The very first questions a dog trainer should ask

Guest post by Sean

• What do you want your life with your dog to look like, and why?

• What things make you and your dog most enjoy your life together?

• What do you do with your dog that you don’t really like that much but feel pressured to do?

These questions all point to the most important thing to consider throughout the entire course of your relationship with your dog: whether or not you, as individuals, are enjoying your life together.

It’s so easy for me to see what other people are doing and unconsciously start feeling like I need to do the same. It’s the classic FOMO or “keeping up with the Joneses” feeling. A powerful,  motivating feeling… but one that almost always feels overwhelmingly negative and cuts at the foundation of self-esteem.

I have to remind myself of what I actually enjoy and want for my life instead of feeling like I have to compare the coolness of the things I do to the things other people enjoy. Me staying at home reading or writing can be just as great as someone’s trip to Italy! (Well,…