Student of the Month
Dog Trainer Diane Saber
Diane Saber, a single mom with two teenage boys, lives in Roseville, Michigan, and works at Beaches Pet Resort and Training. She is also a clinic assistant at Hand Surgery Associates and still finds time to volunteer regularly at the Macomb County Animal Shelter. Diane believes her life’s purpose—along with being a mom—is to work with animals and be their voice. After completing her dog trainer courses at Animal Behavior College, she plans to continue her canine education and pursue certification in Canine Assessment.
Her biggest challenge during the externship was working with people who didn’t know how to behave with the particular dogs on site. Not all the volunteers knew what to do when a dog was playing tug-of-war with their coat, trying to jump on them or nipping them.
“It is heartbreaking to see how many dogs were surrendered due to behavior issues that could have been fixed if their owner put the time and effort into training them. Dogs will be what you teach them or don’t teach them to be,” says Diane.
Patience, diligence and compassion helped her overcome her challenge. Later in the externship, the volunteer coordinator, Lisa Rabine, implemented a Behavior Modification Log so they can all be on the same page with training.
Like many people wanting to work with animals, becoming a veterinarian was her first choice. She later learned it wasn’t her calling because she couldn’t even dissect a frog in her high school biology class.
Working with animals has always been her passion. She has been training dogs for years and decided it was time to become certified. “Things have changed in the animal training world since the ‘80s and ‘90s,” says Diane. “The more educated on training techniques and body language, etc., the better I could be for the dogs.”
On her experience in her dog trainer program, “I love it. I have met wonderful people and have worked with some very special dogs. The education ABC provided has been wonderful and the Training Shelter Dogs [continuing education program] has been extremely helpful with the shelter dogs. I just love it. I recommend it to everyone.”
Patience, diligence and doing whatever necessary to help the guardian and dog are the secrets to my success as a professional dog trainer. Educating people regarding dogs in general and specific breeds that have been wrongly stereotyped will also be part of her success. Diane says, “I am the voice for the voiceless. Animals will talk to you. We as humans have to learn to listen with our eyes.”
