix your dog for you. Your dog can’t do it without you!
If you’re in need of a Dallas / Fort Worth dog trainer, contact me for help! I will go out of my way to make sure you have all the information, skills, and understanding that you need to create lasting behavior change for your dog. Best of all, I’ll commit to working with you until you achieve the changes you’re looking for, and I’m always here for support if and when you need it!