To train or not to train

Although dog training gets stressful at times, Wolf still encourages others to experience the joy of being around animals.

“I think anyone who’s looking for a form of physical activity that isn’t as demanding as sports should try it,” Wolf said. “But it involves a certain kind of brainwork because you really do have to be thinking about things creatively when you’re working with an animal. If you enjoy the companionship of an animal, I would say give it a shot.”

Wolf said he took away a number of things from his experience as a trainer and owner of six animals.

“When you really get into it, you kind of learn your limits and discover some of your areas where you can grow, whether it’s being more patient or sometimes being more consistent or more dedicated,” Wolf said. “You learn a lot about how you handle frustration and obstacles. I think there’s a degree of self-learning that comes with training.”

As Wolf welcomed more and more dogs into his life, he said he realized that when you treat your pet as more than just a pet, you experience something unique.

“For a lot of people, their pets are just that – their pets and their companions – but you certainly don’t have that degree of connection with an animal. And when you get to that level of communication, it’s really, really a profound experience, and it’s unlike anything else.”