VIEWPOINT:
a position or perspective from which something is considered or evaluated
Viewpoint is not a term that is typically associated with dog training. It’s not a cute play on words or a prediction of the amazing results you can expect to achieve. In fact, when selecting a name, I was told not to use it because people wouldn’t be able to connect to it. So people may find it even more shocking that I don’t really identify with the title “dog trainer” either.
The reality is, my job’s not really about training the dog or the human, it’s about improving the relationship.
I see myself as a mediator. An unbiased third party who understands both the needs of the dogs and the people that love them. I am not here to pass judgment, find fault, or assign arbitrary rules. I am here to help you consider and evaluate your dog from a new point of view.
My approach for helping people and their dogs is the same as improving any relationship between two living beings – cultivating communication and compromise. When you work with me, you will learn how your dog communicates with their body and find compromises for those innately dog behaviors that don’t always agree with the expectations of polite society. Your dog will learn that your words and body language carry information for them, and trust that moments of compromise will always lead to the opportunity for those innately doggie desires to be fulfilled.
I cannot promise potential clients the perfect dog or behaviors that are one hundred percent reliable because I am fairly confident those concepts do not actually exist. What I can offer through my services is the strong foundation of a great relationship with your dog. The kind of relationship that can withstand the hardships and difficulties of life. The kind of relationship that will bring you joy even in your darkest of moments. The kind of relationship that will make it incredibly hard to say goodbye when the time comes. If you and your dog find joy and happiness with each other, there is no problematic behavior you cannot overcome.
The purpose of this blog is to inspire people to find the magic of a truly authentic relationship with their dogs. My dogs are not without flaws, and I will never hide our struggles just because I am a “dog trainer”. And often times, “bad” behavior is truly in the eye of the beholder. While you may not like being jumped on or licked, there is nothing that comforts me more when I am crying than one of my dogs pushing their soft bodies into my lap and licking the salty tears off my face.
I look forward to hearing about the things that make your relationship with your dog special. Let’s learn to enjoy the world from a dog’s point of view.