Is owning dogs all your life enough to know how to train them effectively?

I’ve had a vagina all my life, but that doesn’t make a gynecologist.

But what is it that sets apart someone who has a lot of time around dogs and a great love for them, and someone who can create effective change in behaviour to reach goals in not just their own dogs, but others?

I have seen trainers who appear to be total naturals.

I actually don’t feel like fit that category. People sometimes say now that I am a natural or some kind of dog whisperer, but I feel I had to work for that, it didn’t just happen easily.

In my case I studied a course that gained me a qualification on paper. That’s nice to have and it’s important to be educated. But theory and practical application are two entirely different games.

In fact, it can be a dangerous thing to have a lot of book knowledge without practical experience – because you feel confident and empowered by knowing a lot, but if you’re not out there working dogs then not only do you miss out on learning how to apply that theory in reality but you’re also not getting those hard yet valuable lessons where you realise you still have a LOT to learn.

There’s nothing as humbling as getting too relaxed and making a mistake that causes a close call with a dog’s teeth and thinking, “sh*t, do I know anything about training dogs?!”

Like with many things, the key is to acknowledge that you’re always learning, it never stops, and everyone is at different points in their journey – and so are their dogs.

I’m sure we can learn more from each other…

Here’s 4 ways I may be able to help you.

1. Browse the free lessons in the Dog Matters Academy
2. Sign up for Academy Premium and take the full training program that will improve any behaviour you’re struggling with with your dog
3. Read my free ebook, The Good Dog and submit a question for me to answer within the same module area