This week’s question is about experience.  Specifically, what is the best way to become a dog trainer and who are the best trainers.  I have trained hundreds of employees to become dog trainers over the years and dozens of franchisees.  My goal has always been one and the same, to create a great trainer, using that humans’ natural disposition.

Everyone has a natural disposition and for some people that disposition will make them a great fit for nearly any dog and for some people that disposition will make it difficult for nearly any dog.  Dogs follow calm, confident, STABLE energy.  If a person’s natural disposition isn’t calm and stable then they will need a lot of “me” work to become great dog trainers.

Being a United States Marine, I have always felt confident but not always calm.  So, I have worked on that over the years and am much calmer than I used to be.  Age has helped.  That calmness has improved my training ability for not only my franchisees/clients but the dogs as well. 

Military background is certainly not a requirement to become a trainer though.  And in some cases, it can be a terrible fit.  One of the worst trainers I have ever trained was a former military K-9 handler.  Not only did they lack the skill of connecting with the dog, but they lacked even more in connecting with humans.  The natural disposition of this individual was equivalent to a piece of cardboard and not stable at all. It didn’t end well for them.

That being said, not everyone can be or should be a trainer. 

What makes a good trainer great is the combination of training philosophy, hands-on experience with real life situations AND calm, confident energy.  I have trained over 6000 dogs and out of that number the vast majority of the dogs were trained in-home…not at a training camp. 

Pack leadership mentality is the philosophy and energy part.  In home dog training is the real-life situation part.

Another part of this is having mentors that will guide you with good intentions.  Having a bad mentor can be one of the worst things that can happen to anyone in any field.  I have also had that experience.  I had a mentor who I had known for DECADES become jealous of my success and attempt to hijack my business.  Always choose mentors who will guide you with love and joy.

To sum it all up becoming a great trainer has the following combination:

1.        Calm, confident disposition

2.        Pack Leader training philosophy

3.        Real-life, hands-on training

4.        Mentors that will guide with love and joy

This is the type of trainer and mentor I aim to be. 

Want that combination?  Join the AFDT family today!