The Dog Trainer’s Resource: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Collection by Mychelle E. Blake

Author:Mychelle E. Blake [Blake, Mychelle E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Dogs
Publisher: Dogwise Publishing
Published: 2010-09-07T21:00:00+00:00

The Dog Trainer’s Voice

Michelle L. Romano, March/April 2003

Standing in a room with a twenty-five-foot ceiling, with eight barking dogs and their twelve screaming or shushing owners, it occurred to me that the voice of a dog trainer can get a little strained. As I tried—with little success—to make sure they all heard what that vital piece of the homework was, I found myself screaming, “Don’t yell at him…Just ignore it, I’ll repeat what you don’t hear…You’re just barking with him…Try turning him around…I said, I’ll repeat what you don’t hear.”

Sound familiar? I have recently heard several dog trainers talking about losing their voices after instructing a class. I have not actually lost my voice as a result of a loud class, but I may have a slight advantage: seven years of formal voice training. The principles used in vocal coaching can be slightly modified to apply to frequent performances of speaking, rather than singing, in front of an audience. This article describes some simple suggestions on how to optimize your vocal “performance” in class and after.

Vocal Care and Nutrition

Your vocal chords are situated in your throat, adjacent to your esophagus, so what you swallow can have an effect on how well your voice performs. You can help open up your throat with hot tea. Herbal teas are excellent, as well as herbal throat lozenges. Soups, for the most part are also nice and soothing, and easy to swallow. Water is absolutely essential to lubricate your vocal chords. It is good for your overall health, and beneficial for your voice, to drink two to three liters of water each day. Have a bottle of water with you during your classes to sip throughout your lecture.

On the other side of the coin is the stuff you should try to avoid on days when you will be working your voice. Smoking is severely detrimental to the vocal chords. Don’t believe me? Have a listen to Kathleen Turner, Joan Rivers, or Betty Davis. Alcohol should be avoided before and during lectures, as should caffeine, due to the dehydrating properties in both. Carbonated soft drinks can be irritating to the sensitive skin around the vocal organ. Finally, you will certainly want to stay away from milk and dairy products on the day of a lecture. Dairy creates phlegm, which can create friction on your vocal chords, which can lead to sore throats, loss of voice, nodules (nodes), and polyps.

In addition to the food and drink aspect, you will want to care for your voice in your daily interactions. When you speak, try to maintain a calm and quiet tone in your conversations with others. Avoid competing with other loud noises, like in a loud restaurant or at a sporting event or concert. Something I have found helpful is to try to give your voice a break for a few hours before your class.

Practice Breathing and Posture

When you speak for an audience, you should breathe through your mouth. You should take deep breaths concentrating on using your diaphragm; that is the muscle below your lungs that helps you breathe.

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