Three Questions - Nicole Stewart

By Jamie Damato Migdal, CEO & Pet Industry Entrepreneur

Because dog people tend to remember the dogs and forget to look at the other end of the leash, I'll introduce the talented Nicole Stewart by telling you that her canine shadow is Finlay the Clumber Spaniel (you don't see a lot of those around). Nicole is also the voice behind the very funny blog Dog On...Everything.

Which dog has taught you the most, and why? A German Shepherd that I was hired to work with on basic behaviors including, and especially, walking and jumping. She was a dog who got VERY excited when she first saw anyone. She was beautiful and well-loved, but as we all are with our own dogs (including trainers!), her owner was part of the problem and unintentionally encouraged her excited behavior. As I worked with her, there would be moments of frustration from my end because I wasn't getting what I was looking for, and any time I got frustrated or angry, she reflected that behavior right back at me with more excited/anxious jumping and mouthing. It was this dog that taught me: If frustrations get the best of me, stop training, breathe, and come back later. Keep sessions short and successful, which keeps frustration at bay for both of us. A dog's behavior is often a reflection of what you are giving them, so remember to look at yourself before you get angry at them. They are just trying to earn a reward.

How do you “pay it forward”? I'm so lucky that my job as Director of Training at AnimalSense has me mentoring trainers all the time. I love to pass on the knowledge that I have gained over 14 years of doing this. The funny thing is that I get to learn from the newer, fresher trainers I mentor all the time.

Does your acting background help your work with dogs? Absolutely! It's part of what made training such a great fit. I get to use my presentation skills every time I teach a group class or lead a seminar. If you ask any of my clients, they will tell you that I'm also always role playing in class - I'm usually the dog! In addition, I'm always using my creativity with clients because there is more than one way to teach a dog something or modify a behavior issue. I practice thinking outside the box a lot.