Recently, a person in a dog group I am subscribed to asked for a list of service dog trainers who would work for free. This is not uncommon, and every time I see it I get a little bit angry. I decided I should write a post, because this problem isn’t limited to dog training. A long time friend mentioned midwifery, a field she has spent YEARS studying, is riddle with similar attitudes. People will contact her asking specific questions and seeking help, but never offering to pay her for her knowledge or time. This is a prevalent issue now that email makes contacting someone free and easy. Why is it that less value is given to certain fields? Why should anyone with a skill you do not have offer their services free?? Plumbers don’t show up at your house and unclog your drain and walk away with a hug or a thank you. Lawyers bill you for even the smallest legal questions. Why is it socially acceptable for knowledge to be sought for no cost depending on the field, especially if you know the person loves what they do? I’m not talking about a close friend asking a few questions. I’m talking about a total stranger contacting you seeking free or extremely discounted services.

I give a ton of advice here on my blog about training for no cost to you. I do this for a few reasons. 1. Training dogs is not my job. 2. I like writing. 3. I only post when I feel like it. I’ve taught classes over the years and honestly, at this point in my life I don’t have the time or the drive to teach more than my own dogs or the occasional board and train puppy from my own breeding program. If you send me an email with questions on how to get your dog to stop doing (insert annoying puppy behaviors) my response will be “find a trainer in your area.” I’m not Dear Abby, because if I were, someone would be paying for my advice! Years ago I would give out advice or maybe point them to a few blog post or videos I thought could help, but now I don’t have the time or desire.

If you cannot afford a service, you have a few choices. The first would be to get online and learn how to do it yourself. Do you think I was born knowing how to create blogs and websites? I was a poor new breeder back in 1997 who was expecting her second litter of Shiba Inu. I found out placing an ad in the local newspaper brought out the crazy people, so I started thinking there must be a better way. I read many books, put in the time and effort, and stayed recent on the latest trends as the years progressed. The same held true for dog training. Do you know how many books I have read on training? Seminars I have attended? Classes I have taken? Videos I have watched? Thousands… no I’m not joking. You want to know what else? Almost none of that was free, except for a few books I was able to check out of the library and some training I did with the North Alabama Search Dog group with scent work, which I paid back by being available as ground support when the team was called out on search. Time is a valuable commodity. We only have so much.

If you want discounted training, maybe you should volunteer to help at an obedience club a few nights a week and learn what dog training really is. If that isn’t an option due to your health, fund raising is a good option. Everyone crowd funds these days, and if you are really in need of a service dog, someone can help you set up a funding page and speak for your desperate need.

We all should step back and remember, if someone has an understanding of something you do not, even if that subject is their passion, we should still value the effort they put in and offer to compensate them. Knowledge is a valuable resource, and if someone finds joy in learning about a subject you need information on, don’t be selfish. Pay them for their time.