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Setting priorities with clients: what do we tackle first?!
Sometimes I receive distress calls from folks who have a long list of training or behavior issues they’d like help with. This list can feel overwhelming for both the trainer and the pet parent! So how can we help? Here are some ideas:
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Through both an intake form and conversations with the pet parent, we can determine what issue is causing the most immediate frustration, distress, danger, etc. In many cases, we’ll agree on priorities, but I occasionally need to provide direction regarding what to address first. For example, a client wanted to teach Sally, her newly adopted dog, how to walk nicely on leash with her in town, but Sally has some fear of strangers and barks at them. We need to help Sally feel more comfortable around strangers before tackling leash manners during walks in town.
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We can implement management strategies to temporarily halt certain problems, so the person can focus on other more pressing tasks. For example, a young pup named Macey requires some very focused attention and time to teach her how to potty reliably outside, so a barking issue at passersby – which is less of an issue at the moment – can be temporarily halted by blocking the pup’s view through windows.
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We can prioritize a specific behavior that will then make another training task easier. For example, if a dog rarely focuses on his pet parent, we’d first work on teaching attentive behavior before tackling recalls or loose leash walking when distractions are present.
What do you do to help your clients prioritize their training tasks?
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7 Replies
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Thank you for bringing this up, @virginiad . I have had a couple cases lately that are head-scratchers as to where to begin.
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How did you end up figuring out how to prioritize in these cases, @bernerlabreclectus ?
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I’m still early on in it…we have a 10 month old male neo mastiff who jumps on his owner when he comes out of the crate. He also jumps randomly at other times. I figure this is first and foremost as she is shorter and bruises easily. Frustratingly, he does not do it to the husband or to the male dog walkers.
He has some food guarding issues, but so far, they are managing that well. They feed the dogs in separate areas of house and monitor them.
It makes me a little concerned about training with treats, however, I am using Charlee bear treats. They seem like a step up from kibble, but not too exciting that he gets overstimulated. Also training separately from other Mastiff.
He has trouble with chewing things and leaving their stuff alone, so hoping to give them a management and training routine that consists of teaching impulse control Leave It and perhaps
I am starting lessons out in their back yard and using a leash on him at all times they are with him or he’s not crated. I taught her management of the leash for jumping, how to hold it correctly, anchoring around thumb and where to step on it if he wants to jump.
I admit, he has not tried jumping on me yet. He is a quick learner, if somewhat slow to switch positions, and he’s very sweet. I met them, the female English mastiff, too, plus husband and wife. There are no children.
I decided to go with what is the most important thing to the wife, which is the jumping. I have told her it can take awhile, but we will get there.
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Wow, that’s quite a list! I’m sure you’re going to be a big help for them — they’re lucky to have found you. I’ll be super-interested in hearing how things progress!
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EXCELLENT post
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This is soooo good to think through.
A lot of the time, what the people want to work on isn’t what the trainer thinks is the top priority, and it’s a collaborative effort to get everyone on the “same page”.
I usually will try to sum up the client’s issues and interests at the beginning of the first session with the dog. I want them to know I heard EVERYTHING they are concerned about.
Then, like you mentioned, Virginia, I’ll decide what can be easily tackled with management/prevention, while setting the dog up for success. Sometimes, that’s a very short list; but sometimes, we can quit there and I’ve talked myself right out of a job. ???? (“Oh, all I have to do is put up window cling and a baby gate to stop the barking!? Done!”)
The next thing, during the first session, is to go for some easy wins for the dog and owners. It’s so important that they feel like they CAN DO THIS. Go to Mat, Hand Targets, Name Game – anything simple that the dogs and people can win at, that can be folded into more complex training later are good choices.
At the end of that first session, I outline a plan for continuing and let them know where I think we can get with a set of pre-paid lessons – “In 3 more sessions, I think XYZ is an attainable goal, but if you choose to go with the 8-session package, I think we can accomplish these other things as well…” and then I show them my package rates and prices. I’m careful not to guarantee anything, but use phrases like “Most of my clients can (do such and so) by lesson 5” and similar language, assuring them I’ll customize their plan as we go along.
At the second session, I evaluate how much they worked between sessions, and adjust our goals accordingly. I help them see that the effort they put in impacts the results directly and promise to continue coaching them along the way. If they haven’t put the time in, I reflect their goals back to them, and ask them if they’d like to adjust our plans. Sometimes this means I’m working on more management/prevention options for them, or helping them see more realistically what the dog will need to succeed. In some cases, that second lesson turns into a Board and Train option! ???? (I’ve had that happen a couple times, on the very first lesson: “How much for you to just take her and bring her back, trained?”)
The main thing is to continue collaborating with your clients, never directing them. When they feel a part of the process, when they are heard and included, you’ll have much greater success getting them to follow your suggestions.
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