To those who know me well, you know I am a "dog person."
Don't get me wrong - I also love me some feline friends and other assorted creatures, but my furry four-legged tail-wagging friends have my heart. My current dog, Riley? She is the sweetest, most intelligent, and best-trained dog I have ever had.
Don't be offended. I am sure your dog is fine (in a potty-trained sort of - I can sit on command way), but Riley? She has Albert Einstein's brains, Dolly Parton's sweetness, and Ryan Reynolds's charisma. But I may be biased.
Our family has mulled over about getting her trained and certified as a service dog, which brings me to today's blog.
I taught Riley to drive!
Today, I stumbled upon an article showcasing the exceptional abilities of dogs like Riley. These extraordinary canines can find earthquake survivors among the rubble and search for lost children in the woods - all for a treat, a squeaky toy, and some affection. They are the superheroes of the animal kingdom and should wear capes!
The article followed the dogs through their training, and it's incredible. They spend their days navigating a chaotic playground of concrete chunks and wooden pallets to find evidence of a hidden human.
Spoiler alert: they usually ace it in seconds. Search-and-rescue is just one of many career paths for these brilliant canines.
More importantly, these training centers don't just train dogs—they redefine the relationship between humans and their four-legged partners, creating an elite workforce that can detect everything from missing persons to deadly diseases. It's not just the WHAT; it's the HOW.
Specifically:
Dogs self-select their job based on their natural skill set and passions.
The handlers are then matched to dogs based on their shared passions and personalities.
Over time, the pair develop a deep and unique communication system. They communicate with different barks, postures, paw signals, and other behaviors, creating a fascinating and heartwarming bond. Anyone who has ever had a long, deep discussion with a dog about why they shouldn't have eaten an entire turkey off the counter or recreated the Grand Canyon in your backyard knows what I am talking about. Dogs listen, understand, feel, and communicate out of love and respect. Except for Beagles – they don't listen to anyone or anything. I know; I had one growing up.
All of this made me think about the relationship between a music teacher and their students. Odd? Perhaps. But in this profession, we have a teacher and a student. A trainer and a trainee. An adult and a teen. Just as a dog trainer guides a dog through its training, a music teacher guides a student through their musical education, helping them develop their skills and find their passion in the same way a dog trainer helps a dog find its role and passion in life.
In music education and dog training, we don't force kids into specific roles; they self-select according to their skills, interests, and passions. Just as a pup might naturally excel at tracking or herding, a student might naturally excel at playing a specific instrument or singing a particular style of music. Some students pursue leadership, while others pursue improv. Some students opt for all-region or all-state, while others pursue chamber music. Some prefer marching band; others prefer indoor winds/percussion/guard. Either way, the student self-selects their path and is matched with an instructor who shares their passions.
This is where the magic happens.
When people (and puppies) share a sense of purpose and passion, they are willing to endure hardships, sacrifice, and do big things. They aren't just performing "tricks for a treat;" but engaging in meaningful, fulfilling, and challenging work. This shared passion drives them to show up early, stay late, and work until the task is done.
Your goal is not necessarily teaching them to march, play, or sing, just as a trainer doesn't train a dog to smell, climb, or dig. You teach them to pursue, to grind, and not to stop until the objective or task has been met.
The reward might be a treat, a high-five, or a kind word, but they do it for the regard, respect, and approval of the person who trained them.
This is far more profound than just training—it's a sacred partnership between trainer and trainee. Trusted teammates bonded through hours of shared experiences. This relationship is unmistakable and unbreakable. A trainer knows their trainee's every habit and quirk—how they think and feel. Trainees look to their trainer for guidance, trust them implicitly, and work not just for a treat, but because they genuinely want to do well for their person.
Whether the trainee walks on two legs or four, this relationship remains the same. The trainer needs the trainee just as much as the trainee needs the trainer. It's a symbiotic relationship.
Unless you're a Beagle. Now, who wants a treat?
Have a great week!
Scott