The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Summer 2018 | Page 8

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Through knowledge comes growth that
benefits dogs and clients
6
I love learning. I
do this through
reading, attending
seminars, watching
webinars and
networking. This
is one of the
main reasons why
I love being a
professional dog
trainer. There are
so many ways to continue my education. I find every
time I teach a class, talk with another trainer, assist a dog
owner or attend an event, I leave with new information
that can help me in my career. I find it especially exciting
now as there are more studies being done on dogs and
the dog-loving population is becoming more interested
in learning what they can do to improve the lives of their
canine companions.
All this focus on learning more about dogs and their
behaviour is having a positive impact on our industry,
and most importantly, on our dogs. When I first started
learning about dog training about 15 years ago, there was
not the same focus on behaviour when training as there is
now. Over this time, there has been tremendous growth
with how much information there is for dog owners
and dog trainers alike to better understand our canine
companions. Not all of it has been good, and there is still
a great deal of misguided information out there, but we
are headed on the right track.
It is now rare to meet a professional dog trainer who
has not had a formal education or mentored through
a reputable trainer. And the clients have changed in
my business. They are seeking to learn as much as they
can about their dogs and are eagerly consuming all the
information and resources we can provide them to help
them better understand their dog’s behaviour. I have also
seen this ripple effect thoughout the pet services industry.
Building Better Trainers Through Education
Dog daycares, groomers, dog walkers, veterinarians and more are
seeking out further learning on canine behaviour to ensure they
can provide the best care to their clients.
All of this makes me a very proud member of the APDT as
this organization works hard to build better trainers through
education. This education covers everything from basic training,
to business, to the legal side and behaviour. The more knowledge
we have as trainers, the more of a positive impact we can continue
to have on the industry and in helping to improve the lives of
dogs. In this issue, we are going to focus on behaviour. This is a
topic that I know we all love!
As we learn more and gain a better understanding of our canine
companions, the more we will see our industry progress. It’s an
exciting time and I look forward to digging into this issue. I hope
you enjoy it as much as I will and continue to commit to your
learning. Be sure to also take advantage of our online community.
I love reading all the support and information our members share
with each other. I take something new away to add to my toolbox
of knowledge or skills with each post. As well, check out our
webinars and online certificate courses to find even more.
Have a topic you would like to learn more on? Be sure to let us
know!
Happy learning!
Megan Stanley, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA