12/05/2022
I saw a post on social media the other day written by a trainer looking to hire an apprentice. In the job description, they mentioned not to apply if youâre afraid of being bit.
I call this the Cesar Milan Effect - too many people who have been watching too much Dog Whisperer and now assume that regularly being bitten by the dogs youâre working with is a regular and respected part of the job.
Yâall, it is not. At least, it shouldnât be.
In another post written by a dog professional who has worked with many, many reactive and aggressive dogs over the last 10 years, she explained the scenario of her first bite, which just occurred a couple weeks ago.
The trainers I respect the most, who I see making lasting and effective behavior change with their clients, are the ones who are not being bitten with much frequency, if at all.
When it does happen? Theyâre embarrassed. Theyâre confused. Theyâre looking for medical explanations. Theyâre playing it back in their heads, over and over, trying to figure out what sign they missed, however subtle.
A trainer bragging about being bit, how big the dog was who bit them, how they taught that dog a lesson after they were bit, how they put the âfear of godâ in the dogâŚ
That tells me they missed the signs, or worse, they simply didnât care about the signs. It tells me they donât believe dogs are allowed to have feelings, including fear or panic. It tells me they arenât teaching their clients how to stay safe, either.
Being bitten regularly isnât a sign of how credible (or tough, or professional, or skilled) your trainer is. Itâs just a sign they ignored the signs.
