A sweet little girl by the name of Sarah Clark thought it would be interesting to do a story about me for Amarillo Magazine. We sent some e-mails back and forth, and met in the park to take some pictures with my dog, Beau. Then this happened. The abundance of flattery was almost unbearable for me to stomach. I snorted awkwardly when I read that she had called me "petite." Granted I AM short but I've also got shoulders like a linebacker, so I wasn't really sure where she pulled that from but I was willing to take it as a compliment. I never considered myself a "star" and I still find myself moderately uncomfortable when people call me a "dog whisperer"... all I did was take the time to learn how to communicate with them. Anyway, that's enough about that. Here's the article:
Amarillo Magazine - Unpathed Path
***I'd like to add a little something to this; an addendum that CANNOT be overlooked. In this article, while I was still working for my previous "mentor trainer", I mention the use of "e-collars", which is essentially a sugar coated abbreviation for an electric shock collar.
It was mandatory (meaning I didn't have an option and neither did my customers) that I use them on my Camp & Train students and I was repeatedly reprimanded for not using them enough. I knew that I could train my students effectively without their use and always tried to avoid it until the last minute. It was during that last minute that my "mentor trainer" would step in and, without fail, shock the living daylight out of my dogs and puppies as young as 4 months old. I watched those babies flinch, scream, try to run away (but couldn't because they were leashed), and sometimes urinate out of sheer terror. It made ME cry to observe the brutality of such a completely unnecessary infliction.
I wound up covered in stress hives and no longer enjoyed my job. As a matter of fact, I began to loathe my training time when I knew my obligation wasn't just education, but causing pain. So, I quit. I walked away from the only training opportunity I thought I had because I just couldn't take it anymore.
From there, I began my OWN training business. I have since then vowed to NEVER use or endorse the use of an electric shock collar. I also strongly loathe the use of choke chains and prong collars. They just aren't necessary. With some time, patience, and proper techniques, ALL of the aforementioned "tools" can be completely avoided.
If you're in the Amarillo area and need help getting your dog to walk politely on a leash, please visit my website for more information: SheaWhiteDogTraining.com
