ASK THE TRAINER
SOLUTIONS FOR CLASSROOM CHALLENGES
Voices from the Training Community
By Jamie McKay , CPDT KSA sometimes there is much more going on than you can possibly know and showing up for class is sometimes all they can manage . It could be they registered for the class , but then an elderly parent got sick and they ’ re in the process of moving them into a nursing home , or their childcare fell through , or any number of personal scenarios . I would deliberately do this through email , not a phone call ; if you get them on the phone , it can put them on the spot . And they might be more willing to “ share ” via email .
If everything is “ fine ,” then I ’ d ask follow-up questions : Are you having any challenges practicing at home ? Are you trying to find “ time ” to practice but don ’ t have it ?” I recommend two-to-three minute sessions throughout the day . Are their kids interfering ? Suggest ways to get them involved . Do they have trouble remembering what you covered in class ? Written handouts , more ( or less !) detailed handouts , or even video might be better . Sometimes saying to someone , “ I don ’ t think you ’ re getting as much out of the class as I ’ d like you to ” can light a bit of a fire under them .
Ask 10 trainers a question and you ’ ll get 10 different answers ! If you have a suggestion for a topic to be covered in this series , please email jamiemckay @ optonline . net .
This challenge was suggested by Kellyn Croy of Portland , Oregon
I have clients who don ’ t seem to be working with their dogs between class sessions so I see little to no progress being made . I don ’ t want to hold the rest of the class back but I ’ m at a bit of a loss on what to do with these client / pet teams . Any suggestions from the more experienced trainers out there ?
Ellen Rassiger , CPDT KA , CDBC www . happydogbehavior . com I would definitely shoot a “ just checking in ” email over , asking how at-home training is going . I , too , am often baffled by people who come to class weekly but seem to be doing little at home , but
I would be very aware of not holding back the rest of the class , though , because of their lack of practice . If they ’ re not practicing their recall and their dogs run around the room when it ’ s their turn , make the exercise easier so they can have * some * success but not slow down / interrupt / take unfair amounts of time away from the group . Use a long line on the dogs before their turn . Have them do a shorter distance than the rest of the group . Make sure you ’ ve got amazing treats at the ready in case they are habitually without . This shows compassion and flexibility . But if their lack of practice is disruptive , I ’ d pull the dog – it ’ s worse for your business in the long run to have the other five people have a notgreat experience because you ’ re bending over backwards for one person . At the end of the day , you can ’ t work harder to train someone ’ s dog than they will .
Carol Davenport http :// indytherapydog . wordpress . com I have had similar experiences when working with owners wanting to train their dogs to become therapy dogs for others and when working one-on-one . I always make a point of stating something like “ when we were in school if we didn ’ t do the home-work we didn ’ t get the good grades .” I see no reason why you can ’ t be
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