We are all human...

As dog trainers, sitters and walkers you find that a lot of people forget that you are still human and not just work horses.

While yes we are there to help you with your animals, we do still need our own time to live, we need our own time to rest. A lot of pet professionals experience high levels of burnout because we spend so much time trying to please our customers and putting their needs before our own.

We have emotions, feelings, and needs ourselves. So its important to remember that we all need a break, when employing your pet professional there are still levels of respect that we deserve. While its okay to ask for unsociable hours and jobs it is not okay to expect them. We all have the right to say no if it just doesn't fit our schedules or we need some time to rest.

A dog and its family

When we get to burnout we can struggle to carry out our jobs to the full potential, this isn't on purpose sometimes our bodies and mind just cant cope. But when you're busy and self employed out isn't an option, we have to keep on going.

For those of us who specialise in reactive dogs or dogs with behavioural issues, the job can become draining. Especially if we have to deal awkward owners too. We do this job because we have a passion for dogs, but it doesn't mean that the job isn't difficult. It doesn't mean that we have to deal with your dog with issues because you're not able to, it doesn't mean we deserve any less respect.

Every time we choose to work with a dog with behavioural issues we put ourselves at risk, at risk of being bitten, redirected onto, find ourselves in the middle of a fight. Its a lot. We deserve respect for doing such a hard job which not everyone could do.

So my bid to all of you is respect your pet professionals for doing the work that a

lot of people couldn't do.