EXPERIENCE MATTERS
- Candice Murray @ SPOT ON MTL
- Aug 17, 2018
- 7 min read
by Candice Murray @ Spot On Training MTL
"OH MY GOD"
"THAT'S SO COOL"
"... SO, YOU’RE LIKE A DOG WHISPERER"
These are the usual reactions I get when people ask me what I do for a living.
(That, followed by how I can get their dog/cat/family or friend’s pet to stop doing something).
For my first blog post, (for all you fine, svelte readers) I thought I could introduce who I am as a person and as a professional. Just to give you a better idea of what prompted Spot on Training (and, should some of you actually meet me - give you an ample heads up).
So without further ado, here goes.
HOW THE HECK?!
So many people ask me how I got into training animals professionally.
The short answer is- it chose me.
The long answer is as follows in this epic saga.
My entire life I have been drawn to animals, and they to me. (Like, I was jealous of Cinderella, not because of the Prince, but because this girl could understand and be understood by her animal friends) I was always rescuing something or befriending some animal up at my grandparent's campsite. My grandmother caught me hanging out behind the shed with a mommy groundhog and her babies when I was about 5-ish. I am pretty sure all her grey hairs were because of me! Where she saw danger, I saw an opportunity to connect with a furry living being.
They (my family and their neighbours) could not understand how this mama groundhog would allow me to feed her and her pups, even pick them up. She trusted me (and only me). Now, obviously it was extremely dangerous and I probably wouldn't try it now (who are we kidding... I’d totally feed them). It was however, an early indication that I carried within me an energy conducive to my eventual life path.
Ok. Fast forward.
Despite growing up an animal lover, everyone around me had what we 'experts' like to call traditional methods in training. So you know, putting the nose in the pee, choke chain for leash training, rolled up newspaper... you get the idea. I HATED it. I didn't know why at the time, but every cell in my body would recoil when it came time to punish our dog. (but as a pre-teen I also hated cleaning up garbage on my bed or discovering my shoes were no longer intact).
Being an (annoying) inquisitive child that I (am) was, I sought out information. Now, the internet was not yet a household staple. Whatever books I could find at the local libraries about dogs and training were either non-existent or of traditional methodology. I assumed it was the way of the world and after my late teens, I never owned a dog again until well into adulthood.
ALL GROWN UP!
That was a nice trip down memory lane but let's get back on track, shall we?
I struggled for a few years after high-school trying to nail down what I wanted to be when I grew up. I took Social Science and Law in college. Discovered I didn't particularly enjoy it. So I applied to Journalism in university and then changed to Applied Human Sciences. I knew after one course in that program, I was NOT in the right field (or even remotely close). I considered psychology for a long while and ended up choosing Religious and Theological Studies.
I know? WT-bleep?
How does one choose to major in religious sciences?
Welp, it was 3-fold.
1) I loved learning by researching, reading and then writing it all up in a nice essay. 2) I thoroughly enjoy a good *argument* debate.
3) EVERYONE has an opinion on religions. (oh, and uh, (4) acceptance was pretty much guaranteed.)
I graduated with a double-major Honours in my programs (B.A of Arts). I had planned to go into spiritual counselling as a Master’s student a year later.
And then… I was employed at a religious institution. I volunteered in different programs with a religious context. I got to see a completely different side to ‘ministry’ beyond the scope of textbooks and papers. I became increasingly less enamoured with the idea of being employed within a ‘religious’ setting and there was no way in hell (haha- see what I did there) I was going to head into religious counselling.
So here I was, in my late 20’s, with a degree that was essentially a piece of paper, no idea what to do and the daunting task of going back to university to do yet another bachelors was the bane of my existence. Oh, and I was also volunteering at a few different animal rescues. I LOVED working with the people and the animals but it was not a real career. (a girl has got to eat)
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS...
Being a responsible adult, I took a job as an executive assistant to pay the bills and so I could have a real job.
While working, I applied to 2 different universities for a masters degree, a college for a technical certificate and another 2 universities for undergrad. I had all my bases covered and it was all going to be just fine.
