Comments on: Confessions of a Selfish Dog Trainer

By: Jenny Ruth Yasi

Jenny Ruth Yasi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:20:35 +0000

One way to make it easier for the dog is to condition him to wear a calming cap. Then you can use it to mute visual stimuli, so the dog can learn to cope with all the sounds and scents separately before you add all the sights.

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:44:17 +0000

Wonderful story and a great reminder that anyone can make a mistake.

I sponsor a dog walk for my clients, some have reactives and some have friendlies and everything in between. The reactives are in behavior mod programs and the clients have instructions. I always bring my reactive dog. At first, I had much anxiety about what clients would think of me as a trainer when they met my reactive. What I learned is that my clients felt better and relaxed more and actually became better trainers with their own dogs by seeing that not only is my dog not perfect yet but I make mistakes in judgement occassionally too. They see that my dog progresses from week to week despite occassional set backs.

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:33:11 +0000

Grisha, thank you for sharing this experience. It gives you great credibility as a good trainer in the eyes of your clients when you’re not afraid to admit a momentary lapse of judgment. There is hope for all us owners of dogs with challenges!

By: Jude

Jude — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:08:47 +0000

Been there, done that! Thanks for the story and the reminders.

By: Shoshannah

Shoshannah — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:25:27 +0000

This just comes to show that we are all human. Makes the non dog trainers like me feel a little better knowing that I’m not alone making mistakes.

By: Grisha

Grisha — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:17:37 +0000

Thanks, Deborah. That makes me feel better!

I love your water torture analogy. That’s it, exactly.

And this is so apt, “If I can’t put her first, then I should take her out of the situation or take both of us out of the situation.”

By: deborah flick

deborah flick — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:12:29 +0000

Oh, Grisha. I so identify with you and Peanut in this situation. I too have on occasion pushed Sadie beyond her threshold by allowing a little scary thing to pile on top of another little scary thing until the next little scary thing was the straw that broke the camel’s back, or in Sadie’s case, pushed her over the edge. It’s like water torture. One drop of water, not big deal. But drop after drop and being unable to escape the relentless drops one of those drops becomes one to many and we blow. All sentient beings can be pushed too far and then we explode or implode. At least I don’t feel so alone in my selfishness. If even the BEST of dog people can make mistakes—then I guess we are all just human. But, your story is a great reminder to me. Any time, any place where Sadie is involved, Sadie comes first. If I can’t put her first, then I should take her out of the situation or take both of us out of the situation.