Carolyn shares highlights from her training career.
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Carolyn Clark will lead the KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) programs in Bowmanville (Toronto), Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario. We met with Carolyn and asked her to share about her day-to-day life as a trainer!
Q: Tell us about the first animal you trained.
A: The first animal that I trained was a Siamese beta fish. It was a beautiful blue and I was twelve. He learned to swim through the loop of my thumb and index finger wherever and whenever this "loop" appeared in the aquarium.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
A: A typical day starts at 7:00 am. Sometimes I have Rotary meetings, sometimes breakfast with a friend. After that are office hours: answering e-mail, communicating with students, etc. Several days a week I swim around noon. On other days I walk in the nature trails near my place. Evenings, I might have a board meeting for our church, or for the refugee committee, or for the advisory committee at the college.
Q: Do you have any student success stories you can share?
A: I especially enjoy watching kids develop connections and have success with their pets. I remember sitting with a mom watching her daughter, who was perhaps ten years old, and her little fluffy white dog. The connection between the two was almost tangible. I commented to the mom about how well she was supporting her child, getting her to class a bit early every week and encouraging her. Mom's eyes filled up and she said to me, "She is going to know so much more about parenting than I ever did." That was a moving moment for me. Catch learners doing what you like and let them know!
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