Dresseur

n. – trainer as in for dogs
It wasn’t that long ago that I was the head of a department that brought in millions of dollars in international advertising revenue working with high-end luxury clients worldwide. Today I was taking directions from a dog trainer a good generation behind me in age.

The economic crisis was partly responsible for the change in my life. Advertising budgets being cut causing revenue to drastically decrease was one of the reasons that the office I ran, once the in-house sales team for one of the largest international magazine publishers, was outsourced to a media rep firm. The city I lived in and loved, New York, is now one I love to visit since a great work opportunity brought my French husband to Paris. So it is here in my new home that I have been spending my time carving out a new niche, a new identity for myself.

At the moment, my role is nurturing, rearing and training a puppy. It may sound trivial, but anyone who has dedicated themselves to it as I have will tell you it is no small feat. I am humbled by the patience and discipline that it takes along with the respect I have for someone who is an expert in his field, the dog trainer, just as I used to like to think I was an expert in mine, an advertising executive.

Once the boss, I am now the trainee. In fact sometimes I think I have more to learn than the puppy himself. I was so proud today when I told the trainer that I taught the dog “attends” or wait in addition to “assis” or sit. He tells me “Down,” (because like most French people he has trouble pronouncing Dawn for some reason) “Felix doesn’t understand French, there is no point in teaching him the word for wait.” “But you’ve taught him the word for sit.” I insist, confused as to what I’ve done wrong. “Exactly, and the word for sit is enough – to wait on top of that doesn’t mean anything.”

It’s amazing how we complicate our lives. The trainer is absolutely right. As long as the dog is sitting, he’s not moving, therefore he is naturally waiting. The puppy doesn’t need many words, which doesn’t come naturally to someone like me. I used to spend hours meticulously drafting emails whether it was to convince a client that our titles were the right environment for their products or to explain the rationale for our negotiations. Now it has come down to several “mots clefs” or literally translated, key words: “laisse,” leave or stop; “prends,” take it; “assis,” sit; “avance,” go; “couché,” lie down and “c’est fini,” it’s finished, to signify the end of the game or exercise.

Once ecstatic at landing a million dollar marketing campaign, I’m now thrilled at the sight of my puppy peeing anywhere outside of our apartment. Once exhilarated by gaining a new client through endless prospecting, I’m now elated when my puppy follows me in the park without his leash. There is a different, but undoubtedly far more profound feeling of accomplishment that my new role brings me. And while I have the time to dedicate myself to it, I want to excel at it. I want to make the trainer proud, but more importantly I want to make my puppy the best that he can be.

Mind you, not everyone is pro trainer. Many think it unnecessary and a waste of money. I think that for the basics of dog psychology, it’s been very helpful. I see how affective the theory of rewarding or “récompense” is. My puppy will do anything for those tasty little treats the trainer keeps in his pocket hanging on his hip. On the other hand, they make the dog thirsty and after a session with the trainer, my pup poos and pees more than ever! But I don’t follow all of the trainer’s rules. I still pick my puppy up and put him on my lap from time to time (just don’t tell him.)

So while Felix may not bring me much in terms of revenue, he brings me everything in terms of loyalty and unconditional love. As for the housetraining and leash training and all the rest, it will come with time and perseverance. There is an expression here, “Petit a petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.” Little by little, the bird makes his nest."

C’est fini.