over 160 " bites " over the course of the week and hit the ground a bunch of times with a dog all over me . . . can't remember when / if i've ever had so much fun !

and on friday morning , finally actually " saw " the dogs' eyes and teeth right at the moment of contact . that was a big " aha ! " moment for me because up to that point i was kind of losing focus when the dog was about to leap and then just reacting to an impact . still have a long , long way to go to have any kind of proficiency . this week was all about learning the safe mechanics and practices so you could put on a suit or sleeve and not hurt yourself or the dog .

of course , now i gotta find some place to get more of this drug !

shameless MES plug alert : if you've ever wanted to learn how to do this kind of work with dogs , or just wanted to experience what it is like to be at the business end of the dog when it is biting , i couldn't imagine a better place . although i'm sure there are other good ones out there , michael has an approach that allows students to take on progressively more difficult ( intimidating ? ) challenges as their skill and comfort levels dictate . equally important , michael has an amazing pool of dogs , each one with a particular skill set appropriate for the work being undertaken , matched to the ability of the students . assisting michael are a group of skilled trainers who do a fantastic job of handling the dogs , which in turn instills a sense of confidence in the students . knowing that the dog is securely posted , or is going to strike the intended target ( although very rarely the dog just has other ideas lol ) allows you to stand up there and focus on the task before you , or behind you , or between your legs lol . you will get experience . i took over 160 bites over the course of the week , and i have the bruises to prove it . . . highly recommended !

well , i've been home for a week now , kinda sorta starting to get back into the swing of things but man what a hard cycle to break . imagine being in a location where everything you need to train dogs is there , all the instruction and assistance is as good as it gets , the climate is ideal and there is enough things to do outside of the school to keep you , your classmates and your dog occupied and entertained when you are not in class . that is the michael ellis school for dog trainers . . . all you have to do is show up with an affinity for learning and the endurance to keep it up for three months . it was a dream come true for me .

Teaching a dog how to learn, just to learn.. You are so right on with this statement.. Once you have the foundation of how to learn everything else is like cutting through butter.. Sorry I came in late on this thread, great read..

MF.

That's great! Sounds like a blast!

Well , we're well into the new year so I thought I'd put a little update on this thread .

I had a great drive home back to whistler . Took a day longer than necessary just so I could have some alone time to process what I had just been through .

Gotta be honest . . . I learned so much at MES , I felt like I didn't know anything . Nevertheless , I had to get the ball rolling and get down to business . I came up with a name , started a Facebook page and let my local contacts know I was back and ready , willing and able to work with them and their dogs .

In short order , I had paying clients , and now find myself having to schedule my time so that I can manage to look after them .

After a couple of months at it , I've had time to begin to reflect on the learning I did . Among many , one of the biggest lessons has to be learning to adapt training plans , methods , expectations to each dog and client for any given day . . . What you thought you were going to teach that day might not be what actually transpires when you hit the training area .

I find the work very satisfying . Seeing the clients relationship with their dog improve over time is gratifying and confirms the commitment I made to this " craft " when I first plunked down the down payment for the immersion program at MES .

In short , I'm so glad I found Leerburg and subsequently , Michael Ellis and his school . Not only did I get the schooling I felt I needed before I could feel comfortable taking money from people to train them and their dogs , but I made a lot of good friends down there and learned that I'm actually a pretty good student . I was never that engaged in learning when I was in high school years ago , but when presented with material that interests me , taught by a truly gifted educator , I exceeded my own expectations

After thinking about it for a while now , I realize the learning has only just begun !

Very nice!

When I first taught formal ob classes in the early 80s the hardest thing I had to understand was the different goals that different people want with their dogs.

I thought everyone wanted that perfect, precise performance from their dog.

It hit me smack in the face on graduation day with one lady and her little Yorkie.

The dog couldn't do one thing required to pass yet the lady came up to me and kept saying how grateful she was to have been in the class.

I was really scratching my head over that until she said

"I can finally open my front door and not worry about Joey (Yorkie) running out the door."

DUH! THAT was a real eye opener.

Hopefully I never stop learning.

Ian, congratulations on getting your own dog training business started! With your fantastic attitude about learning and continuing to learn, I think you are going to be very good at what you do. How great it must be to be able to earn a paycheck doing something you love. I only wish I had a MES graduate giving lessons near me!

Great story bob , thanks for sharing . . . Big lesson in that for sure .

And thanks for the support Cheri , I do intend to do good things with the learning I got at MES .

Very cool, Ian. I have a lot of respect for someone who is able to commit to and follow their passion. Thanks for sharing the experience. Good on you.

 Quote: Greg Meyer

Very cool, Ian. I have a lot of respect for someone who is able to commit to and follow their passion. Thanks for sharing the experience. Good on you.

I couldn't have said it better.