I WAS REJECTED BY ALL OF THEM!!!
Every. Damn. One.
Needless to say, on a scale of ‘stubbed-my-toe’ to ‘the-apocalypse’, I was pretty sure my world was ending.
I dreaded getting up for work e-ver-y-day. I had utter disdain for the 9-5 lifestyle. I constantly felt like I was a square peg the size of Brazil, being forcing into a triangular hole the size Malta.
My one saving grace was the animals.
I was a foster for rescue dogs, participating in fundraising events for sanctuaries and doing a lot of research (thanks internet!). Through my googling, I came across the Montreal Dog Blog created by the wonderful Nat Lauzon. I was introduced to a whole new realm of ‘animal’ people, people who were dedicating their lives educating the masses and changing the narrative of what it meant to be an animal lover.
UNIVERSES COLLIDE!
At this point, I had adopted two rescue dogs.
Despite their absolute cuteness (like, you want to just squeeze and pinch them because they are so darn cute), I was facing a few behavioural issues that were proving to be beyond my ability to address.
I knew that my rockstar veterinarian was big on positive reinforcement - or non-traditional methods- so I asked him what I could do. He recommended an animal behaviorist at the clinic and within 5 days, my life would drastically change.
So, this behaviourist comes over and right away I can see my dogs react differently with him. (Let’s call him Mike). So, Mike sits down and we get to talking and I’m 100% picking up what he’s putting down. He looks at me dead in the eye and says “I’ve been doing this some 20-odd years and I’m going to tell you right now, you MUST look into animal training and behaviour. You are a complete natural and I just feel like you need to hear this”.
He gives me his card, writes down a few suggestions of where I can go to school and leaves.
I think, “Aww. What a nice man”.
I give myself props for a job well done and move on to something else (probably eating because the only other thing I love more than animals is food).
A few days later, Mike calls to check in on the progress I’m making with my dogs and I tell him everything is hunky-dory. Actually, everything is friggin awesome! He asks me if I looked into any of the resources he gave me. I say no. He asks that I please do. I say ok.
And I do. Because I am a woman of my word.
Turns out it was the best darn thing I have ever done!
Within a few weeks, I had put my deposit down and enrolled in a private school for dog trainers. I quit my job (Bye Felicia!) and start consuming books and videos and studies and just about anything I could get my hands on. Now, I am an intuitive individual naturally and had heard the saying “when it’s right, you just know” but had never actually believed it.
Except for this.
This whole ‘becoming a dog trainer’ thing. For the first time in my adult life, I was not only gloriously excited but I had this confidence that I had never known. With every fibre of my being I knew that THIS was my calling. Being an animal trainer was exactly WHO and WHAT I was intended to be.
THAT’S ALL FOLKS!
The rest is history, as they say.
I finished my program at the top of my class. I was invited to intern at an animal reserve and sanctuary. I got promoted to full-time training staff. From there, I was offered a position as a lead exotic trainer. I later became their zoo coordinator and curator. I led a team whose mandate is to rehabilitate High-Risk rescue dogs from the SPA Mauricie. I was asked to join my alma mater as an assistant coach for the practical training and behaviour modification modules.
After a few years away from Montreal, I made the decision to come back home and really dedicate my time and energy to domestic consultations. It was always the most interesting part of my work and it just energizes me. I love helping people who, like me, have reached a point with their pet(s) where they need a little extra help. And to be completely honest, I am very good at it! (that helps a lot in this profession). I was able to secure the directors position for a well renowned doggy daycare and as a result, met with over a hundred people looking for guidance with their furry-friend’s rude ways.
There is nothing better than following up with a family and hearing the happiness in their voice now that they and Fido are on the right track. Knowing that your passion and your skill set has helped improve an owner-pet relationship is what makes this ‘job’ worth it. Because let’s face it; like any other career out there, there are the good, the bad and the ugly days.
(except with this gig, there is a lot of slobber, animal hair and poop. A lot of poop).
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