Meet Olamide the fantastic dog trainer
At Greens magazine we love to share green stories and today we are excited to share with you the story behind Oly dogs Academy.
Yes oh Dogs Academy, I didn't make a typo. lol
The first time I learnt about what Olamide does for a living I was startled. Never heard of someone who trains dogs for a living but yeah, that's what Olamide does.
About finding your passion and sticking to it, the ball is always in your court because no one can make you enjoy what you don't love doing.
Find out how Olamide discovered his passion for dog training and sought after it in an exclusive interview with him.
Greens: Mr Olamide can you please give us a brief about yourself
My names are OLAMIDE OWOLABI AKINTOYE, I was born in in the northern part of the country Kano state precisely (smiles no wonder I speak Hausa Language fluently). I had my primary education at Lufaloy nursery & primary in Kano, a part of my secondary at Winners college and I concluded the rest of my secondary school in Festac town Lagos. Tertiary education at University of agriculture, Abeokuta Ogun state where I obtained my first degree in Agricultural Economics & Farm management,
I am single. From a family of seven, five children and I happen to be the 3rd.I am a native of Ogun state.
Greens: Tell us more about Oly dogs academy
Oly dog is an indigenous dog training outfit which specializes in the schooling of man’s best friend in order to harness her hidden potentials while helping man solve some of his day to day challenge.
In summary we are simply put dog trainers that run different course for dogs in order to solve man’s everyday needs
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| Ola with Aztor and Leo of His Kennels at Rot clinic in Lagos Nigeria |
Well lets say the need to be productive or if you like, the need to make money temporarily lead me into dogs, while I was in my 2nd year in the university, we had this end of session 3months break. I didn’t want to stay at home so I opted out to either acquire a skill or get a job. Then I spoke with my elder sister who remembered a client of her needed a young chap to work with him. I called him up immediately and he said he used to have about 30dogs prior to this time but unfortunately he now has only 3 or so. Hence he won’t be willing to incur additional cost in form of salaries for any one. I told him I do not mind, I just needed any reason to leave the house every morning. To summarize the whole story, I resumed the following week.
My job description was to come every morning cook for all the dogs and feed them, afterwards I set them loose to defecate, pack up the faeces immediately and wash off the floors.This I kept on doing every day. He (my new employer) saw my dedication to this “No Pay job” then he offered to teach me the art of Dog Training – Basic Dog handler course and I upgraded afterwards. He simply became my coach. That where the dream was birthed
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| Ola and Cain during a house protection work. Cain's owner Hadmof |
Greens: How did people around you especially your parents felt when you told them about your
Dreams
As usually, they thought I had gone insane, they didn’t support it, they wanted me to work in the bank and other white collar jobs
Infact I got a job in one of the international banks. I worked for only one day and I fired myself the very next day.
Knowing I wasn’t wired for this. We thank God, I followed my dreams, its been rewarding all the way.
Greens: What has been the greatest challenge for you as a dog trainer
Hmmmmm. . . . . .just like every other occupation, dog training has its own challenges. For example training/ certification, we do not have any degree awarding institution presently in the country that trains dog trainers/ handlers. Hence, trainers have to travel outside the shores of the country to acquire dog training skills.
Likewise training equipment also have to be sourced outside the country just to mention a few. All of these and more are the constraints we face in the profession.
Greens: How much did you make on your first training.
Lol. . . . .haaaaaaa, don’t go there oooo, I believed in this Acronym D.I.F.F.U.S.I.W.T.P.A.F.
Do.It.For.Free.Until.Someone.Is.Willing.To.Pay.A.Fee, my first job away from my coach, I did it for free, I even spend my own money as transport fare to go to the dog owners(a vet doctor friend)’s home to train his dog. The dog later won 1st & 2nd position at the veterinary annual dog show in the year 2009 and 2010 respectively in Abeokuta, Ogun state
Greens: can you tell us some of the clients you have worked with and what's new at Oly dogs this year.
Haaaaaa. . . . . you want me to blow my trumpet. I refuse to be tempted. I am a humble man and I want to remain so
Lets just say I have trained for a number of clients amongst which include captains of industries, families of former state governors, some musicians, former international stars and a lots of everyday people.Greens: So many teenagers get scared to voice out their passion to their parents, what do you think can be done about this. Also advice parents who have this stereotyped belief that only "professional" can make it in life
Teenagers out there, I say to you, it is no crime to have a dream. Just make sure you are ready to pay the price to make your dreams come true
It may require you to watch the TV less & read more, or even save your lunch allowance for what you believe in. People may not believe in your dreams, but keep at it. You will win if you do not quit. But make sure you have good education first. This is for 2 reasons.1) It will give you an edge over others who aren’t educated in the field
2) In case your dreams don’t come true you will always have something to fall back to.
Parents please let your children be whatever they want to be, simply guide them through. Occupation that are now considered as a professional job e.g Photography, Modeling, Make-up, Dancing etc. were once considered to be jobs for lay bouts. But today people who do them have risen to notoriety status.
Support your children’s dream, it might be the beginning of another Professional occupation,
