Finding a (Good) Dog Trainer

Finding a good dog trainer is much like finding a good hair stylist. We ask friends and co-workers for a referral. We visit a salon or two sometimes. Endure a few bad haircuts until we find just the right hair stylist for us. Certainly seeking out a dog trainer follows the same pattern, but with one important distinction. A dog trainer can make or break your dog because training lasts a lifetime. So changing the way we look at dog training is the first step in finding a good trainer.

When we take the concept of investing into our dog the gift of obedience we start to move away from the idea of purchasing a simple, disposable service (like a hair cut) to viewing dog training as an investment that appreciates (more like buying a house).

Investing in your dog is going to cost time and money, so how can we begin to judge the trainer we hire to help us succeed in our canine education investment?

Here are five initial points to serve as guidelines to help you find a good dog trainer for you and your dog.

1. Practical experience working with many breeds and temperaments of dogs in a variety of settings.

What you are looking is practical successful experience working in the field teaching group classes, and private lessons for pet owners, as well as for shelters, rescue groups, and veterinarians. You want your trainer to know and understand your breed without assigning your dog’s obedience faults to the shortcomings of the breed. A good trainer knows all dogs are capable of learning basic obedience.

2. Good “people skills”

A dog trainer has to demonstrate that he can communicate effectively with humans, not just dogs. Training the dog is the easy part. Working with the owner is bit more challenging. A good dog trainer knows how to teach dog training to people.

3. Education in animal behavior and the practical application of it in the field.

We do not want a dog trainer who has merely read about learning theory and animal behavior. We want a dog trainer who has applied the book knowledge they have learned directly to many dogs repeatedly. Whatever aspect of dog sport a trainer is involved in whether obedience, agility, Schutzhund each variety has its own unique requirements and simply knowing the theory is not the same as applying it. Seek a trainer who has the education and the experience combined.

4. The ability to understand and use various tools and methods to train dogs and solve behavioral problems.

This is probably the most important point in seeking a good dog trainer. There are many well-meaning dog trainers out there who love dogs but they adhere to a philosophy of dog training (no corrections for instance) that actually serves to undermine the dog. Often an inexperienced dog trainer will hold to such a philosophy. Other dog trainers have never worked with a balanced dog trainer and seen great obedience results in hard to train dogs. The tools and methods available to us for dog training are only as good as the trainer and owner using them. It is important for a dog trainer to know what tools and methods are right for you and your dog and explain fully to the owner the reason for his choices—without sacrificing the dog’s personality to achieve results in the short-term.

5. Solutions that encompass a holistic approach—management, training, behavior modification—using obedience as the foundation for success

The last thing you want to encounter when making an investment in your dog is a trainer who offers you the obvious solutions. For example, your dog does not listen well off the leash and the trainer suggests you keep your dog on the leash. You do not need to pay anybody to tell you that! What you need is a dog trainer who will offer you an obedience solution. Management and training go together, but training outweighs management every time. You need a dog trainer who will teach your dog the basics—sit, stay, heel, come when called—as well as provide management techniques to enhance your dog’s life and your relationship with your dog.

When choosing a good dog trainer cost, notoriety, and proximity should be secondary factors when making your decision. A proactive dog owner should seek experience, education, and skill first in their canine instructor. After all, investing in your dog’s obedience education lasts a lifetime!

WE WANT TO BE YOUR DOG TRAINER!