A few months back, I did an online dog training class through Fenzi Academy (which I HIGHLY recommend).
I had a working spot in a specialized obedience class, and it was full of great info. The instructor was beyond awesome. Techniques were 100% positive. The platform worked well for me — there were both videos and written content.
And yet, the experience was strangely demoralizing and demotivating for me as a trainer. I have spent a lot of time wondering what the heck happened (and I imagine Claire has as well).
As I have jumped into training a new dog sport (Scent Work) and resumed tracking, I think I found my answer. To quote a Taylor Swift song, my answer is this: “It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me.”
I forgot that dog training — to me — is art.
I cannot train dogs in a formulaic way prescribed by others because then it stops being fun, interesting, creative, and most of all — authentic.
After all, paint-by-numbers is really about someone else’s art.
In the beginning of our dog training journeys, we may need to have the steps laid out as we develop skills, techniques, and confidence. At some point, however, we need to transition from seeing other dog trainers as The Experts to training colleagues who have ideas that may (or may not) enhance our own expertise — but who do not have the final word on our process or product.
As one of the Peloton instructors says all the time: “I make suggestions. You make decisions.”
That is exactly how we should understand — how I should understand — the input of other dog trainers. As suggestions. I still get to decide what my art looks like and the steps I will take to get there.
I never want to get to a point where I think I have all the answers — I surely do not — and I also want to honor all the experiences and wisdom my dogs have given me over the years. Together, we have created a bit of a system — and it works for us.
In the future, I will only audit online dog training classes. This allows me to glean great ideas and techniques that I can utilize in my own training without requiring that I videotape myself training like someone else. That is my great revelation — I need to just be me.
All that is to say — I am going to talk about tracking, which has application to dog training in general, which always reflects real life — but remember these are my ideas and suggestions. You do you ❤️
