21/01/2025
I don’t ‘guarantee’ results.
This might be a terrible statement to put out on my page of 12k+ followers but it is absolutely true. When working with dogs (who are not programmable computers), a guarantee is a fallacy that sets everyone up to fail in the long term.
Trainers that promote ‘guarantees’ often use high levels of punishment and compulsion and that’s not how I work as this may look on the surface to be an instant result but rarely has long term longevity of behaviour.
I can guarantee that your dog will learn and make big strides forward during your sessions.
I can guarantee that I will coach you and your dog.
I can guarantee you and your dog won’t feel stressed or anxious during your sessions.
I can guarantee you will learn a lot.
But I cannot train your dog for you. If you went to see a good personal trainer you wouldn’t expect them to change your diet and lift the weights for you right? You know you have to put in the work yourself to get the results.
My favourite clients are those that commit to the process and work with their dog. The ones that do their homework. The ones that take on the guidance and learning and apply it with their whole heart. Those clients get results, often absolutely life changing results.
Like Olive the cockapoo that greeted a dog on lead for the first time EVER this week.
Like Loki the Lurcher (who started with me for fear around strangers) winning his first jumping class in agility last weekend.
Like Peggy the Border Collie who’s owner sent me videos of her working in a busy car park this weekend.
Like Nyx the GSD who a year ago couldn’t tolerate another dog a field away and is now a regular in group classes doing agility and obedience.
Like Pennie the terrier who has gone from terrified and barking at everything to starting agility foundations and having a blast.
Like Loki Border Collie who achieved a 1st place and his RLex1 title this weekend.
Like every one of my clients that continue to work, rain or shine.
Those people I do guarantee results to because they commit to their relationship with their dog.
So no, I don’t guarantee I’ll fix your dogs behaviour issues, but I do guarantee that if you commit, put the work in, be open to changing how you think, do the changes, follow the advice and lift the metaphorical weights that you’ll get results.
(Post adapted from a post by a wonderful friend Adrienne Forsythe at Dog 4 Life - Training & Behavior Solutions)