We’ve all had tough times. When things are tight or there are big, unexpected financial stresses, we have to prioritise and cut the non-essentials from the budget. We can all agree that paying for rent or mortgage, bills, food, etc. should always be priority over dog training.
But, if you find yourself unable to pay for dog training, this does not mean you cannot train your dog or improve their behaviour.
In our day and age, there are unlimited resources available to dog owners that are completely free. There are resources on social media (like this page!) and YouTube covering almost every topic in dog training. If you’ve got time to scroll on Instagram, you’ve got time to learn how to train your dog.
I am not saving any owner of any ability level can solve any problem on their own with the help of the internet. If that were true, trainers like me wouldn’t have a job! Some severe issues that carry risk of harm or injury, such as severe reactivity, redirection, or aggression, should be addressed with the personalised help of a trainer. If you DIY a difficult behavioural situation, you do risk following the wrong advice (or even following the right advice incorrectly), which could make things worse with serious consequences.
However, if you are in that situation then while you are waiting for finances to allow for professional help, there are always things you can be doing to improve your overall situation. If your dog is a danger to guests, you can start crate training to have them safely confined to eliminate a bite potential. If your dog is a bite risk while out on walks, you can begin muzzle training so that you keep everyone safe in those situations. So there are plenty of ways you can improve even the most challenging situations until the underlying behaviour is directly addressed.
I see too many owners struggling through difficulties with their dogs and letting financial limitations be an excuse for training and improving their quality of life with their dog. You have the power to create positive change with £0 of investment. It just requires the investment of time and commitment to making a change.
