Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Luna
Hi Meghan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t exactly know what I was going to do for a living, I mean who ever knows, right? But I grew up around dog training and showing dogs, because of my mother. I would sit in on some of her training classes, and she always made sure my sister and I knew how to communicate to all our animals. As a kid, I wanted to work, so I volunteered at a pet shop and at a stable. Anything animal, I was for it. When I was old enough to get hired, I started life guarding and stayed with it all throughout High school and during the summer. After HS, I went to school to become a Medical Assistant, and then got hired at an OB/GYN office. It was a good change from animals, and it felt good to have a new skill. A few of my coworkers started complaining about their dogs unruly behavior. Naturally, I wanted to help, so I would give them tips. I even met up with one of them and did a lesson to help her out. Word got around to the owner of Pets and Moore and she called me up to ask if I’d be willing to get certified and start training dogs at her facility. It just felt like my calling, so I accepted. I went to school, got certified, and then I bought a puppy to train from the ground up, with my new skills of dog training (I only knew the old training methods). But, I quickly realized that the new way wasn’t cutting it for me or my puppy. But the old way to train wasn’t a fan favorite to the public. So, I put together all my training I’ve ever had from dogs to horses and created my own style of training and teaching. From there I was teaching obedience and behavior modification classes for close to 9 years. In that time, I took more training lessons for dock diving and barn hunt, and loved them both, so I started teaching classes, hosted seminars and was trialing in both. My dogs have made it to nationals in both of those sports. In 2022 I decided to go out on my own. I have a huge passion for helping owners with their dogs reactivity, and I wanted my main focus to be on that. Outlander K9 Training, LLC has been helping owners with reactivity and obedience for three years in April!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The start was slow but steady. I’d say the biggest struggle was myself. I decided to go out on my own at the start of my husband and I building our home, ourselves. Which meant, I didn’t have extra money to pay for advertisement ads, and I was too stubborn to take out a loan. I was determined to build a name for myself, the hard way. I had trust in my ability to train, I just had to build my clientele. I did get word of mouth referrals, which meant the world to me, I would also advertise through social media by sharing my training videos, and taking cards to pet friendly businesses. I would even have my husband help by asking him go to my website, daily, so it would show traffic and hopefully keep it up there on the first page of google. But understanding that was a challenge for me as well. I just did what I could, at that time.
As you know, we’re big fans of Outlander K9 Training, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a professional dog trainer! I’ve been professionally training dogs for 10+ years now. I’m mobile so I come to you or we meet publicly. I offer a private and group obedience package, a private and group behavior modification package, refresher classes for established clients and a membership for clients that have completed training and just want a fun challenging environment to work in.
My goal for owners when they complete a package, is to leave feeling confident in their ability to handle and understand their dogs behavior, and understand dogs in general. This way owners can always keep their dogs safe and have the ease of living with their dog, at home and away from home.
My main method of training is pressure. Getting your dog to want to work with you, by making it their idea through leash and body guidance. With that being said, I will do whatever the dog in front of me needs. because not all dogs learn the same, or with one particular method, and there are many ways to help your dog become successful.
How do you think about happiness?
Seeing my clients take that breath of relief when the training clicks and their dog is responding to them like they’ve always wanted them to.
Owners see many of these moments during training. But it’s nothing like the very first time owners feel the connection with their dog. It’s definitely a moment of whatever doubt or emotion they may have had about their dog, and it goes away, like a sigh of relief. I work with really intense dogs at times, and some owners feel like they can’t be helped due to how severe the behavior is, but when dogs start picking it up and owners can feel it, there’s no better feeling for the owner and for me as their trainer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://outlanderk9training.com
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/meg_thedogtrainer?igsh=MWxI-c3E3d2t4ODZmNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Indy Pop Photo!
