You Hired a Pro…Please listen to them

There are many things to take into consideration when shopping around for a trainer that specializes in separation anxiety and related behaviors (“SRBs”).

They are:

• Are they a certified dog trainer?

• Do they have specialty education in working with SRBs?

• Do they continue to seek higher education in SRBs, fear/anxiety?

• Are they transparent about how they will work with your dog, and their processes?

• Are they willing to provide you with testimonials, or allow you to contact former clients for referrals?

If they can answer all of the above questions, they are mostly likely a suitable candidate for the job. If not, keep looking.

Once you find that trainer, you need to trust them. Let me tell you why:

The plans may look simple, but we agonize over every step. We take into consideration:

• your dog’s age

• learning history

• illness/injury

• weather/temperature

• how much exercise they got that day, and what they ate

• how they have been training that week

• have they had enough down time and days off

• your dog’s particular quirks and habits

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Your qualified trainer knows you, your dog, your home environment, background history, and has data on your dog’s progress. They know a heck of a lot more than:

• your best friend that had a dog with SA

• your cousin’s, cousin’s friend that is “great with dogs”

• dog walker Bob at the local dog park

• your veterinarian

• a trainer that just spent a whole 2 hours at an SA lecture

• a random person in a Facebook group

• something you read in a magazine, blog post, or book that was published 10 years ago

• your groomer, dog walker, doggie daycare attendant

You paid your trainer for their up to date, expert advice…take that advice. It will be one less thing for you to be anxious about - and you have enough on your plate. Let go of the steering wheel and let them take over. You deserve a break.