Ask the Trainer- Ruff Roll Academy (San Choi)

June is a special issue that will focus on systematic racism, specifically Anti-asian hate, in the dog training industry. For that, we are talking to two industry leaders- San Choi and Rachel Forday to more about what they do and hear their experiences so we can learn together.

This blog is Part 2 of this special series and features the fantastic San Choi from Ruff Roll Academy, his experiences and story in his words.

What is Ruff Roll Academy?

Ruff Roll Academy is a certified dog training service specializing in providing behavior solutions for everyday pet guardians. We also offer daycare and boarding services to our training clients.

What do you specialize in?

I specializing in helping dogs recover from feelings of stress, fear, and anxiety. I have goals of specializing in aggression cases, currently, I am taking Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master course to help me actualize my dreams of helping people living cooperatively with dogs with aggression.  

You’ve been taking quite a few courses lately- tell us more about them!

I love learning and it fills out most of my downtime when I am not actively training dogs. This year I have been so honored to be accepted into multiple BIPOC scholarship programs. Huge thanks to Rene Erdman, Michael Shikashio, and Mara Velez for accepting my scholarship applications.

This year I have taken Rene Erdman’s (Bravo Dog) Membership Collective Course which provided me essential insight to setting up success career as a dog trainer. I am currently in the middle of a Fear Free veterinarian course that helps me to understand the important details of setting up animals for success for veterinarian visits. In addition I am also in the middle of Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master course. As I am making my way through these courses I am also spending my free time learning from the webinars from the 2021 Lemonade Conference. And just recently I just finished the 2021 Shelter Playgroup Alliance Conference where participants had a generous opportunity to watch and learn 21 hours worth of webinars from Mara Velez and her panel of experts.

What inspired you to get into dog training?

I love this question. I was inspired to becoming a dog trainer because I have always experienced so much miscommunication between dogs and their guardians which lead to distrust, stress, and heartache. I believe I am learning so much about my dogs and we are living the best life together through my education. I want this for everyone else because I believe everyone deserves to be happy with their dogs and to creating fulfilling relationships. I believe living and learning with dogs allows us to gain insight into how behavior works across all species. Living and learning with animals allow everyday pet guardians to take what they learn about dogs and behavior to apply to their daily lives, in turn, we can change the world for the better by soundly understanding and communicating with the animals we live with.  

What tips do you have for new dog parents?

My first tip for any new dog parents is that dog training and behavior can be so hard to understand with the density of information that is available nowadays. It’s important to speak with a certified dog trainer to find help from a credible professional. Find someone you are comfortable working with so they can break down all of the information into easy-to-understand ideas and steps to follow. 

My other tip is to be sure to enjoy the current moment you are standing with the dog in front of you. When pet guardians seek help from a trainer, it is normal to be goal orientation to seek a solution to your challenges, and I believe this pressure of finding a solution takes the fun out of dog training. I believe dog training is an experience and activity that allows pet guardians to connect and bond with their dogs. Focus on the current moment and know that where you stand today will lead to where you want to be tomorrow. When we have fun traveling on our journey I can guarantee that you will arrive at your destination sooner than you think. Behavior change takes time and having fun with the process allows us to enjoy spending time with our dogs. Isn’t that the main reason why bring dogs into to our life in the first place? 

How do you fit a dog’s needs into your training classes?

Absolutely not. Some dogs will do well in group classes and there are also plenty of dogs that have their own needs in which a group class cannot provide. As trainers, we like to say behavior is the study of one and it’s normal for guardians to find the right solution for the individual dog they are trying their best to help. Group classes are not for everyone, and private coaching might not be the best for one particular training team, that is okay, our goal is to find the appropriate outlet of learning that finds the needs of both the human-canine team. If you need help deciding which path to take, you can always contact a certified dog trainer and they will be more than happy to help. 

How do you feel as a BIPOC trainer- do you feel represented?

As a BIPOC trainer, I believe we need more representation from people of different ethnic backgrounds. I feel the stories of BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQ, and other social groups do not have enough support for others to be aware of the issues they face every day in our industry. This has to change for our dog training industry to be more inclusive and fair. For today’s BIPOC trainers and the future BIPOC trainers to succeed, we need more representation of those faces. I feel that we need to have more conversations about the lack of representation from top to bottom: from organizations (such as the CCPDT, IIABC, KPA), experts in our industry of all ethnic and social backgrounds, the individual trainers of all ethnic and social background on and off social media. The conversations we have will become the first step to manifesting the actions that address the issue of the lack of representation of people from different ethical and social. 

We need more visibility and representation to trainers of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. This shift will further promote to future trainers that it is possible to non-white and successful. We need to push the agenda to show future BIPOC trainers or BIPOC people interested to become trainers know that they can be just as successful as the white trainers.

How have you experienced racism in the dog training industry?

Since I have started working with animals there always have been stereotypes that I would have to follow to make sure I would be able to make a living. As an Asian American, I have to wear a persona that is well received by my general target clientele which are mainly white Americans. Just as someone puts on a work uniform I had to wear a persona that was different from who I am normally am to ensure that I would be able to do what I love for a living. This is unfair and degrading because this also teaches me that being myself and embracing my culture is not enough. I could be punished for being behaving and acting how I have been brought up and it teaches me to act more accepting to white Americans reinforces me. Meritocracy and fitting into the “model minority” mold allow me to make a living yet it also reinforces me to abandon and turn away from what makes me who I am. 

