Let me bring you up to speed

About two years ago, I decided that it would be a dream to make a career out of hanging around dogs. I started researching how one becomes a dog trainer. There's lots of useful information out there, at sites like APDT, NADOI and others. I found out that I needed to become an apprentice to an experienced professional trainer or behaviorist as a first step, filed the information away, and waited for the right time to begin.

A year ago, the company I worked for as an internet marketing specialist asked me to become a telemarketer or take a severance. Since I don't like talking to people all that much, and I tend to take rejection personally, it's not hard to guess which option I took.

Once I left my job, with financial support from a wonderful fiance, I sent an email to every trainer I could find in my area. I also stopped by a doggie daycare near my home to ask about employment - I felt that working with a bunch of dogs all playing in a room together would tell me a lot about doggie behavior (I was right!) More on that in other blog entries.

In my email I offered a web site, designed and marketed by yours truly, in exchange for an apprenticeship.

I "interviewed" with two trainers, and got the job at the daycare. The first trainer I hooked up with as a woman in my age group who had apprenticed with a well-known trainer in the DC area and had a successful dogsitting service. I worked with her for a couple of months, but never really got into any training, since she was still transitioning from dogsitting.

The second trainer invited me to his house for an interview. He was very experienced and had been a full-time professional dog behavior consultant and obedience instructor for about 20 years. He invited me to his puppy class the following Saturday. At the time I debated whether I was going to go to the class, since I was still hoping to get something out of working with the first trainer.

Boy, am I glad I decided to get out of bed early on that Saturday and drive to Great Falls for puppy class. The trainer is well-organized, and has a well-thought-out plan for apprentices. He has become a great mentor and friend. I have been working with him now for almost a year, and I love the experience more and more every day. This is truly a pursuit of dreams. Check out my end of the bargain at Great Falls/Reston Companion Dog Training.

This blog will memorialize my experience as an apprentice, and hopefully eventually as a professional dog obedience instructor.