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... After all, dog sports starts with an appreciation for your dog

That owner, whose dog loves jumping on the furniture, is the perfect person to become involved in dog sports! That owner has something that all dog sport trainers need and are lucky to have: The appreciation and ability to observe what their dog loves!

They are aware and love their dog to the point of thinking jumping all over the furniture is not a bad thing. They are thinking (consciously or unconsciously) of ways to channel that into a more appropriate activity that they could likely both enjoy and do together.

They just don't have the knowledge or understanding of what is involved or how to get there.

Turning "misbehavior" into a positive

As trainers, dog sport enthusiasts, and competitors, we all started somewhere.

We are likely where we are in our sports today due to the patience, kindness, and empathy of a trainer that, when we said "I want to do that with my dog," didn't dismiss us in spite of our lack of knowledge or understanding of what that meant... but instead guided us, and taught us.

I'm thankful to my mentors that took the time.

I have also been very lucky in my sport to meet and to have mentored so many "pet people turned trainers!" That includes many who have not only exceeded expectations (both theirs and mine!) but have surpassed me in skill and ability.

I say Bravo! Bravo to them for their hard work and persistence. Bravo to them for their willingness to learn and Bravo to them for seeing something in their dog, in themselves, and in that relationship that started them on the path of dog sports.

So, the next time you hear an owner say something like "My dog loves to lunge and bark at strangers! He'd make a great protection dog!" rather than rolling your eyes (or widening your eyes in this case), or dismissing their comment as idiotic, try to see what's behind the comment.

It's likely an owner that loves their dog, wants to see them succeed and just doesn't know how.

While this dog isn't likely to make a great protection dog, I'm sure my fellow trainers are already thinking of ways to help this team succeed and be the best they can be (anyone else think nose work with a side of behavior modification?).

Even for this team, there is an activity or sport that they can grow into.

Let's not be so quick to judge when an owner tries to turn their dog's "misbehavior" into a positive. While these are the teams that have the most to learn, they are also the teams that we can learn the most from.

Julie Flanery

Julie Flanery, CPDT-KA has been working professionally with dogs and their handlers since 1993. She focuses on the needs of the dog and helping people form a strong relationship, through clear communication, and positive reinforcement.

She has placed Obedience, Freestyle, Rally, Rally-FrEe, Agility, Trick Dog and Parkour titles on her dogs and has earned Championships in Freestyle, Heelwork-to-Music and a Grand Championship MCL in Rally-FrEe. She has achieved both High Technical Merit and High Artistic Merit in both Freestyle and Heelwork to Music several times over, including three prestigious Attila Challenge awards, as well as several “Top H.A.T.” awards for High Scoring Heelwork, Attention and Teamwork. In 2001 she was named "Trainer of the Year" by the World Canine Freestyle Organization and has been a competition freestyle judge since 2003.

In 2012, Julie developed the sport of Rally-FrEe to help freestylers increase the quality and precision of their performances. It has since become a stand-alone sport enjoyed by dog sport enthusiasts all over the world. Julie has been a workshop and seminar presenter both nationally and internationally. She currently trains and competes with her Tibetan terrier in both Musical Freestyle and Rally-FrEe.