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properly, right? It’s not that simple—one actually teaches the dog’s owner how to work with his or her own dog! And, in the case of a student, I must teach the student how to teach the dog’s owner. It takes a double dose of patience and ingenuity to accomplish this fete!

I began training dogs in 1975. The philosophies were different, back then: dogs were supposed to be physically ‘corrected’ when they did not behave. I never followed that rule, believing instead that one cannot earn respect unless one gives respect. I struggled to convince folks about that theory and, eventually won them over. In 2005 I landed a job working as a trainer at two major chain stores that specialized in boarding and grooming. There, I earned mentorship status with the Animal Behavior College and helped change the way folks thought about training dogs. It was truly a gratifying experience.

In 2007 I was given the opportunity to open my own practice. Starting up a small business during a recession was no easy task! But with lots of advice from other small business owners I was able to scrape by, sharing my philosophies with anyone that would listen. Soon, I had convinced quite a few people to treat their dogs with kindness and respect. The professional organizations to which I belong share these ideals and have been very helpful—mentoring me as I mentored others.

In 2009 I moved my practice to Gloucester City so that I could work from my home and become a part of this loving and tight-knit community. The move has enabled me to devote more time to helping students achieve success with dog training careers and in opening up their own businesses. I hold instructional and motivational seminars on an ongoing basis so that my colleagues never lose their edge. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us.

Recently, I had the honor of mentoring a young lady who volunteers her time to the ASPCA International. She flies to Iraq and Afghanistan with members of this organization to rescue dogs that have been adopted by our soldiers. (She was featured in the Philadelphia Daily News on Saturday, January 9^th of this year). She graciously consented to bringing two of the dogs to my shop so that my students and I could work with them. Brother of the Wolf headquarters will also be the meet-up point when several of the dogs enter the U.S. to be reunited with the soldiers that adopted them! We hope to continue working with the dogs just for the experience. There is no exchange of money involved and I’m truly grateful for the experience.

One reason I have been able to continue training dogs professionally is that I try to give back more than I get. In doing so, I seem to “get” a world of experience and the joy of helping my fellow humans.

Try to take the time to help people. Be a mentor. If you know something others don’t know, teach them! They may return the favor and you will reap the rewards of being mentored! All it takes is a little time, patience, and the desire to make a difference in someone’s life. 

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