Now What?

I graduated from my force free dog training course on Sunday. We met with two final clients, we got feedback, we received our diplomas, we had a party, and...it's over.

Now what?

Now I work toward getting 300 hours of practical experience so that I can take the CPDT test, which is the only national accreditation test for positive reinforcement trainers. You have to know science to take it. Science I have been taught but that I will need to work really hard on. You have to work with a lot of clients. In January of 2014 they tightened their requirements so that instead of having five years to complete the 300 hours you have 3. That's 100 hours per year. My goal date is May 31, 2016. I'd sure like to get it done faster than that, though.

So, it's not like I don't know what I have to do. There are vague plans to do so. This morning in the park, though, a dog owner approached me and asked for my services and I didn't have a business card to hand him or a website to send him to. I didn't miss the opportunity, I gave him my personal email, but it wasn't terribly smooth. The plans have to stop being vague. The outreach needs to start being active. I can't let fear hold me back, right?

In the shot above Bu and Ed look worried. If the fear holds me back they might get fewer treats and that's just unacceptable.

*Please disregard my filthy yoga pants, the grossness of which I somehow enhanced when I processed this photo.