Pros
A very worthy cause and rewarding when it goes right
Different locations have different cultures and may be more positive than my experience in a regional hub
Cons
Many trainers still stuck in a punishment mindset, commonly saw dogs collar checked and shouted at, on one occasion witnessed a trainer suspend a dog off the ground by the neck. Raised concerns with management, nothing was done and quickly realised I was being viewed as the problem, told in the same conversation I just didn't understand what it takes to train a guide dog. Tried to escalate to HR, literally stonewalled, absolutely no interest. Bullying and cliqueish culture and management promoted above their competence, overseeing areas in which they have no knowledge or experience. Poor institutional understanding of dog behaviour and training. Deeply entrenched resistance to change.
