What is your dog really thinking? Q&A with Dog Trainer Heather Polechio
By Meg Hale Brunton
Certified dog trainer and behavioral counselor Heather Polechio, owner of Mindful Mutz, has always had a fascination with animals — dogs in particular. She worked in the animal rescue field, in veterinary offices and shelters, throughout her young adult life and discovered that her ability to understand the behavior of dogs she was working with could help save their lives. “I realized that what I could offer those dogs was to be their voice and help put a language to some of the issues that would sometimes land dogs in the rescue,” Heather recalls. In 2009, she graduated with Honors from the San Francisco Academy of Dog Training and went on to receive her national certification as a trainer from the Certified Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Recently, Heather has also become a licensed educator in dog behavior for an organization called Family Paws Parent Education.
1. How did you become a dog trainer?
When I decided that I wanted to do this for a living, I really took it seriously and wanted to do it the right way. I remember researching several different schools and programs. I’m so grateful that I landed on the program that I did, since it is a very solid evidence-based, best practice, program that was founded in science, ethology and learning theory principles.
2. What is your process like for working with a new client?
I try to keep things pretty simple and pressure-free. When people reach out to me, I always like to have the opportunity to connect with them for a few minutes just to get a sense of what they’re looking for help with, and I’ll give them some feedback on what I think we might be looking at and what the work can look like. Sometimes people are just looking for a one-time visit with me. Other clients might want more support, that I’ll see for several weeks or a few months, at a pace that feels comfortable for success with the dog. I try to be mindful and flexible about meeting that person where they’re at. I really try to work with people in terms of the logistics that’s gonna help them.
3. What techniques have helped you most in working with animals?
I encourage clients to do a lot of reinforcing the absence of the problem behavior. I’m also a huge fan of the learn-to-earn approach, where I’ll have the client think of all the different resources that the dog might be interested in throughout the day (attention, playtime, food), and ask the dog to work with them to earn access to those resources. Your dog is constantly learning throughout the day. The little nuanced moments and those exchanges that you have, that’s where we can really start to build better behavior.
4. What challenges do people come to you for help with most often?
Leash reactivity, or barrier frustration. One of the more common goals that people come to me with is they want to take their dog to the brewery. For some dogs, it’s too much for them. I tell people, “It’s okay for you dog to say, ‘No, thank you.’” We need to listen because a lot of aggressive, or reactive behavior displays are rooted in underlying anxiety.
5. Do you have any basic tips for making your dog more cooperative?
I tell my clients that we are a team and the dog is part of the team. Part of that teamwork is being able to be respectful, having good communication and awareness. You have to understand the dog’s motivation and what’s triggering that behavior. When we’re working on changing our dog’s behavior, we’ve got to set the dog up so that they’re not able to rehearse or practice the problematic behavior if possible. Practice makes perfect, for better or worse. With our dogs, if we practice some before they are triggered and emotional, they might be more able to access it.
6. Do you sometimes feel that you can understand dogs better than humans?
I really adore dogs, and understanding dogs. I also really like people. I’m a people person/dog person. You have got to like people to do this, at least the way I do it. I’m working with the client to be a sort of translator of what is happening with the dog and why. Then, I’m trying to coach them on how they might be able to interact and behave so that they can help that dog. You really have to have good communication with the person to have a positive impact and outcome for the dog. Dogs are complex social animals, but so are we.
7. What do you wish every new pet owner knew/understood about dogs?
I wish that we, as a society, would get better at recognizing what our dogs are attempting to communicate. I always say, “If the dog is whispering, don’t make him yell.” In a nutshell, I wish that people would feel more confident and empowered to be their dog’s advocate and their dog’s voice when they are in public. It’s actually very helpful for a dog that’s feeling stressed or uncomfortable to know that their person is gonna hold space for them because that means that maybe that dog doesn’t have to become reactive.
8. What qualities should people look for in searching for a dog trainer that works well with them and their pet?
I always advise people to think about what their goals might be and make sure that the professional that they’re reaching out to is comfortable and qualified for that specific issue. Does the person that they are reaching out to have credentials and are they qualified? Are they practicing humane, force-free techniques? Is this a professional that can work in conjunction with other qualified professionals if they need a second opinion? I would stay away from any trainer that claims that they have a guarantee that they can ‘fix your dog.’ Anyone that does this for a living, that’s qualified, knows it’s not always that simple. Above all, working with a Dog Trainer or Behavior professional should feel comfortable and enjoyable for both the human and the dog! It can truly be an incredible and life-changing experience, encouraging a stronger and healthier relationship with our beloved canine companions, which is what this work is all about!
For more information on Heather Polechio, or to contact her directly, go to her website: https://www.mindfulmutz.com/