It happens to everyone- we get into ruts when it feels like one bad thing after another keeps happening to us. When this occurs most of us would be asking the “why me” question as if the universe has a personal vendetta against a single individual. There is a quote I like to remind myself of in these times which goes as follows: “Stop living in the land of why, there are no happy answers to why me” Ask these questions instead when you are facing the harder challenges in life: “How can I grow from this?”, or “What is in my control from this?”. These questions present you with opportunities for a new more positive outlook on life and everything that it brings your way. When you start to implement being positive, while also making fewer excuses, you will start to realize that you have way more control in your own life than you were ever aware of. The more that you practice this the more change will continue to take place, and this is exactly how you take the power back. Just keep in mind that our attitude, reaction, and response to anything thrown your way is 100% in your control, and most of the time it is the only thing you can control- a hard concept some people struggle to grasp for a long time.

So why is a dog trainer writing any advice about this topic at all? I often find that when new clients contact us for training, they express how their dog has made them feel powerless in their own home, various relationships, and ultimately their life. A big part of our job in behavioral modification style training is repairing the relationship between both owner and dog. In more extreme cases the owners need just as much “training” as the dog needs, which is expected in those scenarios and what we are here to do. Every person is different, every situation is different, and every relationship is different, our end goal for all dogs and owners that we work with is simple and the same: to shift both dog and owner mindsets to a more positive one. it is our hope that going through this rehabilitation process with your dog will bring healthy practices into your life, and allow you to apply this mindset to other areas as well. When I first started in this field I did not think I would learn anything outside of how to do my job responsibilities. That was not the case, I learned valuable skills that have shaped me into the person I am today. I have become a more assertive, strong individual both in how I act and even hold myself.

It can be intimidating to take back control in your life, but you have already taken the first step if you have reached out for help with training, or are even reading this. A wise individual in the industry once said, “You get the dog you need not necessarily the dog you want”, so I challenge you to get some perspective and see what you could possibly learn from your dog. Perhaps through the training process, you learn how to be emotionally stable, less anxious, more assertive, or perhaps just a better problem solver. Learning these qualities to train your dog is going to naturally come through in other areas of your life as well, just like it influenced even mine. We hope at this point in our discussion that we have shown you that everything in life is an opportunity to challenge your perspective and take back the power yourself. We believe in you, and will always support you- you got this!