Every Dog Is a Teacher—And So Is Every Handler

I speak often about how every dog we have the opportunity to love brings us a lesson. Each and every dog that’s come into my life—whether they were my own or one of the thousands I’ve trained—has taught me something. Sometimes it’s about patience. Sometimes it’s about communication. And sometimes, it’s something I needed to learn about myself. But what we don’t always talk about is the handler—the other half of the team. Every dog and handler team I’ve worked with has been unique. No two are ever the same. And just like dogs, handlers bring their own personalities, experiences, strengths, and struggles to the table. Some need a step-by-step breakdown of each technique. Others do best when they can watch me demonstrate a skill with my own dog. Then there are those who benefit most from seeing the work done with a “green” dog—one who’s still figuring it out, just like theirs. What I’ve come to understand is that training isn’t just about the dog’s emotional response to the environment—other dogs, people, sounds, smells, you name it. It’s also about the handler’s emotional response. I once worked with a client who had a very reactive first dog. The experience had been overwhelming, and the anxiety it created stayed with them. So when they brought home their second dog—a sweet, eager-to-please pup—they immediately signed up for training. They were honest with me right from the beginning about how they felt: anxious, worried, and afraid this new dog would follow the same path. And although this new dog was completely different by nature, something interesting happened. When he was on leash and they were holding it, his behavior would shift. He became reactive, tense—mirroring their energy. It wasn’t who he was naturally. He was feeding off of their fear. Another client had a similar experience. Their first dog had been well-trained and generally reliable, but over time, he began to develop sudden issues with certain dogs and people. These unpredictable behaviors caused a great deal of stress. So, when they brought home a different breed the second time around, the emotional imprint of that first experience stuck with them. They admitted that their stress and anxiety were starting to shape their new dog’s behavior—and they knew they were unintentionally reinforcing patterns they didn’t want. Then there was the client who struggled with a deep discomfort around men. Their dog picked up on it instantly. Without them saying a word, the dog began to show signs of unease around male figures. It was a clear reminder: our dogs are always listening, even when we think we’re keeping it all inside. So how do we prevent our emotional responses from becoming our dog’s emotional responses? One of the things I often tell my clients is this: If the situation is what’s causing the stress, then maybe it’s worth asking—do we need to put ourselves there at all? Too often, I see well-meaning handlers pushing themselves and their dogs into situations they’re not ready for in the hopes of “fixing” a problem. But in doing so, they sometimes make the problem worse. It’s a cycle of stress and reaction that neither the dog nor the handler benefits from. This is when it’s time to pause, take a step back, and talk to your trainer. There are ways to build resilience, confidence, and trust without diving headfirst into the fire. Avoiding triggering situations isn’t weakness—it’s strategy. And it’s how we set our dogs (and ourselves) up for success in the long run. Because at the end of the day, every dog is a teacher. But so is every handler. And when we’re willing to learn from both, that’s when the real transformation happens—on both ends of the leash.