Recently I have also faced racism from one of our industry leaders, who will be named anonymous. This leader decides to provide a platform to a white American trainer rather than providing a platform for a BIPOC trainer. When confronting these issues with my peers, this leader would double down on their reasoning behind her actions rather than allowing for an open-ended conversation about the inclusivity issues within the dog training industry. When leaders dismiss or shun other BIPOC trainers they are standing in solidarity with the status quo rather than standing for solidarity for a more inclusive industry. We need the support of our industry leaders to give BIPOC trainers the platform they deserve. 

How are there parallels in animal welfare, the dog training industry and systematic racism?

One of the five freedoms for animal welfare states that animals should be free from fear and distress. As an AAPI BIPOC Trainer, I experience the fear of not being able to be as successful as white trainers, not because of my own skills and merit, but due to how people may view my culture and the color of my skin. As trainers, we always will choose a training plan to reduce and eliminate fear and distress during any opportunity a canine learner needs that relief. We need to have the same intentions for our BIPOC trainers, and to not advocate for these important issues means we are not advocating for the welfare of fellow humans beings. This silence will continue to promote the stronghold of systemic racism until there is action taken to support people of different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds the same as anyone else.

How we can learn and improve to become the best we can when we are bottlenecking ourselves by not advocating for the welfare of people in the same regards as our dogs? Institutional racism, also known as systemic racism, is a form of racism that is embedded through laws and regulations within society or an organization. It can lead to such issues as discrimination in criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other issues. How we can discriminate the treatment of different people and advocate for their needs at the same time? How do you feel if your trainer only advocated your dog’s needs under certain conditions rather than advocating for their needs unconditionally? 

Let’s stand together to advocate for the welfare of all people and animals. All species came to live on earth to thrive, not to live in fear and distress. 

What challenges have you encountered as an AAPI dog trainer?

As an AAPI dog trainer, we are further misrepresented due to the lack of AAPI dog trainers in our industry. As an AAPI dog trainer, I have grown up with a culture that focuses on the importance of finding work in jobs such as a doctor, lawyer, or some sort of lucrative job. We have been taught at a very young age to follow in the footsteps of achieving success in what others have defined for us rather than following our own footsteps to achieve what we define for ourselves. It is frowned upon in my culture to find work that draws from individual interests because we were taught that our passions could not lead to a life of financial freedom. I believe this is far from the cases, and I have a huge passion for following what I love to do, not what someone believes I would love. 

This moxie has always been a part of me and I am so fortunate to have found this part of myself and allow it to have full expression. I think more my fellow AAPI communities need more representation of AAPI that have been successful in following their passions and dreams rather than chasing a high-paying cooperate American job. This is my lifelong passion along with people and dogs, to help my fellow APPI brothers and sisters realize if they follow their passions manifesting their dreams just a matter of time, regardless of culture and systemic racism. We face an internal battle that has been occurring since our birth, which can be a huge factor in why there are so few AAPI trainers. It’s time we talk about our stories to empower one another to become the best we can be. 

What changes do you see happening in the next 5 years for the AAPI dog training community?

Within the next few years, I believe there will be more AAPI trainers as more trainers of different ethnic backgrounds share and inspire the dog training industry. APPI trainers will come to gather to share and listen to stories to create a supportive environment and really help to create the noise for others to listen and reflect. I envision the APPI trainers continuing to rise in success and gain more accessible representation as they continue to have these conversations. As more AAPI new trainers come into the field, we will all contribute to supporting those trainers along their path to success by making sure they feel welcomed and supported as we all continue to walk similar paths. Together we will stand tall to support one another in achieving the goal of working in a more inclusive industry. I hope to be a part of a dog training community that will organize and present these issues to industry leaders and organizations to advocate for our cause. 

Could you share anything insight or ideas on how others can help contribute to raise awareness about Asian hate?

I think the most important aspect currently we face is the lack of awareness of the severity of our battles. It is important for everyone to spread the awareness that the elderly, the needy, the women, and the children of Asian Americans are getting hurt and even murdered. To stop this hatred and violence we must bring attention to the realness of these issues and their effects on the AAPI community, local, global communities. If you see a hate crime posted on social media share it and tell others to know this is not okay. If you see violent hate crimes happen, stop the attack and report the hate crime to your local authorities. You can also donate to local AAPI nonprofit organizations to help contribute to providing the community with the additional help and support they desperately need. You can also follow, like, share, and comment on Asian hate crime posts and AAPI advocacy to spread awareness of the issues we face daily. Attend any AAPI rallies that are in your area, they are a great way to get in touch with your local AAPI community. 

Here is a list of AAPI support pages you can follow & support:

@aznactivsts

@hatecrimebook

@azndynastyco

@laos_angeles

@standforasiansca

@asianswithattitudes

@jayb_asian_frontliners

@asianstakingaction_

@asiansfightinjustice

@aapibelong

@solidatiryagainstasianhate