Dog Training Career
Working with handlers
The first part of this article dealt with working with the dogs. You will also be working with people as well. What is your temperament like, could you cope? Handlers will all be different, in the way they apporoach you, the way they approach their training and how they handle their dog. Will you be confident enough and be able to persuade them, if necessary, to do as you are suggesting? Are you loud enough, not shouting though, to communicate in a large hall or across an open field?
A good training instuctor should possess a number of qualities. Firstly is the need to be able to lead a group of people without being a dictator. Next the trainer must have the ability to listen and observe carefully, assessing what needs to be done to solve any problem or change a behaviour. Thirdly you need to be self motivated and reliable – it can be very wet and cold on some days. You should able to exercise compassion in training, both towards the dog and the handler – they almost certainly want to be there and want to do their best. As a trainer you must be very patient, always positive and never negative in your work. Trainers needs the experience to deal with almost any problem that can occurs in their class. They also must be consistent in their approach and their use of instructions and commands given to dogs as well as handlers. Finally trainers should always be willing to learn and welcome constructive criticism.
Do you fit the bill, I hope so. If you do and want to follow a dog training career I can wholeheartedly recommend it. You will find it interesting as well as enjoyable, I am certain of that.
