It is such a cool environment. It is not just educational but inspiring and fun. There are people who are new to the world of training their dogs and then there are other dog trainers who are always looking to learn more or to just deepen the connection with their dog by either implementing more structure or by actually managing a little less. People come from as far as Pennsylvania, Ohio and California for the weekend with their pups to do hands on training. This is not just for the big dogs but also for the little ones. Seeing people being so committed to not just their dogs but to the bond they are building and deepening is so incredible. This workshop is ‘only’ 3 days but you see a difference between the dog that showed up a little insecure on Friday vs the dog that is now surrounded by other dogs and can make a better decision for himself just 2 days later.
Having trainers explain more about the internal struggle the dog is experiencing is so interesting and so often the exact opposite of what I think is going on…
If some dog owners could just have an ounce of willingness trying to understand how their dog thinks and feels in certain situations, I think we would have a lot less people who experience serious issues with their dogs that often ultimately lead to the dog being surrendered to the shelter or a rescue.
You are taking on a being with a personality, with feelings, emotions and their quirks. We cannot expect them to know what is expected of them in certain situations if we have not done the work trying to explain it to them in a language they understand.
If you have read this far (thank you) and you are having issues with your dog that have led to you wanting to give up and surrender it, please don’t. Please get in touch with a trainer (I will ALWAYS send you to MIK9) and learn to understand why your dog is behaving the way he or she is and what you can do to make life a little easier and less stressful for the both of you. I promise you that in the process of all of this, you will strengthen the bond between you and your loyal companion and you will one day ask yourself how you could have ever even thought about giving up on your dog.
And if you are wondering when the next masterclass will be held? Unfortunately not until October of 2027. But until then, follow them on Instagram and give their podcast ‘Think like a dog’ a listen.