Nervous to Natural: Confidence Strategies for Dog Trainers

Feeling nervous is uncomfortable. If we had to classify it, we would likely call it a negative emotion. For dog trainers, overcoming nervousness can be crucial as it easily prevents many of us from taking action. Let’s start with acknowledging the importance of emotions. 

You’re Not Alone: Every Trainer Feels Nervous Sometimes

I have two thoughts about nervousness that I’d like to share before we move on to practical tips to help you overcome it. These tips are helpful for dog trainers who deal with nervousness. 

One, being nervous is a good thing. It means you care. You care enough to do a good job, and that’s why you’re nervous. If you didn’t care, you probably wouldn’t feel as nervous. So acknowledging that it’s a good thing, that it’s a normal feeling, and even better if you can channel some of that energy you feel into your posture, movement, and projection. It’s something that won’t ever completely go away, though I do think you can develop skills to manage it, so it feels less intense and more familiar. 

Two, if not for yourself, then think about how important the knowledge you’re disseminating is. Focus on that. What you have to say – what you have to teach in class, to a client, to a group- is important. It deserves to be taught. Focus on the many families and dogs you can help with the expertise you possess as a trainer. Do it for them. Be brave in speaking for them. 

Now, let’s move on to five practical tips to ensure you can focus on delivering quality teaching as a dog trainer. Remember, overcoming nervousness as a dog trainer ensures you can focus on providing quality teaching. 

Bring Notes, Not Pressure

You are the expert. If you need to review your notes on loose leash walking the night before or the morning before class, make time for that. If you want to make a little cue card, or a note in your phone to help you remember the steps, and need to check that while in class, do that. Often, making the notes and knowing they sit in your pocket is like a security blanket that gives you comfort without ever having to use it. And if you do have to pull them out while you’re teaching, tell your class you want to make sure you didn’t miss anything – they should appreciate your care and thoroughness for their lesson. 

Build Your Own Confidence-Boosting Ritual

It can be as small as taking a breath before you start. But much like our animals might learn from context, we can too. Go over your notes, listen to a favorite song, jump up and down three times to get energized, shake your hands, and check your posture. You can use a checklist to your advantage to prepare your body for the context of speaking, especially when overcoming nervousness. 

Your Voice Matters, Treat It Well

If there’s one thing I encourage everyone to do, please warm up your voice. It’ll help with its longevity in the day and the long term. You can look up hundreds of ways to do so online, but some easy ones to try are tongue twisters, stretching your mouth and tongue out, and humming. Anything that brings attention and gentle use to your vocal cords, resonators, and body is better than nothing. 

Confidence Grows with Repetition

This one may be part of being prepared. Personally, I like to tailor whatever I’m saying to my audience, including a class or client. But it doesn’t mean you can’t practice teaching the concepts. Practicing on your own, if it makes you feel more comfortable, in front of your pets, family, or friends, gives you fluency. The more often you’ve warmed up, gone through your ritual, and practiced what you’re teaching, the more confident you can be that you CAN do this (and that it’s not punishing). Even if you’ve only practiced in front of your pets, it helps you overcome nervousness. 

Positive Reinforcement Works on Trainers, Too

Feeling confident in your public speaking skills really comes down to practice, like any behavior. But as something often associated with discomfort, it’s not something we like to practice. So join my upcoming virtual class to make time for yourself to practice and learn more, refine your skills, and become more confident. 

Bonus tip: Treat yourself. Maybe it’s reveling in a job well done after you’ve taught your class, singing your favorite song as you drive home, or even a piece of chocolate. Let’s not forget to follow the behavior with a reinforcer to change our conditioned emotional response, one trial at a time. Dog trainers can be rewarded for overcoming nervousness for their diligent work.