The Commonsense Dog

If you’ve heard my public speaking, you know I’m theatrical and passionate when I talk. I grew up very involved in theater, music, and writing, and I learned at a young age that there is a very big difference between an actor SAYING words and an actor FEELING words. There is a very big difference between a musician PLAYING music and a musician FEELING music. There is a big difference between an author TELLING emotions on a page and an author FEELING emotions on a page.

I teach the way I do because I want you to FEEL. I want you to laugh and cry in my classes. I want you to embrace your faults and feel inspired. I want you to understand how to CONNECT with your dog on all levels.

You deserve it. They deserve it. The motions mean nothing.

I had to check myself last night. A new dog checked in for board and train, and his anxiety is very strong. I had already worked 15 hours straight, pouring my heart and soul into him and the other dogs in the program, but he hadn’t responded.

At the end of the night (hour 16), I started the typical evening feeding routine, and without realizing, I was simply going through the motions with him. He had zero response to me, even worse than earlier in the day, and he wasn’t eating.

As a flawed human being, my first response is one of pride and frustration. Don’t you know I’m a good trainer, dog? Why are you resisting?

When I analyzed the situation (another big part of my day *insert face palm gif*), I realized everything I had been doing for an hour was completely lackluster and empty of any beneficial energy.

I helped the dog back into his kennel and collected myself, closing out the long day and reconnecting with what makes me love what I do.

I went into his kennel with calm, clear, and healthy energy and massaged his trembling body for 30 minutes. He fell asleep during the last 10 minutes, and when it was over, we tried the evening feeding routine again.

He ate.

And it had nothing to do with my motions. My energy, stability, calmness, leadership, and effort made him FEEL secure with me.

He slept peacefully through the night.

Simply going through the motions will not change your dog. Helping struggling dogs starts with helping the struggles in ourselves. If we cannot continually grow and reinvent ourselves, how can we ask our dogs to do the same?

Happy training, folks!