I know I learn best one-on-one. I know that, but it doesn’t mean I don’t fight it. Sometimes I fight it for time reasons, sometimes I fight it for financial reasons, and sometimes I don’t know why I fight it.
My Benji, my little terrorist-cuter-than-anything-dog, has been in some kind of training since he was four months old. We did one-one one, we did small group, large group and then I thought we graduated. Apparently not.
Because of his energy level I have to walk him 2-4 miles a day or he really is an annoying terrorist. Walks at parks anywhere have become a nightmare. He is so horrible to dogs of any kind, that I dread seeing another dog.
Boxers, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Pit Bulls, all either turn and go the other way when they see him, or walk a huge circle around him. Benji is no kinder to small cute dogs. He is a bully and a terrorist and I could not stop him no matter how I tried.
So finally I scheduled a one-on-one session at the park with a professional dog trainer.
In the first 15 minutes he was a different dog.
Shame on me for not implementing what I tell my clients is the benefit of my one-on-one coaching: it accelerates progress, because you have the accountability of an honest mirror, and a game plan specifically for you.
Duh!!!
We all have to look in the honest mirror and decide what is our best option at any given time. For me, for Benji, for this particular problem, one-on-one not only gave me a plan to solve the problem but reduced my stress level greatly.
Other dogs and other problems may benefit from a group class. Not this one.
One thing I learned was his horrible-ness came from a false sense of confidence when he was on a leash. He is not that way when loose in the dog park. Being on a leash gives him a false sense of confidence that he can be a bully. How does that apply to the playground bully or the boardroom bully?
I learned to be more pro-active and not wait until he was horrible, to watch for signs before he got to that point. Isn’t it the same for team members or unhappy clients?
I looked in the honest mirror and remembered I learn best one-on-one. How ‘bout you?
