18/04/2026
I thought I’d feel confident bringing a rescue dog home.
Instead, I’ve felt doubt about myself and my abilities, pressure, and a level of overthinking I honestly didn’t expect.
I’ve questioned whether I’ve done the right thing.
I’ve worried about the impact on Loki.
Imposter syndrome has reared its big ugly head.
It’s strange feeling this way when you’re the person others come to for help
But this is my reality & it’s not something I see spoken about enough.
Dog trainers can struggle too and it’s ok to admit that. It doesn’t make you any worse at your job.
I’m really lucky to have friends who’ve reassured me and held my hand through it. ( & you guys are the best ily 🩷)
Rescuing isn’t just rewarding, it can be so emotionally heavy too.
If you’ve ever felt like this after bringing a dog home, you’re not alone. I see you 🤍
For clarity, we love Diva. She isn’t going anywhere. She’s home and our family.
Realistically she isn’t throwing anything at me I haven’t seen professionally, but working with and living with are two completely different sides of the coin.
She’s a young bull herder on her 7th/8th home at just two years old.
She’s already had a litter of puppies, and gone from a quiet environment to a much busier one.
That’s a huge adjustment…and honestly, she’s doing remarkably well.
If anything, I’m the one putting too much pressure on both of us.
And that’s not fair.
But we’ll get there… one step at a time ❤️
