I Became a Dog Trainer Because I Loved Dogs (But It Taught Me to Love People Too)
I decided to become a dog trainer and behaviourist when I was very young.
I really, really, really loved dogs. They have always been my driving passion.
I was fascinated by dog training. How you could reach a goal that only existed in your mind with this animal that you can’t actually speak to. That sense of connection felt magical to me.
And honestly, relationships with dogs always felt more natural and less complicated than relationships with people.
Dogs are very honest in how they feel. It’s easier to be yourself around a dog than it is around other people.
Growing up, when I found it hard to connect with others, my relationships with dogs always felt safe, consistent, uncomplicated.
And I wanted to do good, I wanted to dedicate my life to helping dogs that were struggling or suffering live happier lives.
Back then, I used to think of myself as a dog person, not a people person. In fact, I'd go as far to say little me was rather cynical and anti-people.
I'm even wearing a t-shirt here that says... "You know what I like about people?... Their dogs" 🫣
So my original life plan was to work with lovely, misunderstood dogs that needed my help. I wasn't thinking about the people that would be the ones actually hiring me.
I thought my job would be to learn everything I possibly could about dogs, dog behaviour and dog training, and then simply pass the relevant information on to the people who came to me for help.
But it became apparent very quickly that as much as dog knowledge is important, and it is hugely important, to be able to reach the dog, you need to be able to reach the people first.
It turns out simply passing on dog information doesn’t really help people. Especially in this day and age where there's so much information at the tap of a phone screen.
Actually creating behaviour change in dogs means creating behaviour change in people too. And that's hard, even when people care and have the motivation.
It involves examining beliefs, absorbing new learning about how you live with and interact with your dog. It can involve finding time to dedicate to your dog, releasing ingrained habitits, and having faith in the process. All the while, still being human and dealing with all the emotions and blockers that come up along the way.
My knowledge is no good if I can’t connect with the person and work with them to navigate it all.
It became apparent very quickly, that if I don't care about the people I don't help the dog.
So I set out to become an expert in human behaviour too.
Fortunately for me, it turns out I also find human behaviour really, really interesting.
My cynical side melted away. When you understand behaviour, learn why people do what they do, that there's reasons behind everything, an origin story, you can let go of all the negative judgements.
Now, I view people just as I view dogs. With curiosity and a desire to understand. With compassion and a want to help.
But it's not really knowing everything about humans that will help. It's just caring enough to be willing to listen to and try to understand each person that comes to me for help, so I genuinely can help.
I want to know what they are finding difficult. How they feel when their dog is doing or not doing the thing. What emotions come up. What other parts of their life are getting in the way. What do they really need from me beyond just knowledge.
Im not “the trainer telling them what to do”. Instead, we're two people on the same team trying to solve a problem together.
And somewhere along the way, I think I have become a people person.
Not in the sense that I suddenly became extroverted or outgoing. But in the quiet way that I genuinely care about people, I see the best in them, even when they're struggling. And supporting the humans has become just as important to me as helping the dog.
I want to understand people.
I want to build relationships with people where they trust me and are free to be themselves and show up honestly.
And I combine that with everything I know, and am still learning, about dogs, to help ease the pressure people feel when they’re struggling with their dog’s behaviour.
To pass on insights and skills at the right moment that can genuinely change how they live alongside their dog.
So I got into dog training and behaviour because I loved dogs.
But along the way, it taught me to love people too.
Another gift the dogs have given me.
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