I Need to Be Trained, Not My Dog- By Student Rena Garcia
My dog’s name is Alexis Rose.
She got into my car as an Uber passenger with her owner of only two days. Three weeks later, I was rescuing her from the shelter. She’s a dark chocolate-colored pittie — which, unfortunately, often means people are afraid of her before they even meet her.
Alexis Rose had no manners and wasn’t potty trained. That told me a lot — she had probably never lived indoors, never been taught boundaries, and likely never been loved.
I believe I am at least her third owner. But I promised her I would also be her last.
At first, I thought she was just a large puppy, maybe seven or eight months old. Later, when I received her adoption paperwork, I realized she was closer to a year and a half — and that she’d already been vaccinated before. That meant she’d been passed around for a long time.
And with that came baggage.
Who knows what she went through or how many people failed her? Could I help her heal from a past I could only guess about?
A Promise Made
I made a promise to Alexis Rose that she would never go without again.
She will never be hungry, neglected, or unloved.
She will also never be a statistic — one more pittie labeled as “dangerous” or “untrainable.”
But to keep that promise, I knew she had to learn manners and how to safely navigate the world. Most of all, she had to learn to trust me — and I had to earn that trust.
So, we signed up for basic obedience classes, with the goal of eventually earning her Canine Good Citizen certificate.
Our First Class
We attended our first session at a major pet store chain, and I had no idea what to expect.
Alexis Rose puked in the car on the way there — and again at the store. Once inside, she was all energy. No listening, no focus — just pure, joyful chaos.
The trainer began by explaining the concept of Positive Reinforcement training. I liked the sound of that. Alexis had experienced enough negativity in her life already.
We would use treats, hand signals, verbal cues, and praise to build communication. Simple enough, right?
At first, it went great. Alexis quickly picked up sit — she’s very food-motivated. But when we got to down, things fell apart. No amount of treats, gestures, or commands worked. My confidence started slipping.
I realized my frustration was confusing her. The more unsure I became, the more uncertain she felt.
By the end of that first class, I understood something huge: I was the one who needed training.
The Real Lesson
Dog training isn’t just about giving commands. It’s about learning to communicate clearly and with empathy.
I started asking myself questions:
Is my dog ready to learn at this moment?
Have I found the right motivator — food, play, or praise?
Am I asking too much of her focus too soon?
Is positive reinforcement truly the best way for her to learn?
The more I learned, the more I realized that training wasn’t just for Alexis — it was for me.
The Journey Forward
Since that first class, I’ve immersed myself in learning about dogs:
Body language and calming signals
How diet influences behavior
Different training methods
Even canine massage for releasing trauma
It all circles back to one truth: it’s my responsibility to learn how to communicate with her — not the other way around.
My goal now is to become confident, compassionate, and knowledgeable enough to help Alexis Rose thrive. To guide her in the way she needs, not simply in the way that’s easiest for me.
Because at the end of the day, I don’t need to train my dog — I need to be trained for her.