2017: The Year Everything Changed - Part 4

So our dogs walked nicely on a leash, sat, came when called, stayed on place & downstays for extended periods...but I didn't know if they could be trusted off leash together. I so wanted to take that damn e-collar out of it's box but I was terrified. I knew that they were effective, but there were so many levels, and all the trainers I corresponded with talked about the importance of "the right level." 

Somehow or another, I found myself in a Facebook group led by the esteemed Cameron Thompsen of Home2K9 Dog Training. At the time, she was hosting a live Summit, made up of leaders in the industries of dog training and holistic veterinary care. I found much connection and encouragement in this group, much more than I had found from trainers here. After speaking with Cameron on the phone she mentioned her shadow program for dog trainers. I was interested. Among all the dog trainers I came across in my journey, I connected with Cameron the most. Like no else I'd ever met, she had the ability to bring some of your ugliest inner truths to light, lay them out on the table non-judgementally, and give you a game plan to conquering them. It was kind of freaky, actually. I asked her about my dogs issues, and she gave me a no-bullshit answer. She told me my dogs would probably never be best buds or playmates again, but that a life of peaceful coexistence (including social time) was absolutely attainable. 

Completely out of character for me, I booked a one week Shadow Program at her facility in a couple of months. My plan was to bring Abby and get this e-collar stuff straightened out under the supervision and tutelage of an experienced trainer. By this point, my friends had started asking me for help with their dogs, and I also wanted to see if I had what it took to become a bona fide dog trainer. I was seeing great results with every dog that came my way, but could I really make a business out of it?

August came, and we made our epic journey to California. I had never worked around dogs in any capacity other than owning them, and I was excited to see what a fully booked training company looked like during the day to day. 

Upon arriving, the one thing that stood out was the quiet. I've been in boarding facilities and shelters before, and the common theme is incessant whining and barking. So loud, sometimes, that the humans have to yell to hear each other. Home2K9 was completely silent. The dogs slept or daydreamed contentedly in their kennels, or on place. They did not bark at guests or get up to sniff me. Already I could tell that these people were dead serious about what they deliver - calm family dogs. 

The other thing that stood out was the level of control the trainers there had of their dogs. At home, I was always on the ready to ward off any loose dogs and address the owner. We had been bum-rushed too many times by poorly-trained, off-leash dogs, so my muscle memory told me stay vigilant. Admittedly I did brace myself the first time I saw one of the trainers' personal dogs come outside off leash while Abby and I were playing ball. I began to pack Abby up and move away from the two. She noticed my discomfort and called it "It's cool, my dogs aren't allowed to rush up to other dogs."  

Note the things she didn't say:  "Don't worry, they're friendly!" No frantic attempt and subsequent failure at recalling the dog, such as I had encountered so many times before. Rushing up to dogs was simply not something that was allowed. Imagine that. The human sets the rules, and the dog follows them. I began to relax after that. I could see that the dogs were trustworthy, balanced creatures. Their humans were dog people. Not simply dog trainers, or dog owners, or even dog lovers. These were dog people, people who intimately understand the specific needs of the canine psyche in all of its many permutations. Their love for their dogs showed in the way they regarded them - as dogs. The did not regard them as furry children, as helpless creatures in desperate need of human adulation, or as therapists. They were simply dogs. It should come as no surprise that these dogs absolutely thrived under their confident leadership.

I worked every day all day. I got my hands on all the dogs in training, and even worked some of their foster dogs from the rescue arm. I interfaced with clients, and saw firsthand the types of issues owners were struggling with - reactivity, dog fighting, stubbornness, resource guarding. Cameron and the other trainers were not shy about giving me detailed feedback, encouragement, and support. They showed me how to use a long line for focused training session. They helped me understand the e-collar for the nuance tool that it is, and showed me how to connect the dots with each specific dog to find the right levels. They pointed out confidence gaps in my relationship with my dog that were contributing to the fights at home. They worked my dog and tightened up her skills.

I came away from Home2K9 on fire. Being among the other bad-ass trainers made me realize that I had been allowing my dogs to control my life far too much, and that cut me like a knife. I also realized I still had a long ways to go in terms of personal growth. But I was bound and determined to get to the other side of it. Oh, and somewhere along the way, I had decided to officially pursue dog training.