Questions and Answers
Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
DOuGTrainer’s testimonials say it best. “It’s not because of what he does, it’s because of how he does it.” — Pam H.
What do you like most about your job?
I like being able to enter an owner’s home, develop the human trust, communicate on a very personal level, and accomplish the goals they want: get a relaxed, calm dog.
What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What’s your answer?
Why does my dog ___? (Fill in the blank.)
It doesn’t matter what the issue is: it’s about leadership. When I show you in three to five minutes how your dog can act differently, you immediately start to see how effective my approach and Nature’s programming is.
If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?
Nature demands that dogs have strong leaders. Dogs are programmed by nature to take over as leaders if they sense a lack of strong leadership. So owners must learn to act like their dog’s leader. Unfortunately, the human culture doesn’t nurture the things that are needed to be good leaders, so the human system basically sets most owners up for failure.
There are no new tricks in dog training—there’s only differences between teachers and trainers. Find a trainer who has something you want, who has something you like, or who has something you can’t live without. Make sure they communicate clearly and patiently. Make sure their answers are consistent. If anything makes you feel uncomfortable when working with a trainer, ask about it. If their answer also leaves you feeling unsure or uncomfortable, find yourself a different trainer.
What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?
Pam H. said it best. “Doug not only trained me and my dog–but he gracefully penetrated our emotional armor and left a permanent and exquisitely lovely mark on our lives. For that, I am forever grateful. In summary: Hire The DOuGTrainer. You will be pleased and amazed!”
Do you have a favorite story from your work?
Pam has a chihuahua named Gertie. Gertie “barked and barked and barked.” The day I showed up at Pam’s home, I walked through her front door and ignored Gertie. Within minutes, Gertie stopped her barking, walked over to where I was, sat down at my feet, looked up at me, and remained completely quiet. Pam and her roommate were speechless.
Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
I’m usually putting the leadership and control back into the owner’s hands. I do it in ways that are easy to trigger, and I repeat it so they can see how effortlessly it works. That way, they see how it all fits together.
What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
- Keep things scientific: Nature talks through numbers. For example, “How is ‘bonding’ measured?” (it can’t be measured,) or “How many submissions should I do in an hour?” (the answer might be three or six, but it’ll be a definite number.)
- Patience is everything; do not trust an impatient trainer.
- Look for trainers who model Nature (for example, dogs in the wild don’t use collars. Hmm…) Nature always wins.
- When interviewing and choosing your trainer, choose the best teacher. Know how you rank good or bad teachers.
How did you decide to get in your line of work?
In 2009, Nature gave me a lifelong work assignment when She tapped me on the shoulder and said “Help Me put words to the things I’m doing so everyone can have a better relationship with their dogs. I want My dogs to be more relaxed.” I have a minor in psychology, I love working with people, and I found I had a natural knack with dogs.
Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.
In the first week of March, 2020, I started live video training with a friend in Orlando, FL, USA, three time zones and 2,600 miles away. Within 24 hours, her two, eight year-old, previously abused, terrier chihuahua mixes went from peeing on her furniture, or ignoring her, escaping out through their doggy door into the back porch, to staying in the house, following her around, and voluntarily submitting in front of her, almost as if asking her to make them submit. Their barking storms and their barking volume decreased by 90%.
Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
I learn something from almost every dog and every owner. I’m always reading, watching videos, and talking to other trainers about dog training.
What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?
- COVID-19 is now the perfect storm, and the perfect time for live video dog training. Find a trainer whose remote training works.
- A previous question, above, was “If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?” That’s worth reviewing.
- Dog training will never change, because Nature never changes. You may not understand that yet, but that’s okay: that’s my job. There are only effective or ineffective trainers and teachers.
- Always expect green flags and no red flags. The instant you get a red flag—regardless of its cause—stop everything and talk about it. If the red doesn’t go away, get a different trainer.
If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?
Be honest, be open, be vulnerable, be transparent, be humble, with your clients and their dogs. Dogs know your body language more than you know, and, well, they just know; you cannot fool them. Nature will always win.
Ask yourself if your goal is to create permanent clients who depend on you, or if your goal is to educate and make all of your clients independent from you. I claim that your client’s independence is the bittersweet way you’ll know that you’re doing the best job possible of being a trainer and teacher.
Always work on being a leader, and always work on being a teacher.
Keep it scientific.
What question do you always ask your clients?
“Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to get your dog trained?” The answer as well as the way it’s answered tells me a lot.
A half-hearted answer is a half-hearted owner. A quick, eager, excited “yes” is an eager owner. It’s uncanny.
Do you advocate group training in public places?
Generally, no, I don’t support public, group training. I need owners to see their dog’s immediate change in behavior. That first training needs to be focused, intimate, and one-on-one. It’s not possible to get that in a public, group setting where my attention is watered down and split among multiple clients. Also, many local ordinances prohibit training in public places.
Public, semi-private, group training sessions inside stores are only effective for getting the owner and their dog comfortable with walking around inside that store. They don’t target specific issues nor specific behaviors.
What important information should clients have thought through before seeking you out?
Dog owners: be ready to change.
All adults in the home need to be present, and all adult approaches need to be consistent.
What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?
Do you come to my house? The answer should be yes.
Do you train me or do you train my dog? The answer should be yes to both, but mostly I’m training the two-legged animal.
When you leave, will my dog’s behavior change? The answer is, “It’s your decision.” If you decide it will change, then it will, but if you decide it won’t change, and you apply the tools I just gave you, then it won’t change.
What is your greatest strength?
I have patience, patience, and more patience. It shows, and it really pays off quickly. I’m also a teacher at heart.
What are you currently working on improving?
I’m always learning about new and different dog breeds and their characteristics.