The Burnt Out Dog Trainer

One of the things that really boils my blood is when I hear an alleged “Dog Trainer” tells someone to pin their dog on the ground and scream at them. This is not training. This is abuse. A B U S E. From my pimple patch to your brain- stop listening to idiots.

I watch a lot of @schittscreek 🤷‍♀️

Hehe

It’s likely your Dog Trainer cares deeply about the relationship between you and your dog. Please show them love by taking accountability and practice what they teach!

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When it comes to advocating for those who don’t have a voice, it’s important even in the most awkward or intimidating situations we stand our ground. Also, everybody poops.

All great things take time. This applies to the relationship we have with our companions. There is no magic wand in life. Finding joy in the hard work is a skill we have to sharpen all of the time.

Until the day I die, I will be preaching this shit.

Puppyhood Tip: Get that puppy out into the world encourage curiosity. Most pups/dogs have 2 Fear Periods that play an important role on their development. 1st: Around 8-11 weeks and 2nd: 6-14 months. During this time it’s super important your puppy is exposed to as much as possible (to the best of our ability) at a pace that is energetically sound. What do I mean? I’m not gonna throw puppy into a convention center with thousands of people to absorb. Just an idea: Rather, I’m going to have puppy parties potentially where I invite 2 to 5 friends/people over to just simply be around puppy. Always wait for puppy to play with you if you are new to them! Consent is very important and allows the dog to be the most confident creature possible. There are hundreds of different creative ways to socialize the pup!

Well, hello. Taking a hot second to introduce myself. I’m a certified Dog Trainer from the Victoria Stiwell Academy. I started my business five years ago in South Philadelphia, PA- originally I named it Train With Underdogs. Then renamed it Train with THUNDERDOGZ two years ago for no other reason than it was what people thought my instagram handle said anyway! 😉 I started my business from nothing and grew it into something exceptional within just 2 years. Then after winning best Dog Trainer from Philadelphia magazine 2021 I hit the lowest low of my entire life. My mental health crashed. I didn’t ask for help because I truly believed I wasn’t worthy of it. I essentially set my life on fire🔥, began drinking and screwing around with drugs, moved to FL…then CO…(whilst moving Allie with me $$!!) trying to grip a sense of belonging again. I’ve been trying to figure out how to navigate not only this industry of dog training that so often seems to be a dumpster fire, but also trying to navigate how to balance my life to where I am a little more happy and a little less sad each day. Like most of us I am neurodivergent as fuck. My dog-daughter Jolene and horse-daughter Allie are the two things that keep me the most sane even when they occasionally cause me the most stress. Only right this moment do I feel my feet are just becoming grounded again. Meditation & the gym discipline help a lot. The ebbs and flows of life! ❤️‍🔥My passion is not only helping people better understand their companions that they live with, but also to better understand themselves. I’m trying to understand and honor my forever wild untamed brain on a daily basis.❤️‍🔥 This world is absolute chaos, and I strive to be a grounding human in the mess of it all. I’m a Dog Trainer, Performing Artist, Runner, Fitness Freak, Yoga Instructor and Photographer. I’m a big fan of all things Fuck The Patriarchy. You probably are too if you’re here. I do believe at the end of the day community is a big part of what keeps us all going. In my own tiny way, I hope to bring some relatability here and in person to those I work with. Thank you for reading!!!

It’s not about YOU. It’s about keeping the community safe. Oy!

It’s a story we all hear way more than we should. If someone tells you their dog isn’t comfortable around you, the last thing you should do is try to be the Dog’s best friend within five seconds of meeting them. MEN. Why babe? Why? You need to stop doing this. It isn’t always you buuutttt most of the time from what I gather it is! Love you. Knock it off. Many dogs are fearful of men and children. Instead of forcing yourself onto the dog, it’s a lot smarter and safer to keep your distance so the dog understands you’re not a threat. This is all general and in the context of if and when a handy person comes into your home. If this is something you need help with, I can work with you virtually or in person if you’re in my area. Also always happy to give referrals!