Calling all Dog Trainers

casey82

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Messages
131
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Minnesota
#1
Hello all! For those that are dog trainers how long did it take you to start feeling comfortable teaching group classes? I've been doing it a year now. They are basic puppy classes. I know the material. I know the concepts. I'm teaching for a girl who owns the company, so the methods aren't necessarily the methods I used for my own puppy, but they make sense. I'm struggling at the teaching aspect. She got an e-mail with a compliant and I'm feeling bummed. I feel that I have been doing it for a year now. I should be able to teach this stuff in my sleep. I can't. I want to know how long it took you to really feel like you were nailing every class. I also was wondering if you had any tips to share so I can be a better teacher.

Thank you in advance.
 

SaraB

New Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
5,798
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
St. Louis, MO
#2
I grew up teaching karate classes at my parents studio, so I was pretty comfortable quickly. That being said, I have always had issues teaching in front of someone that I idolize. If my boss or another super experienced trainer was listening in on my classes, I would stutter, stammer and pretty much appear to be incompetent. One thing that helped me was just flat out being confident in myself. Convincing myself that I really did know what I was talking about and OWNING the class. It takes time.
 

Beanie

Clicker Cult Coordinator
Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
14,012
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
39
Location
Illinois
#3
I also have a background of teaching and training outside of dog training, and a long employment history of customer service and just generally dealing with people - so that certainly helped. I don't remember ever feeling like I was struggling with my classes, although there are times I wonder if people don't show up to my class and feel disappointed - early on in my training classes, when I had a co-teacher and we were both getting started, one of the students complained that she thought she was supposed to be getting a class from the head trainer and was disappointed that WE were the trainers instead. The head trainer has a few decades on me so lots more experience and a different background... so sometimes I feel like people come to us thinking they're going to get her, then they get dumped in my class and are like "wait, what?!" But, if I do say so myself, my classes are fun, I'm funny, everybody has a really good time, and damned if I can't find a positive thing to say about their dog just about every moment of class. I am relentlessly positive LOL. So that early complaint aside, I feel like people genuinely enjoy my classes and me as a teacher now... so I don't worry too much about it.

I agree with Sara that a lot of it is just being confident. What was the complaint? Is there something specific you're having trouble with? Maybe we can brainstorm and come up with some ideas to help you along.
 

mrose_s

BusterLove
Joined
Mar 27, 2005
Messages
12,169
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
34
Location
QLD, Australia
#4
I was a horrible public speaker and had no real experience instructing until I did my trainers course, I knew I had to work through it to get into something like this as a job which was hard but I'm glad I did it.

I'm very lucky that my boss is an awesome instructor and I work as part of a decent sized team (one of 5+ senior instructors and 4-6 assistant instructors) so we can constantly critique and help develop one another.

It's taken me a long time to get used to instructing in front of my boss, because I know how good he is and how well he knows his stuff but thats faded as I have got used to it and practiced it. My new hurdle is every time he points a camera at me to film something for a client my handling falls apart.

I've been working with this business almost 2 years, have been a senior instructor (someone that can take classes alone) since Feb 2013, I teach between 5 and 8 classes a week. My nerves dissipated over the first 6 months or so but I am constantly working at finding different ways to explain the same things and keep classes fresh and interested.

Sometimes make it fun and informal and let it flow, other times add more structure. Sometimes crack the whip, sometimes go in gently. Sometimes push obedience, sometimes push socialisation/confidence development.

You can't please everyone, I generally get positive comments on my classes but I know not everyone is going to be happy with every class. It happens, take note of the reason, consider it but don't let it get to you.

For the first few months instructing I felt like I was really getting the hang of it, then I'd go through weeks of classes feeling crap, then they'd improve, then I'd feel lost and it would go up and down until they sort of levelled out. I am currently experiencing the same thing when taking our off leash Advanced class, something I only got introduced to in the last 6 months. I'm riding out the ups and downs I feel at the end of each session knowing that eventually it will level out.

My boss has been doing this for more than 15 years and he still walks out of the odd class or demo telling me it felt crappy. It happens. :)
The good days feel awesome though, I love watching people out and about with their dogs and helping them progress and bond with them.
 

skittledoo

Crazy naked dog lady
Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
13,667
Likes
5
Points
38
Age
37
Location
Fredericksburg
#5
I'm terrified of speaking in front of a group and have had to teach classes before. I mainly taught Tricks and Games classes since it's a looser fun environment and there isn't as much pressure on me. I'm the same way though. I don't really idolize my boss at all, but if she was to walk in the room I would probably lose myself and not know what to say. I think a lot of that though is because she and I differ a lot on training methods and I worry that she is going to think I don't know what I'm talking about.

I'm still working on the speaking in front of a group thing. I'm wanting to go back to school when we get to NM to mainly study business, but I really want to take some classes that will improve my public speaking and confidence. I do want to be able to feel comfortable teaching any kind of dog training class eventually.

One on one I'm fine though. I think that's why I can handle being the assistant in class because I can walk around and help people individually and let the main trainer do the group talking.
 

casey82

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Messages
131
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Minnesota
#6
First of all I want to say, you all are awesome! Thanks. This is my first experience teaching a class. So, the complaint was, I seemed unorganized and didn't seem to know what I was talking about. They are basic concepts. I know how to use them. I struggle to explain them. I guess confidence in front of a group? I feel like I can talk about this stuff all day one on one. Ironically I really like when my boss is there. It actually gives me more confidence.
 

Ozfozz

Highbread Dingbat
Joined
Jan 21, 2014
Messages
1,329
Likes
3
Points
38
Location
Ontario
#7
My biggest issue to overcome was that the classes were not run the way I would have run them.

