I remember wanting to improve my health and fitness. I started looking into all the "right" foods I should eat and what type of exercises I should do. I wanted to gain muscle and becoming stronger for when I returned to boxing.
I started doing pullups and squats. I improved a lot, but there were still some weaknesses that I had to get over and I was not getting the results i wanted. After trying to search for the answer myself, I decided that maybe I should talk with someone who does this for a living- a personal trainer. The trainer informed me that I had weak glutes and hamstrings and tight hips due to that.
The next thing he asked me I thought was a waste of time and had no significance, but turns out that it does. He asked me " how do you sleep at night". I replied with between 6-9 hours. His response was " do you sleep like a baby or is it interrupted sleep". Long story short he explained what quality sleep does to your muscles and how it impacts your ability to recover. I was shocked that something seemingly unimportant when it came to gaining strength was possibly a missing piece in what was lacking.
This is the same way it is played out a lot with dog owners who I train. Most of the time they just want to get straight to the meat and potatoes. They don't realize that the little exercises like threshold exercises are really important. Everyone is in a rush to see results, but especially when you're paying someone for their expertise. You should be patient. I am a firm believer in holistically treating a dog behavioral issue. I believe the more angles you come from to handle the problem the higher the likelihood that you will change the dog's overall being. I don't just want to put a band-aid over the problem. It takes a couple hundred repetitions for the dog to fully understand what you are asking it to do. We automatically assume because the dog sit a few times when we asked that he should always do it and understands. This is not true. So what do good trainers do?
Good dog trainers:
Use multiple tools. I'm not saying that its bad if a trainer only uses a leash, but a good dog trainer should know about and how to use prong collars, harnesses, ecollars, slip lead, long lines, clickers, etc...
Have many methods. Good dog trainers get results because they have many options. Don't be fooled by all positive this or that. These terms are used as marketing. I will say that positive training should be the primary method, but not the whole story sometimes. This is the issue with PetSmart dog trainers. They are only equipped to handle some issues.
Are honest and open about their methods.
Are consistent
Are problem solvers
Can admit when an issue is too much therefore refer client to another trainer that's better equiped to handle the situation.