Your Dog Can’t Change Without Your Help! 

Is your dog’s behavior driving you (and others!) crazy?  Hiring a dog trainer will help, but the dog training process might look a little different than you think! 

Most dog owners want their dog’s behavior to improve as soon as possible, and I don’t blame them. By the time I’m sitting in their living room, they’re at their wits end.  In some cases they are desperate, especially where aggression is involved.  They want immediate results and often inquire about a “quick fix” to the issues they are experiencing.

Dog behavior doesn’t always work that way, though.  More often than not, dog behavior change takes some time.  An effective training program is designed to treat the behavioral issues where they manifest, melting away anxiety and eliminating the dog’s desire to behave in an undesirable manner.  If we only address the surface symptoms with quick “fixes”, there is always a danger of reversion, as the anxiety below the surface still exists.

There is a common assumption that, since I am the dog trainer, I should be able to do something to or with your dog to make him “better,” right?  Well, it doesn’t quite work that way.  It doesn’t matter if your dog can behave for a professional trainer, he has to behave for you when it matters most.  My job as an effective trainer is to teach you how to do what I know how to do, so that your dog can behave for you.

My job is not just to teach you how to do it, but why it’s important.  This way, when you have that moment of doubt and frustration, you can remind yourself of the big picture.  Understanding why we need to do these things is just as important as understanding how to do it.  I take this responsibility very seriously, but I think the “why” is something that many dog trainers fail to explain.

Overall, my message is this: your dog can’t do it without you!  Your dog’s behavioral change can’t occur without your involvement.  Your dog needs your consistent guidance, and you will need professional guidance.  Any dog trainer worth their weight will work with you intensely to provide you with proper instruction and guidance required for a success.  With professional guidance, you’ll know you’re doing it right.  Not only will you then be able to witness the results as things improve, you will have the understanding as to how the training works. A reputable dog trainer will provide you with all of the appropriate solutions to your dog’s behavioral issues, but through consistent professional guidance, you will provide the results.

If you are in need of a dog trainer in the Hampton Roads area, I would be happy to assist.  I will provide you with everything you need to acquire lasting positive behavioral change for your dog, and a much calmer and happier atmosphere for your home.