The Most Helpful Tool I Have Ever and Will Ever Use

For years, I’ve watched dog trainers talk about their favorite tools—the best leashes, training collars, or treat pouches—but there’s one tool I rely on that I’ve never heard another trainer mention. It may make some uncomfortable, and it may even turn people away from hiring me. But I stand firm in my use of it because it has changed my life and brought clarity to moments that once felt impossible.

That tool is the Bible.

It wasn’t always this way. While my faith has always been a part of who I am, it’s only been within the last two years that I’ve truly opened up my relationship with God to the world—and I am not ashamed of it.

This has been weighing on my heart for some time. After years of yielding to what others told me to do—fitting into a box that made everyone else comfortable—I’ve decided I won’t hold back any longer. If this post turns you away from trusting me with your dog’s training, know this: I was blessed with this skillset, and I help those who ask for it, regardless of what they believe. However, I will not tolerate disrespect toward myself, my clients, or anyone affiliated with my company.

I felt compelled to write this because the Bible is something I turn to daily. It has guided me through countless situations, and I believe it would be foolish to withhold something so helpful from those who may need it.

More Than a Dog Trainer

I am not just a dog trainer. First and foremost, I am a child of God. While growing in my profession has been incredibly important to me, it is not my only focus. The patience, steadiness, and understanding I bring to my work are gifts—ones that allow me to shift challenging situations into opportunities for growth. This applies not only to dogs but to the people who love them.

For too long, I hesitated to reference scripture in training sessions. I worried that if I encouraged an owner with a Bible verse, they might roll their eyes. But holding back meant withholding encouragement that could have helped. Training a dog isn’t always fun or easy—it can feel frustrating, even impossible. If a verse helps someone push through, I will share it.

I am compelled by sheer necessity to spread the good news of the gospel, and if sharing a verse in a session offers clarity, encouragement, or hope, I will do so with confidence. If hearing scripture stirs something in you, I encourage you to lean into it rather than turn away.

The Balance of Leadership and Love

I often work with families where the dog has taken control—whether through aggression, destruction, or overprotection. In those moments, I am reminded of Genesis 1:26:

"Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’"

Dogs are creatures that move along the ground. Allowing them to rule over us is not what God intended. That does not mean we must lead with force, cruelty, or dominance. True leadership is not about control—it is about guidance, consistency, and love.

Colossians 3:12-14 reminds us:

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

These words apply not just to our relationships with dogs but to how we treat each other—especially in the dog training industry. I have seen too many trainers grow frustrated with clients for not knowing what they know. That frustration is misplaced. People seek help because they don’t know. As trainers, we must lead with patience, kindness, and the understanding that our role is to teach, not judge.

The “Something Different”

Many who work with me say there’s “something different” about the way I train. For a long time, I avoided explaining why. I was warned by other trainers, family members, and friends that incorporating my faith into my business could destroy it. But I can no longer keep it in the dark.

That “something different” is not a secret. It is a gift from God—one I pray never to lose. I work hard, I never stop learning, and above all, I never stop praying.

When I face adversity—whether in training, working with clients, or in my personal life—the first tool I reach for is always the Bible. And I will no longer hesitate to share it.