I’m Disappointed In Many Dog Owners. Am I Being Selfish?

I’m going to put heart on sleeve here. I might as well throw in the towel on social media. The question has to be asked – are dog owners afraid of dog trainers?

I’ve devoted a whole lot of time to dog owners in my facebook group, in PM’s, on video chats, through email, youtube etc and all done pro bono over the years. I couldn’t imagine the number of hours that I have donated to dog owners over the last 10+ years. Hundreds? Thousands? Maybe I am a fool.

The worst feeling of all through this? I feel like all of this was a waste of my time. Great, lots of happy dog owners – but let me tell you – Robert isn’t happy, I feel like I’m being taken advantage of, taken for granted.

I get ridiculed by the training community and dog owners alike cause I have few followers, and only 2 reviews. And hey, I get it – it’s warranted – it’s deserved. I’m just a mouthpiece, a little dog barking at the big dogs and that’s all I will ever be. Why? Cause I don’t have anyone standing beside me, I have no support.

People have come to me privately, they spent $10k, $15k, $20k on trainers, vets and behaviorists to no avail. I help them out for free but yet, no public statement at all, no review. Nothing. I have no doubt they are appreciative, and a simple “Thank you” in a review would help greatly but it doesn’t happen. Even my own clients that I personally work with – nothing. But yet, other pages are full of reviews? I don’t get it, I honestly don’t. What am I – a ghost? Do I need to beg people for a review and some simple support? That’s not me – I don’t beg. I get NOTHING. Nada. Am I warranted in saying that I’m being taken advantage of?

Grow the group? Why? There are near 500 people in there now – help more dog owners that won’t support the cause? Why?

I’ve always said I don’t care about followers and likes. I don’t want to be a social media star, I don’t want to be on a pedestal, but a few hundred “thank you’s” in my ass pocket would trump all that quickly and give me a voice – something to back me. But it’s not happening, something so simple. Why? People don’t seem care anymore. Why bother.

The ones that gave the reviews, thank you very much. Just where are the rest? One lady made it a big deal to post a review – people cheered her on but it didn’t dawn on them to follow suit. Is all of this time and effort not worthy of a few words in a review on a facebook page? Is it such a hard effort to post 2 words to a review. And this is just one way to support the cause. But dog owners think cheering me on is helping the cause.

It’s too late now, I don’t want coerced reviews. If I can’t get simple reviews – there is zero chance of any other support. To ice that cake, people are great in the group – but yet, a few have ripped me publicly elsewhere. Couldn’t send me a PM – had to make a public statement. I don’t demand any respect – but a bit of courtesy goes a long way with me.

I left the facebook group last night, my own group because there is no benefit to keeping it going. Woke up this morning to PM’s saying thank you for all I do. While appreciated – why hide it? I see no positive reinforcement from keeping it going. But the expectation is always there – they expect me to keep blogging – even though nobody shares them. Over 200 videos on my channel, I’ve had 400 shares in the year 2023, just over one per day. Very few shares on my Facebook page. People watch my videos – couple of weeks later they finally post saying how much it helped them? Why not share the videos to help others if they helped you?

Robert is the best kept secret there is. I give up. Why bother.

I’m going to say something point blank – dog owners only seem to care about their own. Sure, they are happy when they get the assistance to help their own dogs. But what about the neighbors dog? I’ve been trying to make change in the dog community at large – but I don’t see a way of making that happen because there is no support. Just a one man show. Support from the ones that matter the most – dog owners. I don’t have a social media team, no the money to hire one, but people talk like I have all this help – I don’t.

I don’t have a voice in the fight and it’s mainly because of dog owners. Why would anyone take me seriously? And it’s truth – it’s reality, I get it – fully understood. Dog owners say they support me – no, you think you do but you don’t. They have my back alright, from 50 feet behind me cheering me on. Where there is no benefit, why keep trying?

It’s because of dog owners that i don’t have a voice. It’s because of dog owners that nobody takes me seriously. The very ones I’m struggling to help.

This really stings. This hurts.