What does a dog trainer do? If you put one hundred dog trainers in a room, I’m not sure two of them would attempt to train the same dog, the same way. There are probably an equal number of dog training methods as there are opinions about training a dog.
I am proud to be a dog trainer because I am so much more—I am a teacher, a behaviorist, an emotional therapist, a guidance counselor, and a social worker. I am hope–when there may not be any. I represent love, security, and safety for the dogs whose lives I touch. I’m a guiding hand for pet parents who want to help their rescued dogs who were abused and neglected, but don’t know where to start.
I TEACH dogs to use the knowledge I give them for a better life. I also teach pet parents how to understand their dogs’ behaviors and emotions and how to build a strong bond with them.
I have heard some of the most bizarre, cruel, and unusual techniques. Clients have complained to me about hiring a former trainer who looped their dog’s neck and choked the dog into submission. I do NOT restrain the dogs–I TEACH them. The pet parents I work with have come to understand that the more you restrain a dog, the more they pull forward!
I’ve been privy to the completely useless, nonsensical, illogical, unprofessional, and unfortunately harsh and physically and /or emotionally damaging approaches used by inexperienced dog trainers– who cannot succeed under any circumstances.
Shock collars used as a training method can cause increased stress and anxiety. Dogs that are already reactive may become aggressive due to mistrust and fear.
Shocking a dog is also confusing because the shock stops the unwanted, incorrect behavior, but doesn’t teach the dog to understand what the correct desired behavior is. Some clients have told me stories of trainers using shock collars to the point of causing their dogs to have seizures.
How do I know this? Because I have been hired after the first trainer failed miserably or caused pain and fear, to the now worse off than before, dog to be trained. So, how do you decide who the right trainer for your dog is? How do you decide who the right dog trainer for your family is?
Here are a few things you need to focus on when you consider hiring a dog trainer
1. What do you want your dog to learn? For example, Housetraining and obedience commands like sit, stay, down, and come.
2. What is your dog doing that you don’t want it to do? For example, urinating or defecating in the house, chewing furniture or shoes, or not coming when you call them.
3. What social skills need to be addressed? For example, jumping, lunging, barking, and nipping.
4. Do you want to learn about working with your dog and being part of the training sessions?
5. Do you have children who need to participate in training your dog, or simply understand how to interact with the family dog?
6. Where do you want the lessons to take place?
7. Where would you like to take your dog, but cannot, due to behavioral issues and feelings of embarrassment?
8. Are you interested in having your dog socially well-trained so you can take him with you when shopping or traveling?
9. Is your dog emotionally or physically scarred from a previous home, and adopted from a shelter?
10. Are you concerned because your dog shows signs of being unable to settle into the new home you provide, and shows no ability to bond with you or another family member?
11. Is your adopted dog unable to bond with or not accepted by another dog in the family?
12. Is your adopted dog hiding and unapproachable by family or certain people?
13. Is the trainer available between training sessions to answer questions and address concerns?
14. Does the dog trainer prefer to work with your dog alone, where you cannot observe what they are doing and how your dog reacts to the trainer and the training?
15. Do you feel comfortable with this person as you do with someone who cuts your hair or even your veterinarian?
16. Does the trainer you are interviewing only have experience in basic obedience, but no experience, education, or knowledge of how to work with behavioral issues?
17. Do you feel that the perspective trainer is judgmental when you mention you LIKE having your dog lie on the couch with you or sleep in your bed?
18. How well informed is the interviewed trainer about different scenarios for housetraining so they can formulate a definitive personal plan for your household?
19. Did the dog trainer you contacted respond promptly, addressing your dog’s specific issues, or did you receive an automated reply?
20. Does this potential dog trainer have enough experience and knowledge to handle any canine household situation and know how to use different methods, because not all households are the same and not all dogs respond to the same techniques?
Once you have decided that you require the skills of a “professional” dog trainer, make a list of issues you would like to address and use those as questions when you interview the prospective dog trainers.
An experienced, professional dog trainer should be willing to do a consultation and evaluation as well as a demonstration of how they will work with your dog. The prospective dog trainer should discuss the equipment they use and how and why they use it. An experienced and knowledgeable professional dog trainer should be capable of giving you a synopsis of exactly the reasons for your dog’s issues and how to address them. Think of that as a diagnosis you would most definitely expect from your veterinarian or even your personal doctor. This should be to your satisfaction, as it is YOUR dog. Additionally, and equally important, is how they will work with your family as a whole.
The two ends of the spectrum are usually bribery and shock or punishment.
Is bribing your dog with a tsunami of liver treats actually teaching your dog to respond to you under any circumstances, especially in a situation where safety is most significant?
Or is this “Here’s a fish–jump” “Here’s a treat–sit” only a trained response with no further connection to understanding when to sit without the treat? An example would be teaching your dog to sit automatically when he is at the door, when a car is passing, or when your dog approaches a guest.
On the other hand, do you want your dog to be shocked into responding to the dog trainer, which demonstrates that the alleged trainer is incapable of teaching a dog without shocking it?
Keep in mind that anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. Certification or a license is NOT required. Showing you a certification acquired from an online source does not validate quality professional dog training.
A professional dog trainer will spend a lot of time in your home with your family. Make sure you trust this person with your dog and feel comfortable talking and being with them.
