Imagine you're a dog trainer and you’ve just finished a brilliant training session with a client, your work uniform proudly displaying your business logo. You get home, and your dog gives you that look - you know the one - that says "walkies time!" What do you do?
If you're like I was for nearly a decade, you'd rush upstairs and change into something anonymous before heading out the door. Sounds a bit mad, doesn't it? But that was me for ten whole years. It's only recently that I've had this weird realisation - and I now walk my dogs while wearing my Potter Paws uniform without a second thought.
The Perfect Dog Trainer Myth
What really gets my goat is this massive misconception that dog trainers should have perfect dogs. It's like saying a teacher should have Einstein children or a doctor should have the healthiest family on the planet. Complete nonsense, really, but it doesn't stop people thinking it.
When I first started this business, I genuinely believed that if my dogs weren't absolutely perfect, people would think I was rubbish at my job. So every time I took them out, I'd throw a coat over my work jumper or quickly change before we headed out for our walk.
What’s ironic is that before I became a professional trainer, I honestly didn't care how my dogs behaved. Well, I did care, but not in the same way. If Rem had a bit of a moment on a walk, I'd think, "That was a bit naff, I'll work on improving it," and that was that. I didn't go home beating myself up about it.
When Knowledge Becomes a Burden
They say knowledge is power but sometimes I wonder if that's actually true. Once I became a trainer, I started reading into every single situation so much more. Instead of just enjoying my walks, I'd be constantly analysing and second-guessing myself.
My dogs aren't perfect - I've talked about this loads before. Two of them bark because they're expressing themselves and working through their emotions. Do I mind them barking? Not really, because their barking has reduced massively as they've grown in confidence. But of course, barking means people turn and look and then you're getting everyone's eyes on you.
I used to assume that people would see my dogs' imperfections and think I must be rubbish at what I do. Completely wrong, I know that logically but it took me ages to actually feel it in my bones.
The Instagram Illusion
Part of this pressure comes from social media. You see these dog trainers whose dogs literally don't put a step out of line and it creates this impossible standard. But here's what I've learned: you only ever see a snapshot in time and that snapshot isn't necessarily the whole picture.
That dog with the amazing recall you're envious of? They might have been coming to classes for three years working on it. You don't see my dog who looks beautifully well-behaved walking down the street but then gets home and has to decompress because that walk was actually quite challenging for him.
Quick results on social media often come with a price - usually fear, intimidation or pain. I'd much rather see a dog working through a wonderful journey to overcome their challenges than an instantly well-behaved dog who's been through unpleasant methods to get there.
The Confidence Breakthrough
So what changed? I think it's partly about developing that "who gives a toss" attitude over the years. Our business is celebrating its 10th year in January and over those ten years, I've built enough confidence in my ability that I now genuinely don't care what people think.
I used to delete social media posts if I got a single negative comment. Now I see them as actually quite positive: they boost the algorithm and it's how I respond that matters. It's water off a duck's back now.
The biggest shift came from understanding that I don't want perfection anyway. I want a happy dog, a happy dog owner, progress and confidence. That's it. Success isn't about having a robotic dog - it's about the journey you've been on together.
Why Imperfection Is Actually Perfect
These days, my clients actually tell me they prefer that my dogs aren't perfect. So many people have said, "Previous trainers I worked with had perfect dogs and it always made me feel like mine wasn't good enough." Showing that my dogs aren't perfect helps people feel understood rather than judged.
Having challenging dogs makes me more relatable. My clients know I understand where they're coming from because I've been there myself.
Building Your Own Confidence
If you've ever felt anxious about taking your dog out or worried about what people might think, know that you're not alone. Building confidence takes time, but it also needs the right environment. Surround yourself with supportive people who understand that you're on a journey.
Remember, we don't want perfection. We just want progress, no matter how small. Your dog's struggles are unique to them and every step forward matters.
It's taken me ten years to walk my dogs in my uniform without a second thought. These days, I even post the "cock-ups" on social media because that's real life. We're all just muddling through together and that's what counts.
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