By: Alicia Sexauer
We spoke with Curtis Lamm, Professional Dog Trainer of the local St. Louis boarding and training facility K9STL.
Q.How long have you been a professional dog trainer?
About 15 years
Q.How does it work when you’re training a dog? Do you work with groups or individuals?
I work with both… however, it depends if the individual dog has issues in a group environment. If that is the case then I adapt to the dog(s) I’m working with.
Q.Do you have a particular method or philosophy by which you train dogs?
I think that positive reinforcement is the main and first philosophy that is the most important.
Q.How important is it for the dog owner to understand what you’re doing and to be involved?
Extremely important… most dog trainers can get the desired behavior but can be tricky for pet parents due to parent to pet habits… so modifying the parents’ knowledge of how dogs work is essential to getting desired behaviors out of the pet.
Q. What’s the most common training mistake that people make?
Inconsistency!
Q.What’s the most important behavior you can teach your pet?
I’d say the most important would be good leash rules!
Q.What is your favorite activity/sport to do with your own dog(s)?
Dogs are our best friends… so I take my best friends and hangout with my human best friends… other than that Netflix and snuggles.
Q.What is your proudest training moment?
Oh… so many… I am proudest when I can help parents better co-habitate with their fur child… (laughing)… but I am always impressed and proud when a concept all of sudden clicks in a dog’s brain and they repeatedly display the desired behavior.
Q.What does a typical day look like for you?
Well right now, very busy… as a new dad…I have lots of duties..
But I also started my own business…K9stl
On a typical day I get up in the morning and feed anywhere from 3 to 20 dogs while rotating them outside for bathroom breaks… I’m also doing my own personal routines during all of this… Once I’m done with my morning responsibilities, I head out to pick up the dogs that are under my care for daycare or dog sitting. Playing puppy chauffeur can be up to 2 hours of my day with the commute and other technicalities. When I get back to the facility I rotate the dogs for potty breaks and play time… I then train a few for day training (just quick 20 min sessions)… clean the house (current facility).. Pay some bills, Rotate dogs more outside… clean up messes outside.. Wrap it up with taking home daycare and dog sitting dogs.
Come home and maybe go to a local dog bar…. Then come home and prepare the dogs for bed… usually my room… (laughs)
Q.Is there anything else you’d like to add/share?
Know your breeds before bringing a pup home… make sure that breed fits your lifestyle.
Always keep insurance for your pet
Adopt over designer breeds
Spend the money on your pet when it’s younger or if you’re unsure of what you are doing. It’s cheaper to pay for good training, insurance, and socialization facilities than having to pay after issues start.
Make sure you make time for them… because nothing ever loves you so unconditionally as your pup…
