New to Daily Puppy

[DavinciC]

Hi I just thought I'd introduce myself, I'm Julie. I don't currently have my own dog but I hope to fix that in the near future. I love all dogs but am especially drawn towards large/giant breeds, Scottish Terriers, and Pit bulls! I discovered my extreme love for dogs while volunteer dog walking and have taken it to the next level becoming a professional dog walker with the dream of one day founding a shelter oriented towards providing each dog extensive training, exercise, and the resources needed to go to a home and stay adopted. I also hope that some of those dogs can become service/therapy dogs or go to a working type situation so they have a job and a purpose which tends to help them feel fulfilled and also helps them stay adopted! Anyways that's me!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Hi Julie! You sound very ambitious when it comes to what you wish to do in the Canine Community. One does not need to own a dog to belong here; merely have a love of them. Have you previously owned a dog? You did mention your volunteer work, but I wondered if perhaps your family had a dog while growing up, or your Grandparents...something like that.

Welcome to The Daily Puppy from Oliver & Henry, and their Mum, in London, Ontario, Canada.

[DavinciC]

Yes there were 2 dogs previously when I was a young child but it was so far back, and I think it was a brief ownership, I dont really remember, that I don't consider it an experience I can pull anything from, good or bad. And yes I'm very ambitious, my dog walking business is step one, I'm going to get into extensive training education, grooming, maybe a vet tech certificate, soak up as much knowledge and hands on experience as I can while I save up for the shelter I want to start! I will have a dog, hopefully soon, but first I'm working on the apartment, I've already worked out the details for having a dog at it so it's just a matter of getting it done. Did a LOT of research to make sure it would work

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Julie, I think you are about to embark on a lovely, happy "era" in your life. Kudos to you for doing as much research as you can. Nothing truly compares to actually living it though.

I hope you subscribe to a positive approach with training. Perhaps spending some time with a Trainer or Behaviourist, as a volunteer helper, (select one who is kind, smart and patient) will give you even more knowledge before you start this wonderful journey.

Dogs are a lot of work, much like children. However, nothing in the world can compare to the love and companionship one experiences. I often liken having a puppy to a newborn child as they are most similar in terms of demands and expectations. Even rescuing an older dog will still come with either baggage or hurt that needs repair, or re-training. Even when a dog stays with its own family and they move house, it takes a well loved dog at least 2 to 3 weeks to adjust to its new surroundings.

Having a Shelter of your own one day is wonderful ambition. I wish you all the best.

[DavinciC]

definitely feels like the word to use! I've set a huge task before myself but I know if I don't up or give in to times of discouragement, I sure I'll have them, I know I can succeed. I've already done a career diploma in training and behavior to get some book work basic foundation set. To be honest that was a terrible disappointment. The anatomy lessons were good but the rest was honestly out dated and much of it, when applied, doesn't actually work. It tried to sell me stuff like if you want the dog off the couch while you're gone put mousetraps on the couch and that submissive dogs, every single one, were dogs that had no self confidence. That's absolutely not true! I've worked with many dogs that were incredibly submissive and very self confident, they were simply content to give authority to another dog or person. I found the best of my current dog education came from the Dog Whisperer show by Cesar Milan. Crazy as it sounds I know. I originally watched his show because I'd seen maybe a few minutes and heard a lot about it. Fell in love with it immediately and it struck me with the idea that even though i couldn't have a dog right now I could compromise by volunteer walking the shelter dogs. I had watched most of the series at that point and decided to try the stuff he was teaching. I figured it was something that would take a lot of practice and that his success was based on experience, knowledge about dogs he'd picked up as he worked with them and observed them, and a whole LOT of special, one of a kind, talent unique to him. I was seriously wrong. Yes his level was based on experience and skill but it was not near as much talent as I thought! I went and walked dogs almost every day for several months and I only had trouble with one dog because she had so much pent up energy it consumed her focus so she couldn't get past it and learn. I only got to work with her twice but even with so little i'd seen improvement. It was amazing. I'd only walked maybe 2 dogs before in my life!

