A story rooted in care and grown with expertise.
Every dog has their unique story. you need a dog trainer to understand the needs and personality of your four-legged family member. Here, I share the questions you need to ask as you make this decision. Read on...
A main character in your story
Don’t you love a good story? Funny ones. Moving ones. Relatable ones. Silly ones. There’s a story that fits or describes every occasion. And as a dog owner, you’ll know your pet is a constant source of material for many a dinner table tale.
What’s more, your dog will effortlessly (but enthusiastically) become a main character in your own story. New jobs. New cars. New houses. New arrivals. They’ll have seen it all and will have casually slipped into the photos that marked them. I count it a privilege to have built my business around these special members of your families, sharing a small piece of each journey.
Dogs have been central to my life and I shared the early part of my story in our last post. If you missed it you can catch up here, before circling back and finding out how Poppets Dog Training started and what you need to know about training your dog.
It’s a story worth reading. Take a walk with me…
First meetings…
Do you remember the day you brought your dog home? From the first feed, the first scratch on the furniture, the first ‘mistake’ on the carpet, to the first muddy puddle… life was forever changed.
For the better of course.
A new arrival changed my life also. Poppet was a very troubled rescue dog I first met when working as a veterinary nurse.
You guessed it. I can trace my career as ‘Rachel the Dog Trainer’ back to her. And the dogs and families we’ve trained across Nuneaton and Warwickshire have her to thank for Poppets Dog Training.
Poppet: A rescue story
I vividly remember the first meeting with Poppet. She had been severely mistreated and was brought into work as a stray. I’d not long started my shift and heard a very poorly dog had just arrived.
I approached her. Motionless and covered in blankets, just her head was showing. She gave me one look… and the rest is history!
Now all the best stories benefit from a tall tale. This one involved telling my parents I needed to bring her home to medicate her over the weekend. Obviously, she never went back.
how to find A good dog trainer.
I wonder if you’ve been around a rescue dog or one that’s nervous around people? With dogs and humans, all behaviour is telling us something... and we can thrive with the right care.
Poppet came to me with both mental and physical traumas. After she had physically recovered, I started working on her mental well-being. Time, patience, consistency and safety were needed for healing to take place.
Poppet turned out to be very reactive. As can be the case with humans, she had normalised stress and fight or flight responses. Survival instincts would readily take over. This was interesting as we also had a German Shepherd family dog called Weston. He was incredibly patient with her and helped her overcome her fears.
I’d had a lifetime of experience with animals and a deep love for dogs. But Poppet also needed an expert. She needed training. So this need gave me the push to jump two feet into life and learning as a dog trainer.
That was the first step on our journey to where we are today – we’re proud of this, as it sets Poppets Dog Training apart. Now we have a growing list of families grateful to have trusted their dog to us. But whether you choose Poppets or someone else, we want you to be confident when finding your dog trainer?
The best dog training for your pet
A rescue dog like Poppet needs to be treated with extra care. But all dogs need expert training. In fact, the wrong training and poor practice can itself be a source of trauma. Dog training is an unregulated field, meaning anyone can offer their services as a trainer or behaviourist, regardless of knowledge or experience. Choosing someone certified and qualified is essential - any talk of this not being important is a red flag.
I’m a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). As part of the registration to these organisations, it’s compulsory for members to undergo continuous professional development every year. This means you can be sure that a trainer is using the most up-to-date techniques.
Best practice dog training has changed massively over the years. It’s moved away from just stopping the ‘problem’ behaviour and is focused on finding the reason for the behaviour in the first place. Long-term solutions rather than a quick fixes.
Think about Poppet and the expertise she needed - knowing your trainer is using the best practice will always promote the welfare of your dog.
Choosing a dog trainer: Questions to give you peace of mind.
So, what next? After speaking with a dog trainer, I feel you should come away with clear answers to these questions:
1. What’s their story and why do they do what they do?
2. What’s their philosophy on dog training?
3. What’s their experience and their qualifications?
We know there’s so much information online and it can be overwhelming. I'm often asked, 'how do I find a good dog trainer?' There are ways to filter it all. By doing a quick search through the APDT or ABTC websites, you can find a local trainer and make sure you’re getting the best advice.
Our four-legged friends are with us for such a short time. With the right care and expert training, they’re ready to share their unconditional love. We just need to learn to speak their language.
For more information on best practice for dog trainers, you can visit:
Have questions about Poppets Dog Training or need a bit of help?
Get in touch - I’d love to meet you and your four-legged friend, or help you with your decision.
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