How does a preschool music teacher become a certified dog trainer? For Debbie Tangen, owner of Pawsitively Polite Dog Obedience Training, the change came easily.
"Turns out, teaching music to preschoolers and training dogs really isn't that different," she says. "They both have short attention spans, poor impulse control, and a constant need for attention. So, there really was a lot of crossover."
Tangen started Pawsitively Polite in 2021 after 13 years of teaching. Her own children were grown and out of the house, and she was looking for a new path. She wanted her next career to involve dogs, and after some research, realized being a trainer was her next vocation.
"I think what makes me stand out is my age. I'm 63, so I'm a lot older than probably most dog trainers, and I feel like I have more worldly knowledge. Plus, the overlap between teaching kids and training dogs is an advantage. I'm very passionate about what I do. I love dogs and want to help people have the best relationship with their pet," she says.
Tangen is an in-home dog trainer because she believes dogs learn best in familiar surroundings. She helps owners (or guardians, as Tangen calls them) form positive bonds with their pets. Since dogs communicate through body language, Tangen aims to teach people to understand what their dogs are saying through these cues.
Dog training is half teaching the dog and half teaching the human. The most important tips Tangen gives to dog guardians are to be patient and heavily reward good behavior with a treat, belly rub, or whatever they enjoy. Equally important is to ignore bad behavior.
She explains, "A lot of people just assume that dogs understand what 'sit' means, or what 'come' means. However, just because the dog is smart doesn't mean they automatically understand. So, I tell them to be patient with their dog because they're trying to figure out what you're telling them.
"I also tell them to heavily reward great behavior and completely ignore inappropriate behavior because dogs crave your attention. They demand it. They will paw at you and bark in your face. If you can ignore it and pretend like they don't exist, they will eventually stop because they're not getting anything from you. And that's the moment you reward them for not jumping on you, barking in your face, or pawing you."
As a child, Tangen grew up with cats for pets. She didn't get her first dog until her children begged for one, with all of the usual promises of feeding and taking care of it. Of course, that chore fell to Tangen, which she didn't mind because she had fallen in love with their new pet.
"I didn't know what I was doing because I'd never had a dog before, and I made a lot of mistakes," she says. "When I started my business, I wanted to make sure the people I counseled didn't make the same mistakes I did, especially as first-time dog owners."
"I think people who are having a lot of behavior issues with their dogs often just need some help seeing what the dog is saying through what they're doing, and how to change it. That's why I'm there. I want to help them have a better relationship with their dog. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
For more about Pawsitively Polite or to schedule a consultation, visit pawsitivelypolite.com.
I think people who are having a lot of behavior issues with their dogs often just need some help seeing what the dog is saying through what they're doing, and how to change it.