[robin623]

Hi Julie..
Welcome from a newbie

[kian]

Welcome to DP! Sorry I'm late, I do work as a Professional Trainer and am a Behaviourist. I also worked a few years as a Vet Tech in which I discovered I preferred the Behaviour side much better and actually handled much of the Behaviour issues. I was appalled at how scared dogs were handled, there is so much to learn.

I would advise to be careful of CM, he does have good points. His dominence theories are a issue with me. I will give a example. He says dogs who pull are doing so because they want to dominate. That simply isn't true, a dog pulls because it can. It can smell something several feet away and pulls to get to it. As trainers we teach the dog it can get to the spot without pulling. Remember what you see on those shows is only half of what is done.

I do work with a lot of submissive dogs, no dog is "cookie cutter" classic. Many of those dogs were taken away way too young as puppies, a sore spot with me. The reasons vary and yes the dog can lack confidence, so those building exercises can help. You have to learn to think out of the box, that is why schooling is good, learn to obeserve more.

I am happy to answer any questions. You will find not all Trainers agree, it's normal!

Welcome to DP

[DavinciC]

I can see your view about the dominance thing too but I can also see his, it's probably a blend of both. You quite often do see in packs the one in charge is in front. I like to look at things from all sides and then find my balanced blend and whether he was right about it or not it does work though I know I need a lot more experience! I personally never give the dog enough leash for them to go much further ahead of me than their should to my knee usually, I find I enjoy the walks better that way because I have the dog WITH me, I don't see the benefit of a six foot leash having them way out in front, you're not getting to enjoy walking with the dog that way. I'm also going to pursue a vet tech certification. I don't expect to become a vet but the knowledge is good to know and it will help me look better credentialed and qualified. I wish I could get a part time job at a groomer or vet clinic to get more hands on experience but now is absolutely the wrong time to start over with a job. If you couldn't tell I heavily prefer hands on learning and and experience but I know the bookwork can be important too.

[kian]

Victoria Stillwell started as a Dog Walker, she is more for positive rewards. I train that way, though there are times I have had to apply some tough love. Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar, Sophia Yen are ones I would suggest you look up.

I compete and show professionally, my dogs are taught to Heel and "release" means they go out in front as long as they do not pull. Wish I could show you that! They can smell and be a dog, however, when I say HEEL, they must come back to the Heel. It really is advanced training. My Blue Aussie just titled in Rally O!!

As for Dominance, remember it is only Species to Species. Most owners confuse it and will tell me thier dog is Dominant. The dog seems that way because they have rewarded bad behaviour, I see it all the time. I had a full grown Pyrenees who was herding the family and growling when they moved. They called me in desperation as poor Sparky was headed for the Dog Prison. I spent two hours getting him to understand he could NOT jump in my face and do that. He had been rewarded by the family when they gave into him. This has a happy ending. After several sessions, the family started changing thier response to him. He is a different dog now!

The best advice I can give right now is to study your breeds, if I didn't have a understand of Pyrs I could not have turned the situation around. One method does not fit all. Yes get your Vet Cert, I suggest if you can, work for a short time as one. If you have to work evenings and weekends, it will be worth it.

I have done this so long, I love it. It's a great to see happy endings and happy owners. I too had to work for years as we needed a steady income. I'm 55 and can now do this at my leisure. So yes get all the training and experience now, one day you two may be able to do the same. Good luck to you!!

Also check out Victoria Stillwells site and her blogs...good info there!

[DavinciC]

I will look up Victoria Stillwell. At this time I'm only doing the areas involved with the walk. I don't train though I do have what I call rehabilitation walk, which is basically for dogs that need one on one attention during the walk because their on leash behavior is that bad, the goal of that is for me to do a walk just me and the dog until I've built up a reporre and the dog is relaxed and calm enough to walk in the private(all the owner's dogs) 0r even the group walk which is really the best option. I don't do any command training or anything with any of them, I just focus on a good safe walk for all. I'm very excited to get my first client! Until then I'm focused on getting everything just perfect and ready for more schooling as well as having clients