Things to consider when hiring a “trainer”
A lot of trainer’s understand how to get animals to do things. Sometimes by force. Force doesn’t always mean abuse. It can mean no other option. But yes it can also mean shock collars, whips, spurs, incessant pressure on a choke lead, pushing a dog down into a sit or lay, or some punishment, etc.
These methods do not take the animals emotions into consideration. Though they will usually deliver results, they are not the best way to communicate with your animals.
Teaching animals, as I like to call it takes time and patience. If a trainer can deliver a result in record time there is usually a reason… and not a good one.
If you want to have the best relationship with your animals find a trainer that understands how animals think. If your animal has a behavior issue find a trainer that understand WHY the issue has presented, what is the animal unhappy or confused about. Then , correct the issue, not the animal.
This sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many trainers just train the end results and never take into consideration the animal’s emotions, free will, or thoughts. When the animal is taught with kindness, patience, and understanding they are a million times quicker to learn. And more importantly your relationship will be better.
Animals are not robots. You dont have to raise your voice. You don’t need to talk firmly. When your animal has a true relationship with you, you can talk to them like a human and they will listen willingly. They WANT to please you.
When I walk my dogs they are off lead. When I see a human, dog, or bicyclist approaching, I call their name, they come over and they sit without being asked because we have practiced over and over. And now they choose to do it without being asked because they know every time, without exception they will get praised and get a treat, so they CHOOSE to do it.
When the walk is done, I call their names and softly say please sit. And they do and wait for their leads to be put on. And there are thousands of other animals that do the same because they were never forced, they were taught without force.
So when looking for a trainer, please always find one that knows how animals think and doesnt just force them to sit, come, with no insight into the animals feelings or thoughts. There are more forceful trainers that have a lot of ego, that lack true empathy, than there are trainers that understand how animals think.
