Interview with a Dogs West Member and Certified Dog Trainer

PD Insurance recently chatted to Dogs West member and certified dog trainer Stephanie Bryson. As we all know, pet professionals often make their career choice thanks to a love of animals. Interestingly, in Stephanie’s case, one dog in particular was the inspiration behind her decision.

“Kira is a Bull terrier mix rescue dog and she’s almost 10 now. She was the inspiration behind becoming a trainer.”

Stephanie says the behavioural issues Kira had when she was first adopted helped inspire the move to becoming a dog trainer. Kira also helped her learn that you need to move at a dog’s pace. This is the inside story – find out more…

Meet Kira, an Associate Dogs West doggy member

As with many rescues, Kira had several traumas to unlearn before getting back to the basics. Stephanie says, “She’s registered with Dogs West as an associate dog. She’s not from an ethical breeder (being a rescue) which has led us to many complex problems over the years.

Kira has lots of health conditions. These include chronic pain conditions and mental health issues, like compulsive disorders. Thankfully for those buying their puppy from Dogs West breeders, these are issues that our ethical breeders are trying to prevent through thoughtful breeding.”

“Kira didn’t have that good start to life. Yet she’s been my very best teacher. I described her as full of attitude. She’s very sassy. Super smart – can open cabinets, drawers and get into refrigerators.”

“She didn’t have socialisation opportunities, puppy classes or any of the foundations I hope all my clients’ dogs get to have. So we really started on the back foot and had to get her to where she is now. She is my only child but keeps me plenty busy.

Kira finds her furever home

“Once I got her I had to learn a lot very quickly because she was very shut down when she was with the rescue. After she relaxed into our home she was more active and, for lack of a better word, a bit feral.”

I had to do lots of research, along with reaching out to other people so I could learn how I could make her life better. I realised I really like this and started looking into working more with dogs. After attending several Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) courses, I sat my membership exam and was able to call myself a trainer!”

Benefits of dog training

Many people get a puppy without planning either enough time or budget for training. Not only do dogs love the interaction and attention training provides but they need it in order to be good canine citizens. Whether with other people or pets.

“Having professional help and guidance from a qualified trainer is a massive benefit to getting things started on the right track. This means you could enjoy time with your dog, which is all that any of us trainers want. For you to have the freedom to enjoy time with your dog rather than to dread it.”

Stephanie says, “Dogs are their own individuals with individual personalities and genetic backgrounds. For us to ask them to fit into our lives, we need to show them the best way to do that.

This means having reasonable expectations and setting them up to succeed. It’s hard to do that when you’re an overtired puppy parent because puppy’s waking you up every three hours to go out to the toilet.”

Dog training A, B, Cs

“In addition to the A, B, Cs of puppy training, Stephanie shares some key cues that can help set a dog up in life. Stephanie says, “If I could get just everyone to work on two skills with their dogs these would be settling on a mat and focusing their attention on you (the owner).”

Settle training (crate training)

“One of the most important cues or skills a dog should know is crate training. This could also be ‘matt training’, ‘settle training’ or ‘place training’ as they all fall in the same category.”

“One can easily spend a lot of time teaching active skills but it’s also important to teach your pup to just hang out and chill with you.”

“Being able to go ‘Hey pup, go chill out there and relax’ is important because then you know you can take them to cafés, on car rides, to friends’ houses, go on dog friendly camping trips and more. It’s a really transferable skill for different environments.”

Engagement skills

“If I call my dog’s name, I want them to look at me and focus. This is an important skill for any dog. Being able to go, ‘Hey, I know there are distractions around, but can you choose to look back at me when I call you?’ Once that’s in place then everything else is easy.

You can get them to walk with you, you can get them to recall, or whatever other trick you want. But if you’ve not built that little bit of a relationship there, where your dog knows that when they look at you really fun stuff happens then the rest of it is really hard.

Being able to get your dog’s attention easily and having them have a reflex when they hear their name is a great foundational skill.”

What is the best training method for dogs?

Paws down, the best training method is positive reinforcement dog training. As Stephanie shares, this hasn’t always been the case…

“Like any sort of psychology or behaviour science, we’re learning all the time. Not only the best ways to teach things, but the most ethical too. Previously, the mindset was very goal oriented, of getting the job done at any cost.”

Now, however, we have more of an understanding of animal welfare and mental wellbeing. It’s no longer just about will they listen and do it? It’s about whether they’re mentally in a space where they feel safe and comfortable that we’re working as a partnership.

Advice from a certified dog trainer

As a dog trainer with multiple qualifications, including IMDT and Fear Free membership and a Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and training, Stephanie shares some insights for pet parents looking for dog trainers.

“When it comes to dog training, there’s no government regulation. There are no guidelines about who can call themselves a dog trainer. Anyone in Australia could wake up tomorrow and start a dog training business.”

“You don’t know what experience someone has unless you do the research yourself. Check if they’re industry certified. Although Australia doesn’t set regulations, there are international certifications like those offered through the IMDT, for example.

There are also Government recognised qualifications like the Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training which are taught through a RTO (Registered Training Organisation) like Applied Vocational Training.

Make sure whoever you invest your time, money and your puppy’s future in has the relevant experience. Also check they have up-to-date qualifications because dog training has changed a lot in the last 10 years (never mind the last 20 or 30 years)!”

