It makes me laugh and it also frustrates me when I talk with clients that tell me the last trainer (or last 2, 3 or 4 trainers!) wouldn't even take the leash. Some of my clients have been straight up refused training from some trainers and businesses...
The name of the game is dog training.
There's lots of different dogs, different breeds, sizes, genetics, histories, personality and so on. If you are going to offer the service, you had BETTER be capable. Otherwise it's fraud... I get it, no body wants to get bit. I don't want to. It sucks! However the sky is blue, grass is green... You're gonna get bit. It's a hazard of the job that won't ever go away. That said, I always do everything I can to not get bit but the fact of the matter is is that sometimes the dog is faster, more agile and in some cases stronger than you. So you had better have the experience and skills to know how to handle those dogs when it hits the fan.
For owners looking for a dog trainer reading this, if the trainer you're meeting with is unwilling to take the leash and is charging people money for training services, this should immediately raise a red flag and questions about their ability.
When clients come to me and I hear that other trainers wouldn't take the leash or they've been refused, that tells me that they are inexperienced, lacking skill and they are afraid of the dog. If they had the experience, they would would have the skill and they wouldn't be afraid.
People like this, who are used to dealing with only certain breeds or certain types of dogs need to recognize that and only see the dogs they have the skills to help or stop training entirely.
This isn't exclusive to behaviour like aggression and reactivity. Do you know why I don't offer lessons for agility? Or protection training? Because I don't have the experience, skills and resume to offer that to people! If I did offer that, it would be dishonest and puts the dog, owner and general public at risk!
Owners: Do the homework and find a trainer who has the skills and resume that is best suited to help your dog.
Trainers: Know yourself and be honest.
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