I had my dream job for many years, as a side job. I taught basic dog obedience through my local community college and loved it. I called my classes "Don't Shoot the Dog!" before I ever heard of Karen Pryor, who popularized the clicker method of training (which I don't use). I wrote and illustrated my own methods in a little training manual I called Dogspeak, which were a distillation and adaptation of several techniques including the Koehler Method (way too severe!), The One Minute Manager (amazing!) and many others (The Invisible Leash, The Monks of New Skete, etc., and yes, Karen Pryor). But primarily I learned from the dogs themselves, using body language, facial expressions and vocalizations to communicate. Some of my students did go on to title their dogs, but my joy was in saving dogs from having to take that long, last walk to the pound due to correctable behavioral issues. It was immeasurably satisfying and I miss it.
