How to get a bit fewer problem dogs?
Hi Guys,
I started about a month ago and so far business is great, but I am busting my butt all over town 7 days a week mostly walking but almost every day in the summer booked out for house sitting or pet sitting. This is great, BUT it seems all the problem dogs are coming my way. I am skilled at training, but I don't bake that into my rate because a person wouldn't know that unless they looked at my profile or met me. I find myself training everything from puppy socialization and play based training to fixing anxiety and person aggression. To put it bluntly, it is a lot of energy and work and I love far exceeding expectations but I thought I would get a little more appreciation or maybe even a tip when people get their dogs back calmer, in better shape and a lot of their edges smoothed out. I didn't expect to have my house soiled, my arms bitten and my dog made to be crated away for her safety with every single client. Is this usual?
First off, my profile seems to attract dogs with zero training or major issues and then the owner doesn't disclose it or it isn't as apparent when we meet. How can I better suss this out? I want clients, but how can I rewrite my profile to get a few good dogs. Secondly, when I do take on a dog and they need training I let the owner know beforehand and how it is progressing including photos of their dogs being good, how can I convert this into proper appreciation or a tip? Is this reasonable to expect? Should I even try to fix these problems or just crate the bad ones away like my trainer friends suggest?