What does art, the written word, Martial Arts, yoga, or music have in common? The “D” word. A word that so often in the world we generally use in terms of punishment; but not today. Today I’m going to speak about practice, or rather: Discipline. Anything anyone practices with devotion is a discipline. To become skilled at anything requires dedication and discipline. The discipline to get up in the morning to get to the gym, the discipline to pick up an instrument and practice for a while consistently, or the discipline required for training a dog.
Getting to Know Ya…
Whether training your own dog or helping the client to achieve the goals they desire, discipline in this case is the practice and devotion of helping dogs. Owner compliance is something that often will get in the way of progress. As a trainer it is not only important to show your clients techniques that will help their dogs along, but also to show them techniques on how to practice and implement said techniques in day to day life. Asking about your clients and getting to know them a little will help you better understand how to help them stay disciplined and dedicated to working the behaviors. Find out about their hobbies, what they do for work, what excites them—and especially about their dogs.
Discipline isn’t Necessarily a Consequence
After working on a stay or a go to your place cue, order a pizza and show clients how to work a stay or a go to your place cue while there is actually food around! This might sound crazy but it’s amazing how much better people feel when they see how to handle some failures and are working in a real-life setting. Clients are often tired after their workday and sometimes will just kennel their pup versus staying disciplined and on track by practicing what you have taught. Look for ways to give them confidence and not feel overwhelmed at the end of the day.
Set an Example
Being a disciplined dedicated coach to your clients will also do wonders for progress. Because one of the biggest roadblocks to progress is often owner compliance due to the demands of their schedules, I look for times that I can tag along to offer support. I find that going with them to events– be it a kids soccer game, or to a BBQ, for example are great ways to demonstrate how to work and train the family dog so they can see that it’s not only possible to succeed but that it’s really less daunting than they think.
Down the Rabbit Hole
How far would you like to go? Everyone has different levels of discipline. I for one love riding my bike and going to the rock gym to rock climb; but you will not find me climbing El Capitan in Yosemite or doing the Tour de France. This doesn’t mean I’m not disciplined; rather I have a different level of discipline that fits my lifestyle and my goals. When meeting with clients at their first consult I flat out ask them, “How much would you like to know? Would you like all the juicy scientific terms or would you like a base model that is simpler?” This simple question helps to set my clients up for success and it allows me to give them exactly what they want.
So let’s use the “D” word to ignite passion and dedication! What are your plans to have a more disciplined dog-training practice?
Get Dog Training Business Tips!
Receive valuable dog training business tips and resources every week! Subscribe to The Modern Dog Trainer now by submitting your name and email below.
[mc4wp_form]
