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Definition: A service business is a company that provides certain professional support to its clients. In these businesses the product is not a tangible one, instead it is an activity that helps a third party in different areas.
So with that in mind it is all about providing the client with what the client wants, rather than forcing upon them what the service provider wants to provide.
That said, Dog trainers for the most part provide a service. With an educated service provider that service should be provided to meet the clients satisfaction. For example.
Client has a problem in that their dog pulls on the lead.
They seek to receive help from a Trainer to help them.
The trainer offers up options which will work. But, the client is not happy or is unsure that they can replicate the option. So does the trainer say, well it always works and that's that, or does the trainer seek to offer options and actually help the client?
If the trainer is open minded, and experienced enough, and has many options etc in their toolbox they will indeed look to find an option that will work for all concerned. EVEN if it means that the trainer has to put more effort into solving the problem, and even go outside of their own sphere of knowledge to help solve THE CLIENTS problem!
Too many dog trainers pigeon hole themselves, Force Free,Treat Trainers, Purely Positive, Balanced, Compulsion Based and so on. What they are all forgetting is that they can't always solve the problem you are having with your training through ideologies and the pigeon hole status’s above, they need to be able to solve the problem through action, action that will work for you and your dog. Not for the trainer's ego.
I’ve always put aside ‘one size fits all’ throughout my entire working life, and that has never been more important than it is in what I do today. I like to have a go-to option to kick off with, but be open minded enough to change when I actually see the client and dog relationship in front of me. On a few occasions, I have even told clients that I am not the trainer for them, through lack of my own knowledge, or a clash in personality, things that will not help me to HELP THE CLIENT!
I ignore any classification, buzz words, etc and give the client what they want in a way that they can achieve. Will I be able to help everyone, NOPE, not trying to, will I upset people with Truth, Methods, etc YEP, but not intentionally.
When you choose a trainer, by all means look at their qualifications I have several available here if you want to see mine (None obtained sitting at a computer, ticking boxes on a multiple choice questions) All have been obtained through in class / field learning and experience, It's more important to look through the smoke and mirrors, and look more at the willingness of the trainer to HELP THE CLIENT. If you have a question and your trainer won’t or can't’ answer it, rest assured the right Trainer will get the answer for you!
99% of my clients love my honest approach, and they know I am willing to work with them to provide them what they want in a way that is achievable for them.
Will I suit every dog owner ? No,
Just like no one solution / ideology works in all cases either!
