Today we are going to talk about hypersensitivity and how it fits in with being a dog trainer.
This is a subject that is very close to my heart, being hypersensitive as well and having discovered and understood it a few years ago.
WHAT IS A HYPERSENSITIVE PERSON AND CAN HE WORK WITH DOGS?
Before starting on the subject that interests us the most, that is to say dogs and the profession of dog educator, we will explain what hypersensitivity is and what are the ways to know if this singularity can concern you.
It is not in one article that you will be able to know exactly if you are hypersensitive, but it will give you some leads to exploit.
YOU ARE HYPERSENSITIVE : CANINE BEHAVIORIST EDUCATOR, A JOB FOR YOU ?
High sensitivity concerns more people than we think. Yes, it affects 30% of the population in France (study by Dr. Jimmy Mohamed), which is equivalent to 1 person out of 5, and it affects both men and women.
But how to know if you are concerned?
A hypersensitive person will live their emotions in “too much” and this can be very trying to live in everyday life.
The brain will be in permanent hyperactivity and can therefore develop 50% more neuronal connections than normal.
The particularities of the hypersensitive person can be (as it will depend from one individual to another) :
A deep processing of the information he receives with a precise analysis of the details.A great intuition concerning the events of life and the people he comes into contact with.A highly developed emotional memory (ability to relive an event or a memory with our senses that awaken).An introversion necessary to recharge (the fact of having to be alone on a regular basis in order to “recharge his batteries”).Hyperesthesia (sensitivity of the 5 senses with touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell. Textiles or physical contact can become unpleasant, too much noise can become very difficult to bear, the skin can mark easily, etc.).
Being hypersensitive is not a fatality, on the contrary, it is a particularity that we must accept in order to live with it without being a victim. It is not a weakness, nor a handicap.
Hypersensitive people are authentic, supportive people who show great gratitude towards the world and the people around them and a deep commitment in their friendly / loving / professional relationships.
One of the great qualities of the hypersensitive is to have strong empathy and hyper-compassion. This translates into people who are able to put themselves in the place of the other person and who will therefore have a great understanding of others, and even feel the emotions of the other person.
These qualities are a huge asset for you, as well as for the world.
YOU ARE HYPERSENSITIVE : CANINE BEHAVIORIST EDUCATOR, A JOB FOR YOU ?
BEING HYPERSENSITIVE AND BECOMING A DOG EDUCATOR
When I told several people around me that I wanted to work in the animal world and become a dog trainer, many people told me that I would not be able to do it.
I was told that I was too sensitive to be a dog trainer.
I was told that I was wasting my parents’ time when I was in second grade because I was having great difficulty in school.
I was told to be harder to work with animals because I had to impose myself.
I was told I was too fragile and cried too easily to work with other people.
I was told words that destabilized me, that made me lose confidence in myself and that made me doubt my abilities.
Words that made me believe that I was not made to work with dogs because I was too emotional.
Being a dog trainer is not about performing circus tricks on the dog to impress the gallery.
Being hypersensitive doesn’t mean that you can’t handle yourself emotionally.
It is indeed a whole work to accept this singularity and to be a minimum master of oneself not to undergo it. BUT :
Today, my sensitivity and my listening have made the singularity of my work with dogs and their owners.
I have learned to better control my emotions, and I have developed this natural empathy towards my clients and students, whether they are human or canine.
Being hypersensitive is not a weakness, it’s up to you to make it a strength.
Dogs have their own sensitivity which makes them beings that we do not always understand.
Hypersensitivity and working with the living are therefore two complementary elements:
I am hypersensitive and it is not a label.
YOU ARE HYPERSENSITIVE : CANINE BEHAVIORIST EDUCATOR, A JOB FOR YOU ?
THE HYPERSENSITIVE AND THE DOGS
With animals, you can’t cheat or pretend.
Dogs bring us back to our own humanity and force us to be ourselves in order to better understand each other.
Hypersensitivity can therefore be a huge advantage in working with dogs because we can feel the emotions of others more intensely.
Empathy is also a big plus, because we can put ourselves in the place of the other person in order to realize and understand what they are feeling. This allows us to better adapt our work protocols and our educational follow-up.
Dogs are sensitive beings and we must know how to listen to them in order to better adapt to them, so don’t have any doubts about your abilities and your skills.
The canine world is an environment where dogs and their humans need to be understood to move forward and change their relationship.
So believe in yourself and fight to make your dreams a reality. Then you will have no regrets.
To be hypersensitive is to have a piece of magic in us that we put at the service of others.
