Part 1: Dog Training – Passion or Just a Business?

In recent years, the landscape of dog training has undergone a significant shift, and not necessarily for the better. Once an industry deeply rooted in a love for dogs and a desire to see them thrive alongside their owners, dog training is, in some cases, becoming more about financial gain than genuine passion. Increasingly, dog owners are finding that instead of receiving clear, targeted training solutions, they’re being pushed into lengthy programs that seem to go on forever without achieving results.

More sessions are recommended, more time is spent, and the process drags on, leaving owners to wonder; is this really about training my dog, or am I just paying for the trainer’s next paycheck?

The Profit-Driven Approach

This shift in dog training mirrors what’s happening in other service-based industries, like personal fitness. In the fitness world, we see personal trainers stretch programs over months, not necessarily because their clients need that much time, but because it keeps them in business longer. The goal becomes less about achieving the client’s desired results and more about keeping them dependent on the trainer for as long as possible.

In dog training, this plays out similarly. Many dog owners report that their trainers recommend more sessions than seem necessary, sometimes suggesting long, drawn-out programs for issues that should be solvable in a handful of sessions. The justification is often vague, things like, "It takes time for the dog to learn," or, "We’re making slow progress, but it’s progress." While in some cases this may be true, for many trainers, it’s a deliberate way to keep clients on the hook.

This profit-driven approach not only frustrates dog owners, who waste time and money, but it also reflects a troubling shift in values within the industry.

The Cost of Dragging Out Training

Stretching out training time isn’t just a minor inconvenience for dog owners, it can be detrimental to the overall training experience. Dog training is, at its core, about building trust and communication between a dog and its owner. This requires consistency, clarity, and effective guidance. When a trainer prolongs the process unnecessarily, it can muddy this communication and create a confusing, frustrating experience for both the dog and the owner.

For dogs, inconsistency in training leads to uncertainty. If sessions are dragged out with no clear progress or end in sight, the dog may struggle to grasp what’s being asked of them. They might get mixed signals, leading to frustration, stress, and behavioral backsliding. The same can be said for the owner, who may begin to feel they are not making headway despite the time and money invested.

This creates a cycle where both the dog and the owner lose confidence, not only in the training but in themselves. When training becomes a seemingly endless process, owners start to feel like failures, questioning their abilities as handlers and their relationship with their dog. In reality, it’s often not the owner's or the dog's fault, but rather the approach taken by a trainer more interested in stringing out the journey than reaching the destination.

Lacking the Passion to Teach

But the problem goes deeper than just financial motivation. Many of today’s trainers lack the true understanding of what it means to teach, and even more crucially, the passion for it. A good dog trainer is not only skilled at handling dogs but also deeply invested in seeing the dog/owner relationship flourish. This takes passion, something that can’t be faked or taught through a quick certification.

For some trainers, dog training has become more about business than craft. They rely on mechanical obedience techniques, offering short-term fixes to behavior without addressing the underlying cause. They lack the drive to truly connect with the dog and its owner, leading to cookie-cutter training plans that often fail to meet the unique needs of each dog.

Effective dog training goes beyond simply teaching a dog to sit or stay, it’s about teaching both the dog and the owner how to communicate with each other. This requires patience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of both canine and human psychology. A trainer must be able to adapt their methods based on the individual needs of the dog and the personality of the owner. Without this, the training becomes shallow and unsustainable.

What’s Missing in Today’s Dog Training

1. A True Connection: The best dog trainers don’t just train dogs, they form a connection. They understand that training isn’t about coercing a dog into obedience but fostering a relationship where the dog “wants” to follow the owner’s lead. This kind of connection comes from a genuine passion for the work, not a desire for profit.

2. Understanding the "Why": Many trainers focus too much on the "what", what commands to teach, what tools to use, and what techniques to apply, without understanding or explaining the "why." Why does a dog behave a certain way? Why do certain methods work for some dogs and not others? Trainers who lack passion often fail to dig deep into these questions, missing the opportunity to educate the owner on the fundamental principles of behavior.

3. Teaching Owners, Not Just Dogs: A common issue in the modern dog training world is the disconnect between the trainer, the dog, and the owner. It’s not enough to simply train the dog during sessions. A trainer’s job is to empower the owner with the knowledge and skills to continue training on their own. The great ones use the approach of “train the trainer”. Without this, the training won’t hold up once the sessions are over. Many trainers today neglect this aspect of the process, leaving owners dependent on their services rather than giving them the tools to succeed independently.

The Bigger Picture

The commercialization of dog training is a symptom of a larger issue, when passion takes a back seat to profit, quality inevitably suffers. This isn’t to say all trainers are guilty of this shift, but the industry has seen a rise in those who prioritize revenue over results. The solution lies in bringing the heart back into dog training, focusing on building relationships, understanding the deeper "why" behind behavior, and committing to the long-term success of both dogs and their owners.

Dog owners deserve trainers who are truly invested in their journey, who see each dog as an individual, and who take pride in the progress made, not the number of sessions sold. The best trainers are the ones who work themselves out of a job, because they’ve taught the owner everything they need to know to carry on the work confidently and successfully.

In the end, dog training should always be about passion first. Profit will follow when the results speak for themselves.