Most of the methods I'm to teach make sense, but others I simply can't get behind. Which makes things incredibly difficult for me.

A big thing that helped me was that if you're teaching a puppy class or beginner class, most of these people do NOT know more than you and are looking up to you to teach them.
I was always afraid of getting contradicted and not having a response, or having people think I was less than intelligent.

Oh. And I stutter, and lose my train of thought increasingly frequently.
 

Dizzy

Sit! Good dog.
Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Messages
17,761
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
Wales
#8
If that was the complaint I'd say PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!! Use friends, use stuffed animals if you have to! Role play taking the class. It sounds more like your confidence than your ability, so know your session inside out. Role play different scenarios, different questions that might get asked etc.

You need to APPEAR confident even if you're not. A paying customer doesn't want to feel like their instructor is unsure or not confident.

You can do it, just trust yourself!
 

Southpaw

orange iguanas.
Joined
Jul 31, 2005
Messages
7,788
Likes
1
Points
38
Age
32
Location
Minnesota
#9
You can't please everyone, I generally get positive comments on my classes but I know not everyone is going to be happy with every class. It happens, take note of the reason, consider it but don't let it get to you.
Not that I'm a dog trainer and can relate, but I think this bears repeating. I've been using the same trainer for like the last 3 classes I've taken, obviously I'm happy with the trainer and the way classes go... my friend on the other hand, has went with me to class a couple times and has said she would NOT use the same trainer. Kind of like the complaint you got, she feels like this trainer sometimes sounds unsure of himself. I don't get the same vibe.

On the flip side, she has a trainer who she uses and likes, and I have gone to class with her and have also decided that I would NOT sign up for classes with that trainer. :)

Nothing wrong with either trainer, I don't think. My friend and I apparently just have different things we're looking for. I think Dizzy's suggestion is a good one though, to just practice different scenarios and get really comfortable with your delivery.
 

Beanie

Clicker Cult Coordinator
Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
14,012
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
39
Location
Illinois
#10
First of all I want to say, you all are awesome! Thanks. This is my first experience teaching a class. So, the complaint was, I seemed unorganized and didn't seem to know what I was talking about. They are basic concepts. I know how to use them. I struggle to explain them. I guess confidence in front of a group? I feel like I can talk about this stuff all day one on one. Ironically I really like when my boss is there. It actually gives me more confidence.
One thing you might try is getting a clipboard and making up an outline for yourself. The first few classes I taught, I used an outline so I could remember to hit all my points when talking about things. At this point I've done it so much I remember it in the way I remember all the words to The Lion King. =P If you have something to help you remember all your points to explain concepts, it might also help you feel more confident, because you'll know you aren't forgetting anything. Does that sound like it might help?
 

AliciaD

On second thought...
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
1,560
Likes
0
Points
36
#11
I second the outline part. But also, practice practice practice. People think it's weird to practice a presentation, or they practice a presentation but they don't take it seriously, but that will make a huge difference. You should also have a quick/cheat sheet of definitions and examples. Like, "backchaining is _____________ and a good example of it is ___________________"

But also make sure you are asking your class "does that make sense? Does anyone have any questions? Would anyone like another example?" etc.

I'm not a dog trainer, but I occasionally give fantastic presentations and workshops. :rolleyes:
 

AliciaD

On second thought...
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
1,560
Likes
0
Points
36
#12
Also, try thinking about the trainers you like and how they teach. Write a list and think of ways you can incorporate their methods or style (without stealing their work).

Like, if I had to teach about environmental cues I would probably start with a funny story about an environmental cue (because funny stories are what I remember) and then I would identify the cue and the behavior (attach the vocab to the example) give the general definition, and then give an other example but ask the class to identify the cue and behavior, so that I know that they understand.

But that's just one of many ways, lol. That's what I like to do because the flow comes naturally to me, and the flow is natural to me in part because it's modeled after the way I like to be taught new things.

Hope that's helpful. Don't be too hard on yourself, just practice. Even great teachers don't get 100% good feedback. I'll get 19 reviews saying that my presentation or workshop.was beyond expectations etc, and then 1 review that just totally deflates me.
 

Sekah

The Monster.
Joined
Feb 6, 2011
Messages
1,339
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Toronto
#13
^ That reminds me, a teacher friend of mine pointed out that you want to ask questions in a sort of positive manner. For instance, don't ask "does anybody not understand?" because anyone who may be struggling may be too self conscious to single themselves out as a dummy in front of their peers (when in all likelihood everyone is having similar issues).

For me, my biggest hurdle was trying not to get too sciencey. I started teaching classes when I was on a big "read every article, dog training is science!" kick and if I wasn't careful with my language students would easily get overwhelmed because all they want to do is teach their dog to stay.

I don't teach any more though. I moved too far away and the reward wasn't worth the investment. I'm considering doing some freelance work in my spare time, and then I remember, "what spare time?".
 

mrose_s

BusterLove
Joined
Mar 27, 2005
Messages
12,169
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
34
Location
QLD, Australia
#14
What I used to do a lot when I was beginning (and should still do more) would be to help me practice, whenever I was training Quinn, I would talk through what I was doing as if I was taking a class.

"So notice how I used my marker word just now, I chose to say "yes" just as the ball rolled past her and she DID NOT break her down stay, this helps communicate clearly exactly what behaviour she is being rewarded for even though it may take a few extra seconds to get the actual food treat to her"

I found it helped keep me honest in my training, helped me understand what I was teaching and helped the words flow easier when in front of a class.
The few times I got busted by people I didn't know were coming home was a bit funny though.

I also LOVE analogies when teaching. I find people generally find it easier to relate to.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top