In the dog training world, it is sadly not a regulated industry and pretty much anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, behaviorist or any other fancy name no matter how little experience or knowledge they have. In an industry so unregulated and split on training methodology and standards, it can be difficult as dog owners to know what to look for and what to avoid when looking for a dog trainer for your dog. So here are some tips to help you out when you're looking for a dog trainer for you dog!
1. Do your research!
It's very important when you are looking for a trainer to do your research, ask lots of questions and find out as much about them as you can. Look at reviews, ask for people's experience with them and have a phone call with them so you can ask questions and find out more about them. Ask how long they have been working in the industry for and ask them about their qualifications and whether they do regular CPD (continued professional development) to develop their skills, learn new things and grow themselves, their knowledge and their abilities as a trainer. Ask if they are a part of a professional body. There are professional guilds and groups that trainers can join that have a certain set of rules they must follow in order to try to regulate the industry and for a lot of them, you have to have proven your abilities and knowledge in one way or another in order to be a member. When I am looking at a trainers website, the first thing I do is read their about page, find out their experience, qualifications and style and then I look at photos and videos so I can get a better picture of their training style and abilities. If you like what you see, it's likely you'll like their training style and that they will be a good trainer for you.
2. Do a meet up
For any new client, we always insist on a dog training assessment as our first port of call. This is a chance for us to meet you and your dog, get to know each other, ask questions and for us to physically show you how we train and what we can achieve together. It is so important for you as a client to be able to meet the trainer you are looking to work with in a less pressured environment so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you will get on with them and their training long term. It's also a great opportunity to ask to meet their dog/s and see what training their dog can or can't do. A dog trainers dog/s are a direct representation of their abilities as a dog trainer. They don't have to be perfect, dogs will be dogs but if after several months or years their dog still has behavioral problems that they haven't been able to resolve, this to me is a big red flag. If I am looking for a dog trainer, I want someone who can who me that they can overcome the issues I am facing. So if I have a dog reactive dog and so do they but after years of training they still can't have their dog out around another without an issue, this doesn't fill me with confidence that they can help me with my dog.
3. Don't get caught up on fancy letters and courses
Just because someone has done a lot of courses or has letters after their name doesn't necessarily mean that they are a good dog trainer who knows what they are doing. Look at how much experience working with dogs they also have as this will give you an idea as to how much real world experience working with dogs they have. Dog training is a challenging job! It requires you to know about dog behavior and training, a knowledge on breeds, their specific characteristics and how they train best, an array of different methods to combat various issues as well as an ability to teach this to different dogs and of course their owners. It is really important to understand the science behind dog behavior and training but it is also important for your trainer to be able to adapt their training methods and style to suite you and your dog and the situations you come across. The world is full of unknowns and your dog trainers job is to empower you as a dog owner to tackle anything life throws at you. Experience is an extremely important factor so be sure to ask your trainer what experience they have that is relevant to you, your dog and your situation.
4. Listen to your dog
The real thing we should be asking is, is our dog happy with the training? Now that doesn't mean your dog will immediately be best friends with their trainer, especially if you have a nervous dog but a dog who is continuously nervous of their trainer is not a great sign. A good relationship is built on both trust and respect so your dog should be comfortable around their trainer and enjoy their training sessions for the majority of the time. Training should be enjoyable for everyone as well as challenging, you can't have one without the other. On the flip side, your training sessions shouldn't just be all fun and games and no work. Although training should be fun, you are paying your trainer to teach you and your dog important skills and so there needs to be an element of getting the work done and making steps towards your goals. Your dog shouldn't hate their training sessions but also shouldn't be making next to no progress because they aren't listening to you or your trainer!
Remember, you don't need to rush into a decision. Take your time to do your research and ask other locals for recommendations to help you to find the right trainer for you and your dog. Trust your gut and if things aren't working out in the way you'd hoped, there is no shame in finding someone who does tick more boxes for you.
We hope these tips help and wish you luck in your search to find the perfect dog trainer for you and your dog!
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