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Health & Fitness

Become Your Own Dog Trainer

I'd like to share where I get some of my learning from. I think if you are serious about learning anything you should have more than one mentor.

The following is a quote from Dr. Roger Abrantes’s blog:


* “You’ll become a good trainer if you’re patient and diligent, if you take the time to study behavior and the principles of learning in depth and get the necessary experience. You must be open-minded and critical at the same time, not an easy task. Don’t discard a theory just because you don’t like it, and don’t accept another just because it apparently suits your own immediate goals. Don’t approve of an argument just because you like the person who uses it; and don’t reject one because you don’t like the person behind it.

Then, you’ll become a good trainer and you know what?” I asked, pausing for
effect.

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“No, please tell me!” she pleaded.

“And you’ll be a different trainer, different from Dunbar and Abrantes because you’ll be your own.”

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Abrantes has been working with dogs since he was a child. He has written 17 books on dogs, dog training and dog behaviors.

I have never had the pleasure of meeting this man but I have had the pleasure of learning from him through his writings. I have a great amount of respect for this man and what he does. To be able to learn from a being like him is an honor that not many get to experience.

Why am I blogging about this man and this excerpt from his blog? Because this particular piece of writing speaks to what I try and teach all of my students. Put in the time, start on a path of learning of your own, listen to the mistakes I have made and learn from them, be open to life and be willing to change. When the dust settles you will look into the mirror and see that you, the world, and your dog have changed. You will have a training style of your own; your relationship with your companion will be unique.

In dog training we often use the phrase “it depends.” When people tell me they are having a problem with their dog and ask for an answer I always say “it depends.” Because every being is unique, and so is every situation. So if a trainer tells you they know exactly what is going on just from listening to you, make sure that you question them as much as possible.  

Be patient, be kind, practice, practice, practice, and you will have a dog that loves you and a relationship that is built on mutual trust and respect.

Please take time to follow this link and learn from Dr. Roger Abrantes.

* © Roger Abrantes, “The Spectrum of Behavior”, 2011

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