"Paul E. Schoen" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

There is a certain amount of tact that is needed,
especially when dealing with customers, but also with
people in general.

Some tact, but less than you'd think in other service-based
businesses. When it comes to my clients, most have been
coming to me for years, and ask for a lot of advice. At some
point the client/friend thing becomes grey, but I don't
usually find it to be a problem because those I consider as
good clients are good to their dogs, so, even in other
circumstances, they'd probably be friends.

IOW, I'm mostly preaching to the converted. Tact flies out
the window, no matter what the various relationships are, when
something affects the dog detrimentally.

It's a straight-forward business model: The dog comes first.
When clients ask me how they should pay, I tell them to pay me
at the end of the week or month or don't pay at all if you
don't like my service.

Some people don't get it, but that's OK. I feel sorry for
their dog.

Some people are more "dog people" than
"people people", and their attitude can be rather abrasive
and even abusive, which does not result in effective
communication.

See, that doesn't happen to someone with normal people skills.
If one's habit is to condescend, you'll do it everywhere. The
client, the grocery clerk, the notary selling his stamp for 20
bucks a pop (the latter was condescending).

FWIW, since you use the word a lot, in varying context, you
should define "abusive."

Maybe it is part of the "dog trainer" mentality that
expects instant obedience to commands,

Baloney. Instant results are the realm of charlatans. Anyone
who believes anyone promising instant success should send me
$20.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.