Is remote here to “Stay”
We adapted during the pandemic, and some of those adaptations turned out to be a good thing, like remote dog training.
“How is that good?” you might ask.
There are certain situations where my being in-person for an initial session would interfere with the process…
For example a dog who is afraid of strangers or aggressive with new people would not be well served by my walking into their home. In these cases, my presence only causes your dog more stress (and probably you, too).
If your dog spends the majority of an in-person session barking at me, it limits what we can do. However if we meet remotely first, I can craft management strategies and training techniques for you to begin working on so that when I do arrive in-person for the follow-up session, you and your dog will be less stressed, ready to work and I will be able to see how the process is progressing.
For all behavioral issues, the use of videos on zoom allows us to watch together as I identify and show you your dog’s body language. This is indescribably enlightening and usually very difficult to see in real life.
I can also watch how you work with your dog without my presence getting in the way.
It doesn’t matter if your dog wants to eat me or play with me, my presence changes their behavior dramatically.
Many of my clients started with a remote session and happily continued that way. Some have done a blended series of sessions, starting with remote and following up with in-person and remote as needed.
During the pandemic, separation anxiety issues floated to the top of the list of behavioral issues for a lot of households.
I have worked fully remotely with some separation anxiety clients, and some have done the blended approach which allows us to check in frequently for very short sessions that are not practical in-person.
Some of the most fun I’ve ever had with clients is remotely walking them through a skill they thought they couldn’t teach their dog. By the end, we are all cheering and laughing because it’s like playing remote twister. And the dog not knowing what just happened is still thrilled by the treats and laughter.
Some more logistical reasons remote is good:
- As a working mother of a child with special needs, remote sessions allow me to meet with more clients, offering easier scheduling than in-person.
- Because I don’t have to travel for remote sessions, the cost of a remote session is less than in-person.
- No matter where you live, we can set up remote sessions. I’ve been able to work with clients from Paris, to Chicagoland, Connecticut, Texas, California, and even Australia.
- And because there are so many pandemic dogs and families who need help, remote sessions help us all manage the larger demand.
And if you are looking for a Subject Matter Expert on kids and dogs and/or special needs kids and dogs, you may need to reach beyond local trainers. I can now offer that speciality to anyone anywhere.