Dogs inspire all kinds of transformations in their humans. It's one of the things that makes talking to "dog people" so satisfying. A slobbery, big-eyed quadruped can turn a cold bastard into a cuddle fiend and a couch potato into a marathoner. Dogs even inspire job shifts. Scratch a dog walker or a trainer and you'll find a former teacher, lawyer, bartender -- you name it.
I'm especially a sucker for the mid-life, canine-inspired career change, when working with, for, or about dogs helps someone to achieve their bliss. It gives a new meaning to the term Guide Dog. Instead of Carson and his Queer Eye for the Straight Guy [1] posse, I like to imagine a pack of Australian shepherds herding MBAs out of Wall Street.
Over the coming months, I'll write about a few of my favorite cubicle-to-dog park makeovers (including Janice Kajanoff, a dressmaker turned dog-sportswear designer, tomorrow).
Meanwhile, if you think you'd like to change your work tune in a big way, look before you fetch a new life. Consider seeking out a pro in your field and volunteering to help around the "office" in exchange for trench-tested wisdom. For more formal training, you might want to take a trip with Vocation Vacations [2]. This Portland-based company offers formal mentorship/vacations with seasoned dog trainers, daycare operators, veterinarians, an animal therapist, and a kennel owner.
From dogsledding in Fairbanks to tracking down lost pups with a pet detective in Fresno, Pet Dish blogger Lisa Wogan explores the world of dogs and their people for Bark magazine, and in books such as Unleashed: Climbing Canines, Hiking Hounds, Fishing Fidos, and Other Daring Dogs. She lives in Seattle with rescue dogs Lulu and Renzo.
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