Let’s get this out of the way: this isn’t another article about whether you should use AI. Or how to. Or which app to download next.
Intelligent technology is here, it’s evolving fast, and no one really knows where it’s going. What we do know is that it isn’t going away. So instead of another take on hype vs doom, this is an invitation to figure out what you want your relationship with AI to look like.
Because, just like dog training, everyone relates to it a little differently.
The two stories about AI
Most conversations about AI fall into two camps: the shiny promise or the existential panic.
In one version, AI is your future best friend who will run your business, sort your email while you nap, and take out the trash (probably). In the other version, it’s the villain that will replace all human creativity, empathy, and meaning by Tuesday.
The real story likely sits somewhere in the middle. AI can help, and it can also harm. It depends on how we use it, what we expect from it, how honest we are, and whether we can maintain our own boundaries. So rather than focus on moral purity or tech enthusiasm, it may be better to approach it like training: observe, adjust, and see what works before deciding what fits your life and business.
Your relationship with AI is personal
Every dog trainer you meet is likely to have a different take on AI. Some are excited. Others find it creepy. Some think it’s cheating. Others think it’s like having a very enthusiastic but often off-the-mark intern.
And they’re all right.
You might find it a useful way to test your thinking, or just appreciate having a sounding board that doesn’t sigh loudly halfway through your explanation. Or you might find the same process deeply unsettling, like letting a stranger into your brain.
You might feel icky asking an AI to write a social post, or you might feel immense relief at not having to stare at a blinking cursor anymore. Maybe it feels like a collaborator or a shortcut. Maybe it depends on the day.
With technology evolving so quickly, and each of us bringing our own history to it, it’s natural that we all feel differently.
Experiment your way to clarity
Dog trainers spend their days running experiments. Each session is data: what worked, what didn’t, what to try next.
Working with AI isn’t that different. You don’t need a 10-point ethical stance before you start (though if that’s your thing, power to you). If you’re interested but hesitant, start small. Ask it to brainstorm class titles or summarize a research paper you’ve been meaning to read. See if it helps or if it annoys you.
If you’re already using it for marketing copy or admin systems, keep noticing how that feels. Do you feel more creative, or more detached? Does it save you time, or does it steal your focus?
You’ll learn the same way you learn from dogs: through feedback, through feelings, through trying and adjusting. And if you try it and decide it’s not for you, that’s perfectly fine. too. The point isn’t to keep up, it’s to stay honest about what works for you.
Friend, collaborator, or assistant?
AI can take many roles depending on how you frame it. How you define the relationship impacts how you use it.
As a friend: It’s a thinking companion, someone (or something) to bounce ideas off without judgement when you’re stuck.
As a collaborator: It’s a creative partner that helps you shape raw ideas into something more polished. You still steer the direction, but it fills in details.
As an assistant: It handles repetitive or administrative work, freeing you to focus on the parts of your job only humans can do, and that you enjoy.
The ethical maze
It’s impossible to talk about AI without touching on ethics. The technology raises big questions about consent, privacy, plagiarism, and authorship.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Where does all this AI knowledge come from?,” the answer is complicated. Large models learn from enormous amounts of internet data, which includes copyrighted work, personal writing, and yes, probably some dog training blogs, too.
So, while using AI to help you think or plan can be a great support, using it to copy or publish without understanding the source is trickier ground.
It’s like using someone else’s training plan without learning the principles behind it. You can get results, but you’ll struggle to adapt when the situation changes.
The key is to stay aware and intentional. Ask yourself: does this tool amplify my voice or replace it? Am I learning from it or leaning on it?
And remember, ethical use isn’t just about avoiding plagiarism. It’s also about honesty with yourself and your clients. If an AI tool is part of your process, you get to decide how transparent to be about that.
How to spot when AI isn’t helping
AI isn’t perfect, and knowing its limits helps you avoid frustration. Here are a few red flags that what you’re reading or generating might be more “machine” than meaning:
- It sounds weirdly confident about something vague or wrong.
- It repeats itself using slightly different phrasing.
- It avoids taking a clear stance or gives both sides of an argument in the same breath.
- It uses clichés or corporate language that feels sterile.
- It writes in a tone that feels off. Too cheerful, too formal, too “Here’s the thing…”
When that happens, it likely needs better guidance. Adjust your prompt, clarify what you mean, give more context, and see if you can shape something closer to your intent.
If you still end up with gibberish, move on. It’s a tool, not something that should add time and irritation.
The advantage of being human
The good news is that robots aren’t training dogs anytime soon (they don’t handle slobber well).
Even the most advanced models can’t read subtle canine body language or interpret a dog’s history through a client’s tone of voice. They can’t share empathy in real time or help a person stop crying halfway through a consultation.
That’s your territory.
In a world that’s increasingly automated, the relational and emotionally intelligent work dog trainers do has real value. People are hungry for genuine connection, not more screens. Dogs are still the best teachers of that truth.
Lean into it. Use technology where it lightens your load, but keep your focus where it matters: empathy, trust, and behavior change through connection.
AI can make you faster or more organized, but it can’t make you you.