What a Dog Trainer Can – and Can’t – Do For You

                                                                               

Being a dog trainer is an interesting profession, to say the least.  People have all sorts of reasons to need assistance with their dogs, and they have all sorts of great expectations as to what we can do for them.  Trainers can do a lot to help you turn your wild puppy or uncivilized adult dog into a great pet, but we can’t work miracles, at least not very often. 

We can advise you on how to house-train your young puppy, but we can’t teach him to “hold it” if you’re gone 12 hours at a time, or if you just can’t force yourself to use a crate or pen for training and you can’t keep an eye on him at all times.  We can help advise you on how to keep your puppy from destroying your home and belongings, but we can’t do much if you are unwilling to confine him when you can’t watch him.  We can help you develop good training skills so that you can include your dog in your daily activities, but we can’t force you to do the daily work it will take to get the job done.  This is a commitment – and you get out of it what you put into it. 

We can help you train and socialize your dog in group classes, but we can’t force you to do the homework necessary to make the most of your training.  If you are unable to come to classes, we can provide private training and give you all sorts of ideas on how to properly socialize your dog to other people and animals outside of your home, but we can’t turn him into a good citizen everywhere he goes if you won’t get him out and about.

We can help you help you avoid the problems of “Small Dog Syndrome” with your tiny pet, but we can’t do much if you can’t accept that he needs to spend some time off your lap.  We can help you with separation problems, but we can’t do much if you are unable to follow the sometimes time-consuming steps necessary to make him feel less insecure.  We can help you civilize your high-energy pet, but we can’t turn him into an angel in the house if you can’t provide him with the huge amount of exercise he needs.  (Many – if not most – behavior problems can be resolved simply by providing your dog with adequate exercise, and sometimes that means lots and lots of it.) 

We can’t turn Jack Russell Terriers into couch potatoes and we can’t make hyperactive adolescent dogs behave like sedate 7-year-olds, but we can aim them in the right direction.  We probably can’t make your Miniature Schnauzer stop barking entirely, but we can provide all sorts of ideas on how to keep him as calm as possible.  We can help you understand the realities and responsibilities of owning a large and protective guarding breed, but we can’t turn him into a Golden Retriever just because you want him to act like one.  We can help you understand the dog you chose and work with his needs, but we can’t correct poor choices.  We can’t turn him into something he wasn’t born to be.   

Trainers enjoy working with dogs and their owners, but part of our job is to help you be realistic in your expectations.  We will do all in our power to help you get the best out of your pet and turn him into a wonderful companion, but you have to do your part, too.

 

By Dorothy Miner

Dorothy Miner is a long-time dog obedience and tracking instructor, judge of canine events, and author.  She teaches weekly classes for the Allen Correctional Institution’s PETS Program and provides training and consultation under the banner of “Sidekicks” and “Training for Dogs and Their People.”