My Dog isn’t Picture Perfect…
Damn You Social Media!
We all know that social media is a bastard for giving us false impressions about how others live.
I’m guilty of it too — I look at other dog trainers and how amazing their dogs are and wish I could be at that level. But when I stop to think about it, I only ever post the good stuff too.
Not because I’m trying to hide anything “bad” that happens, but because if I’m recording, I’m recording on purpose. I’m not one of those people who always has their phone ready to capture a shit show. And let’s be honest, the people that do are usually waiting for one to happen anyway.
Why You Don’t See the Bad Bits
So why don’t I (and probably a lot of other trainers) show the stuff that isn’t great?
Simple — because when it happens, my first thought isn’t to film it.
The Truth About Sam
Now, in the grand scheme of things my dog Sam is pretty bloody good — but she’s certainly not perfect, and as a dog trainer that’s quite hard to admit.
She’ll break positions sometimes. She’ll nick food off the floor when we’re out and I’m not quick enough. And cats… jeepers creepers, don’t get me started on the cats on our road.
But does that mean she isn’t well trained? No, I don’t think so. Because when I’m using Sam in sessions it’s “work time,” and she seems to get that too. To her, it’s just another training session and she knows exactly how it works — because the reinforcement for her in those sessions is always worth the effort.
The important thing is that I can take her anywhere if I need to, and use her when helping to train other people’s dogs — but some places will always need a bit more work than others. Ultimately, she’s the dog I need her to be for me and my family. And unless I want to start sacrificing family time to tidy up a few little quirks that aren’t really a problem, those niggles will just have to exist.
Why Imperfection Matters
I also think it’s important for owners to see that a trainer’s dog isn’t absolutely 100% perfect. Controversial? Maybe. But hear me out.
There’s a fine line here, granted — because a trainer’s best selling point is how well trained their own dog is. That’s the proof of their abilities. A client needs to be impressed by the trainer’s dog, but not feel like reaching that level is impossible.
Of course, if you’ve turned up to a session to work on some loose lead walking and the trainer’s dog is pinging off the end of the lead, barking and being reactive — that’s a red flag. If you get to a session and the trainer’s dog won’t recall, that’s a red flag.
But if you’re mid-session and the trainer’s dog breaks a down stay — or swaps a sit for a down — I’d argue that shows the reality of owning a dog.
The real test is how the trainer responds. If they ignore it, red flag. If they calmly put the dog back in position — or issue a correction if appropriate — cool. That’s also a learning moment for the client too.
That’s the reality of living with another animal. Nothing is 100% guaranteed.
Standards Still Matter Though
But let’s not misunderstand what I’m saying. This isn’t me saying standards don’t matter. A trainer’s dog should be holding positions until released — and holding them the vast, overwhelming majority of the time. Breaking early should be the rare exception, not something that happens anywhere near as often as it doesn’t.
And it’s not me saying you should just carry on struggling with behaviour issues either. Standards matter. Good training and good behaviour make life easier for you and fairer for your dog.
The point is: don’t look at a trainer’s dog and think “I’ll never get there, so why bother?”
For me as a trainer, being transparent matters. One of the biggest hurdles most people need to get over is just finding the motivation to start. And if your trainer doesn’t fill you with confidence, but instead paints themselves and their dog as golder than gold, then it’s easy to lose that drive. The mountain feels insurmountable before you’ve even taken the first step.
You should have standards and strive for more. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s perfection or nothing. Progress is the goal.
So, Is My Dog Perfect?
No. And I wouldn’t have her any other way.
Because it means we always have something to work on. As you focus on one thing, something else might slip — and so the cycle continues. There’s always something to train, and that only strengthens our bond more and more, building a life full of happy memories.