Long. Appreciation Post.
When I was a younger, I was bitten in the face by a dog. I have the scars to prove it.
It really doesn't matter why.
Whether it was the dog's fault or my fault, it happened.
Regardless of the situation, the dog was not punished, and I would have to face that dog from time to time.
From that moment on subconsciously. I was fearful of dogs. Mainly bigger ones.
I remember as a kid growing up there were dogs around the neighborhood. A dog simply barking at me or getting close while barking would simply put me into a panic mode that I almost couldn't control. I would go the long way home to avoid dogs when I would walk to the bus stop, or walk to a friends house.
Eventually, as I aged that feeling went away.
May 2nd 2022. One year ago, today.
This is the day I decided to start booking private sessions for dog training, and create this Facebook page. Honestly, I did it because someone else was living my dream.
Thinking back to the Military. I remember seeing my first military working dog. This dog was being walked by a Soldier while we were getting ready to out in the field.
Even though the dog was in a muzzle, people still took notice and moved aside. What makes the people move out of the dog's way?
It's respect some would say. Others would say it's fear. All I could say was that dog is badass. I want to be his friend. I want him to like me more than he likes everyone else. (obvious reasons)
Being exposed to Military and Police Dogs over the next 5 years fueled a passion for working dogs that can't really be explained.
What really hooked me was doing bite work. You can never really, truly respect dogs, until you feel a trained ones power. The amount of pressure they can generate is unreal. And it make me think:
"Holy shit, that dog would have killed me if someone he liked didn't tell him to stop"
Now training 100's of dogs. Looking back at the time when I got bit.
I guarantee that dog produced signs, warnings, a mixture of verbal and physical cues of agitation or aggression towards me.
I did not heed the warning, so I paid the price.
It is unlikely that a dog would just randomly attack someone, and not continue to cause violence. The dog bit me once, and only once.
Even dogs that do randomly attack, its usually not the dogs fault. Someone or something made them that. Poor genetics, upbringing, a traumatic event, etc.
As a professional dog trainer, if a dog bites me its my fault. Not the dogs.
Now I work with aggressive dogs on the daily. So now I have been bit on the face, both my hands, and the back of my leg. All self correcting errors. Listen to what the dog is telling you.
Thank you to everyone who has allowed to me live my dream by letting me, and trusting me to train your dogs.
Thank you for helping me reach 616 followers. On average my post reach 6,000 people.
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