Trained Dogs Rock
How to Choose the Best Dog Trainer
Let’s face it. Your furry little friend is in need of some serious training! Either he’s jumped all over you hundreds of times or chewed up your favorite slippers. Or, perhaps he keeps pleading for food anytime your family wants to have a peaceful dinner and then barking if he doesn’t get what he wants? Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Many people desire the same thing as you – to have a dog that acts more civilized in the home and out, without the endless “puppy games.”
No matter what your particular reason is to enroll your dog into a professional dog training school or an obedience school for dogs, it helps to know precisely what to look for when choosing a trainer. There are certainly many excellent trainers out there, as well as a few bad eggs you should avoid at all costs.
The first thing you should always consider is the school’s reputation. The best way to find out is to ask around – whether it is your vet, local community center or neighbors with dogs. However, it’s not enough to simply sign up to any school just because everyone says it has a great name. You still have to find the best school for your dog. After all, obedience dog training requires a knowledge of positive reinforcement training techniques, if your trainer says no to positive training, cross him or her off the list.
With that said, it is also important to examine the years of service and experience that your prospective dog trainer has had in the past. It’s best to avoid inexperienced trainers, as you are less likely to be satisfied with their work. For example, do they have a certain expertise or extra certification such as in dog aggression training?
Hint: Always take a peek at the trainers CV before signing your name on any dotted line.
The Interviewing and Selection Process
Most professional dog trainers will always allow you to have a free initial consultation so that they can get to know your dog better. This is solely for the purpose of evaluating the particular needs of your dog. That’s why it’s a great idea to set up interviews with many trainers, so that you can find the trainer that relates best with your dog. Those that gain an instant sense of rapport with your dog are more likely to be successful in training it.
Don’t be afraid to ask for references, as you want to be sure that your trainer has had experience working with your particular dog’s temperament or issues which is sometimes determined by your breed of dog.
It’s is always best if you get the references from some other source rather than from the trainers themselves, as you never know if they have prearranged positive referrals. Finally, be conscious of how your dog acts around the trainer. Dogs can usually pick up little nuances about an individual even better than people can. So, it’s important to see how your pet acts when confronted with the trainer. If your dog seems to be anxious and edgy, trust their opinion! Hint, hint!
