This is a post I wrote back in 2014 but never ended up actually uploading. I read it for the first time since then just today and I thought I would post it anyway because it is useful information. The thing is, my apprenticeship has been over for quite some time now and I currently hold the position of Head Dog Sport Instructor at my facility. So read this through if you are interested in an apprenticeship then when you are done take a look at the next post that I plan to write to get a feel of what has changed since obtaining the career I was working towards.
Seven weeks ago I began a dog training apprenticeship at the facility where I took Khazi for training. I thought I would share some of my experiences for those of you are interested in going down that career path so you can get an idea of what's to be expected. All apprenticeships are different, for example many facilities will have you start as the mop person, in charge of dealing with all the doggie bodily fluids but others may get you working right away. There is no real standard for how you are taught and what you are taught, it is all up to the individual trainer or facility. I was lucky enough to work with a trainer who is all about teaching me how to instruct classes. Not every one will be so lucky but if you want to succeed and make the most of your apprenticeship you have to be ready to take anything they may throw at you. I actually advanced much sooner than most apprentice trainers would out of pure necessity. The facility in which I work always has at least two trainers teaching per class, one trainer who is extremely experienced in the specific field and another trainer who has general knowledge in a variety of areas. The second trainer is technically the trainer's assistant but they still teach a lot of the class as it is usually split into two groups. The trainer's assistant (TA) is also in charge of all the agility equipment and care of the facility. The TA that I usually work with was going on vacation and needed me to cover her shifts for five class days. It was actually really great because instead of standing around watching the teaching process and acting as a gopher the TA stepped aside for me to take the lead while she critiqued my performance to be sure I was capable of teaching on my own when the time came. It was an amazing experience and really helpful. I am not the most confident person but because of the training I received I am very confident in my performance as a TA.
My tips for making the most of an apprenticeship
1. Ask a million questions. It is better to ask now than to not know the answer when you need it.
2. Work your ass off. Excuse my language but it is true. The reason I was given more responsibility than the other apprentice is because I am never standing around waiting for direction, I am always doing something and trying to figure out what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
3. Be confident and let your personality show and have fun with it. Clients can tell when you are nervous and unsure and they don't have as an enjoyable experience. You may also seem stand offish and angry so leave your insecurities at the door.
4. Be encouraging. Working with dogs can get frustrating and you need to be prepared to tell people about personal set backs and problems you may have encountered. This is the one area where I feel my trainer could have a slightly different approach. She is amazing and really shows people how to have fun and she tells owners when their dogs get the sillies not to worry because agility requires a certain level of excitement and it is normal for a dog to act up. This is true, she is not wrong in any way but sometimes people need to hear that their dog isn't the only one who may be struggling. This is where having a nut of a dog comes in handy. At the end of agility level 1 the students have their first timed run and there is always at least one dog who runs around the course with no intention of returning to their owners. These people are always discouraged and it was fairly obvious that a few of the owners in the class were so frustrated they wanted to cry. This is where I tell them not to worry because their dog still had a better run than my dog's first run. Khazi's first run may or may not have taken over 5 mins to complete while the rest of the class took about a 30 seconds. It was a proud day... not.
5. Do what you can to be knowledgeable on any subject that may arise. I have a mass of dog books that I read on a daily basis to ensure I will be able to help when owners ask my advice. I also make sure to read up on every breed of dog that enrolls in the class so I have an idea of how that dog will learn best (obviously not all dogs fit their breed description but I find it helpful to know what I could be dealing with).
Here is an example situation that arose at class today. The one class I have been teaching is filled with reactive (like aggression but not quite) dogs, why the owner of the facility thought it would be good to put them all together is beyond me but anyhow that is what we had to work with. The owner with the biggest problem dog (a Australian cattle dog) in the class (he was an aggressive puppy and it was made worse because of inconsistent handling) came up to me and asked what he should do to be able to control his dog better as it was becoming a serious problem and is disrupting the class. I suggested he exercise the dog before coming to agility but I told him to follow up with the head trainer as she knows better. When I asked her about it later she said she told him to find a job for his dog to do, he is pent up with energy and has no place to expel it other than towards other dogs. She said because he is a breed that needs an extremely high activity level he physically cannot control himself. I have a feeling that the owners won't put the effort into working their dog hard so I am going to give them some at home mental exercises. It won't solve the problem because he needs both the physical and mental stimulation but it may help a little.
Those are my tips for now I hope they help you :)
