08/27/2024
Happy !
Years ago, I was facing dog trainer burnout for the first time. When I reached out to one of my mentors for advice, they told me to take photos. Print them, keep them in a separate folder on your phone, whatever. And when the days get hard, look back and reflect on all the lives you’ve touched. The dogs who are out there, living their best lives with their humans because of the work we do.
I now take photos of every dog I train, and I have printed several out and hang them on a board in my office. And on days like today, I just want to say “thank you”.
To the dogs who make me smile every day, who make this feel like I’m hardly working. To the dogs who make me want to slam my head into a wall and the dogs who have shaped me into the trainer I am today. And a humongous thank you to the owners who have trusted me with them over the years. I’m grateful for every minute I share with them.