The lifestyle of a dog trainer can be quite demanding. If you talk to your friends who’ve never trained dogs before, the odd this is that they might be surprised to hear it. People think that just because it’s not a desk job or something that requires strict hours that dog training is just another walk in the park, so to speak.
This may be true if you’re a part-time dog trainer just trying to make a few extra bucks as your schedule allows. However, seasoned dog trainers know that it takes an awful lot of skill, dedication, and determination to get the pups trained for top performance. Sure there’s basic home training, which all of us may participate into some extent. But where the real fun and competition comes in is training for dog shows. The stakes are high and there is a lot of money involved. Not only do you have to prepare your trainees to compete with the best of the best, but you also have high-paying dog owners to please and to answer to.
A hard workweek in the pit can leave you feeling exhausted not only physically and mentally, but also emotionally. Looking for some good ways to recoup and get ready for more challenges ahead after a demanding work week? Here are some suggestions for taking it easy:
Socialize With Your Friends and Colleagues

The tried and true way to set your mind at ease after a hard week of work is to go out and spend some time with your friends, and preferably your colleagues. Friends are always important, but it’s even more effective if you are friendly with the people you work with. Try getting a group together Friday after work to quickly grab some snacks, have a drink or two, and simply unwind. The great thing about spending time with colleagues, in particular, is that you all work on the same or similar types of projects, so you all understand the jargon of your industry. You can really get into the nitty-gritty of what’s been driving you nuts at work and relate to one another about their problems and difficulties as well.
Take A Trip To The Spa

If you’ve had a particularly hard week or even a run of them, it doesn’t hurt to give yourself some pampering every once in a while at the spa. There are so many things you can do there. Try just going for a dip in the hot tub to get your feet wet. It’s relatively inexpensive and it can be incredibly relaxing. Follow that up with a session in the sauna, which will really make your body tingle from within and leave you feeling great. Many people say that there are some valuable health benefits from spending time in the sauna. If you can afford it, you may even want to splurge and go for a massage. They’re definitely on the pricier side, but you won’t regret it if you can make the time and the money for it.
Get Plenty Of Food, Rest, and Exercise

Of course, you can always make the case for going back to basics. Making sure you’re taking care of yourself is probably the best way to make sure you’re well recuperated and in a good position to perform your best as you get back to it on Monday. Making sure you get plenty of sleep is first and foremost. Surprisingly, exercise is incredibly helpful for your body. Hopefully, you get to exercise all throughout the week, and if you don’t you should. Your exercise on the weekends should be relatively light so that you can recover, but you want to keep your body moving. Finally, make sure to feed your body the fuel it needs to recover and rebuild. I’m not going to pretend to be a nutritionist so consult a professional, but I tend to stick with whole foods that make me feel great.
So next time you’re feeling like the wind has been knocked from your sails after a long and strenuous week give one of these tricks a try. You may just be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.