Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer

This is the story of how the author became a dog behaviourist, describing what the job entails and what she has learned along the way. It is told through 25 case studies covering topics that will arise in any dog behaviourist’s career, like aggression in dogs, pet loss and grief, embarrassing behaviours, distressed dogs and new behaviour theories replacing outdated dominance-based training. The cases deal with building confidence, differentiating good advice from bad, working alongside owners and colleagues, with different types of dogs, including working dogs, dangerous dogs, and reactive dogs that are over-excited by everyday stimuli. As well as guidance that will help the reader empathise with an experienced behaviourist, and learn more about the role and the cases and issues that will come up, the book also contains advice for prospective behaviourists, relevant to the industry, routes to qualification and advice on how to go through the proper channels, issues within the industry, emotional distress and compassion fatigue. The cases are meant to provoke deeper questions of operating as a behaviourist in modern society alongside modern pressures of social media culture, judging success in outcomes and career, and finding joy in the work.