Laughing And Learning As A Dog Trainer
Here at The NDTA, we take dog training seriously.
We do not, however, take ourselves too seriously. Because if you try to do this job and you’re not prepared to laugh at yourself, you’ll be in serious trouble.
So in the spirit of honesty — and because I think it’s important for every dog owner to know that even the professionals have days like these — here are three moments from our training ground that we will never, ever forget.
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Never trust an owner who says their dog is 100% safe off lead.
Not on a first visit. Not ever.
We’ve been running classes for sixteen years. We know our venue inside out. Or so we thought.
We have a very clear policy — we never have a dog off lead in the field on a first visit, regardless of what the owner says. So why did we break it on this particular day? Honestly, I have absolutely no idea. The owner was just very convincing. First Rule Broken – You’re in charge, not the owner.
A customer assured us their dog was perfectly reliable off lead. Completely bombproof. Totally safe.
We had no idea there was a tiny hole in our fence.
Their dog did.
What followed was a scene that would not have looked out of place in a Benny Hill sketch — my trainer and I, hearts firmly in our mouths, trying to catch a dog that had absolutely no interest in being caught. It ran lap after lap in the neighbouring field while we did our very best impression of people who had everything under control.
All ended well. The dog was caught, and our policy, ‘never let a dog off the lead on the first visit,’ has been very firmly reinstated ever since.
Regardless of what the owner says. The Trainer is always in charge. Right Tracey?
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Check your coat before a one-to-one session.
It was the middle of winter. Tracey, my trainer, arrived for a one-to-one session sensibly well wrapped up. Big coat, fur trim around the collar. The dog she was working with was completely straightforward — no aggression, no issues, just basic lead walking and recall.
Nothing to worry about.
Except Tracey’s coat.
The dog spotted the fur around her collar and decided, with absolute conviction, that Tracey had a rabbit round her neck.
This was not a hunting dog or a gundog, just your good old fashioned mongrel.
What happened next was fast. Very fast.
The dog launched itself at the fur trim — which, thankfully, was attached by poppers — and ran triumphantly around the field with its “rabbit” while Tracey stood in the middle of the field, speechless, trying very hard not to laugh at her own error of judgement.
Had there not been poppers attaching the fur, it could have been a very different story.
A sharp learning curve that we have laughed about ever since.
Fur collar coats are now banned from the training ground.
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Rethink your session plan when it snows.
Snow days at The NDTA are rare but great fun. The dogs love it. The owners love it. Everything is magical and lovely.
Except for the restrained recall.
For anyone unfamiliar — a restrained recall involves one person holding the dog while another runs away and calls them. The dog is released and runs back to their owner at full speed. It is an excellent exercise.
It is less excellent when the ground is covered in snow.
Tracey — again, good old Tracey, I genuinely don’t know what I’d do without her — was holding a very large, very enthusiastic dog on a long training line. The owner called. The dog went.
Tracey went too.
We were a little unsure of this particular dog’s recall, so I had said to Tracey beforehand: *whatever you do, do not let the lead go.*
Tracey did not let the lead go.
What followed can only be described as ‘tummy skiing’. The dog made it back to its owner in record time, along with Tracey.
All credit to her. She did not let the lead go.
Tracey now occasionally questions my judgement. I feel this is entirely reasonable.
Sixteen years. Still learning. Still laughing.
If you love dogs, love people, and think you might have what it takes to do this for a living — change your life and sign up today.
It’s fun, it’s serious, it’s freedom, it’s control of your life.
Our next Dog Trainer Certificate course runs in July. Just 4 places.