Benefits of choosing a certified dog trainer

Modern internationally recognised ethical dog training institutions tend to have requirements that dog trainers must fulfil to get their credentials. This takes a load of work off pet owners – if you choose a dog trainer who is certified, your puppy has a better chance at getting a good education in a safe environment.

Stephanie outlines some common requirements that recognised dog training institutions require to provide a trainer with membership/certification:

• Sign a code of ethics agreement
• Complete an exam
• Complete registration requirements
• Maintain up-to-date qualifications
• Use modern force free ethical training

Force-free dog training

Stephanie says, “There’s been a big shift in dog training. Nowadays, we’re really looking at setting them up so they can succeed. Building a really positive relationship with our dogs so we can both enjoy time together is key.

“You can’t rush dog training because you want to get it done faster, especially when they’re starting from further behind the starting line, such as I had to with Kira.”

We don’t want to correct dogs for doing the wrong thing. We want them to have the desire and skillset to do the right thing.”

Health and behaviour

“Mental health and behaviour cannot be considered in a vacuum, physical health and the role that plays must be investigated. Currently, there’s more emphasis on looking at the dog as a whole and making sure their physical and mental needs and health are up to scratch.”

“There was a study fairly recently that said up to 80% of dogs with behaviour issues could have some sort of chronic pain. Which totally makes sense. If I’ve got a sore back – I’m grouchy, too.”

“Treatment plans for any physical issues need to be in place before we start delving deeper into the behavioural issues we want solved. As we learn more about what our dogs experience physically, we can adjust our training to suit. A lot of reactive dogs, for example, have some sort of underlying pain. We can train as much as we want but if that pain is still there, we’re still going to have a negative response.”

Watch this PD Pet Care vlog on pain assessments for pets:

Benefits of being a Dogs West member

PD Insurance is the official insurance partner to Dogs West. So naturally, we’re keen to share Stephanie’s insights on the benefits of joining the canine association as a member.

“Dogs West is an incredible network. When I meet with Dogs West members involved in various dog sports, I can really pick their brains and develop my skills around different canine behaviours.

“I’ve met so many amazing people who work with dogs in different ways than I do. It’s really a great networking connection that’s helped me build my professional skills.”

It’s incredible meeting people with well-bred dogs that have a good upbringing and well-balanced socialisation. It opens your eyes to what you can achieve and how you can hone your own skills and abilities in a different way through dog training.

Being a Dogs West member has also given me more information from a breeder’s perspective about how genetics can really make a difference to dog health and behaviour.”

Dogs West breeder network

Sharing more about the insights she’s gained into quality, health oriented breeding practices, Stephanie unpacks the following:

Breeding well balanced dogs

“I’ve gained insights into how responsible breeders are making sure the dogs they’re producing are as physically and mentally steady as they can be. Rather than, say, a less ethical breeder (like those running puppy mills) who’s just breeding as a business without investing time and resources into the dog’s wellbeing.”

Breeding for health

“Dogs West breeders are improving the breed through health first practices that help dogs live a really good life. Responsible breeding practices means dogs are less likely to suffer from conditions that are preventable through health testing and dog DNA tests.

I’ve learned how ethical breeders are doing hip and elbow scores to prevent against elbow and hip dysplasia in dogs, among other genetic health conditions, for example.”

Pet insurance for pups ahoy!

As it happens, pet insurance didn’t start all that long ago and as a result, many pet parents are just learning about the benefits. We asked Stephanie about her professional and personal perspective of pet insurance:

“I am a massive fan of pet insurance. It allows you to really look at high quality care for your pet without being frightened about the cost as much.”

“For instance, one of the lovely things that my dog does (because she has a condition called pica) is eating inedible objects. It’s part of her compulsive disorders.”

Unexpected vet visits

“There was a Sunday afternoon (because when else do these incidents happen) where she ate a piece of glass. We had to go to the emergency vet and they couldn’t get it back up. She ended up having emergency surgery. Knowing I was able to do because I had pet insurance was great peace of mind.”

Avoiding euthanasia

“It wasn’t a case of ‘Am I going to have to make the call between euthanising an otherwise very healthy dog or being able to give them the quality of care they need?’. Having pet insurance means that you can give your dog or cat a better quality of care in a lot of situations. Pet insurance is there as kind of a security blanket.”

Emergencies

“And obviously for any accidents and emergencies, when you’re looking after someone else’s dog whether as a friend or dog trainer and something happens… If they’ve got pet insurance, it’s a little bit easier and less stressful for everyone involved. This is a massive plus rather than being worried.

When something goes wrong, you’re already stressed about whatever event has happened. Without pet insurance, you’ve got to then also figure out what’s happening cost wise. No-one needs that.”

Dog and cat insurance for a soft landing

PD Insurance and Dogs West are partnered to bring the soft landing of pet insurance to more Aussie pets. Without Medicare, or subsidised vet care, the costs can at times be crippling.

That’s just one reason we’re supporting responsible breeding through our breeder referral program. Dogs West breeders can provide their new litters with free starter cover as they transition to their furever homes. This helps cover unexpected vet costs for a wide range of issues from accidents to illness.

PD also offers three pet plans to suit affordability and pet health needs. Learn about the benefits of dog insurance and cat insurance and get your first month free when you join. Click below to get a quote.

PD Insurance is proud to be a Dogs West partner and would like to thank Dogs West member and certified dog trainer, Stephanie Bryson, for taking the time to chat to us and share her insights.