Tired Dog, Good Dog. Tired Mom, Good Mom?

You're wearing me out MOM!

Does anyone else get mentally tired after training and working with your dogs?  I don't know if it is just me but when I spend one-on-one time with the dogs and we are intently working on some behavior technique, I think I get as tired as they do!  I know it's one of the reasons I can usually only walk two different dogs at two different times.  I become totally immersed in the bond, connection and training that I'm too exhausted to walk another dog.  Physically and mentally.

All the different personalities and quirks that make each dog tick, I try to use to my advantage while always exploring new ideas and techniques.  And it doesn't seem to matter what we are working on, I always need a good mental rest before being able to go to the next dog.  I don't know how dog trainers and behaviorist do it.  Going from one dog to the next and still be so sharp.  I was wore out after an hour of just Silver, Brut and Fiona and we were just in the living room!

It's a good tired. Like being in tune with them so much that you

can feel when the dogs get tired as well.  Interesting, isn't it?  I'm wondering does anyone experience this?

What famous dog trainer would you hire?

If you could have a famous trainer, who would you hire to help you with your dog and why?

Mine would be Paul Owens.  Here's why:

Did you know there are more than one Dog Whisperers?  One who is the original and then Caesar Milan.  I had order two DVD's by the Dog Whisperer, thinking they were the same person.  To my surprise and later relief they were different.

I started with Caesar Milan, using a choke collar on Brut that I don't believe in and swore I would never use.  My husband was a bit more than worried about the road I was headed.  It didn't take long before I was in tears after a few times out and I never tried the method again.

That lead me to the second DVD by Paul Owens and the minute he started talking and going through the steps, I was in tears again, but good tears.  He was so kind, soft and gentle and I had a hard enough time being hard on myself.  My favorite motto from Paul is:  If it's good for you, it's good for your dog.

Finally I'd found a trainer who had the same beliefs as me and was teaching me how to be gentle and kind to me and my dog.  I didn't feel like I was using cruel and unusual punishments or domination to work with my dogs.  Following Paul Owens teachings lead to an inner healing and a learning of the basic principals that I still use today.

If I had all the money in the world I would hire Paul Owens to help us in uniting the two dog packs.  I would trust his expertise and experience in order to do that and do it in a way that we would be working together, so that Paul Owens, my husband, the dogs and I all felt comfortable.  I think that would be so awesome!  A dream come true.

So what famous trainer would you like to knock on your door to help you train your dogs?