How To Find The Right Dog Trainer

I was inspired to write this blog post after I began working with 2 new clients in the last month.  These two clients have previously worked with the same trainer and both experienced the same treatment, being told their dog’s behaviour is due to them not being a strong enough leader and given the same advice ‘He needs to know you’re in charge’’ and ‘You’re not being firm enough’ - unsurprisingly both dogs showed no sign of improvement.

Now this isn’t anything new.  In fact, in the last 4 years I’ve had over 50 of this trainer’s clients.  Each one reporting the same thing and blaming themselves for their dog’s behaviour and regretting their choice of trainer.

So rather than getting frustrated and yelling into the void, I decided to write this blog.  If it can help at least one owner avoid this type of trainer, then I will have done my job.

NON-REGULATED INDUSTRY

Did you know that there are no rules on who can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviourist.  Whilst this may not sound like a big deal, when you think about the potential risk certain behaviours carry - there needs to be some rules when it comes to education level, approach, professionalism and methods used.

Not only do we owe it to the dogs we work with to treat them with respect and understanding but we also owe it to the owners who put their trust in us, to help them the best way we can.

WHY THIS DECISION MATTERS

Hiring a dog trainer or behaviourist might not seem like a big deal but when you think about it, the person you choose to work with can have a massive impact on you and your dog’s life.

From simple things like what treats to use and what harness to use to much more important things such as what to do about your dog’s aggression, when/where to walk them and what methods to use.

All of the above will have a massive impact not only on your dog’s behaviour but also on your relationship with them and your day to day life.  I’ve worked with several owners who have previously worked with trainers whose impact stretches far beyond not being effective, where we have had to rebuild the relationship between the dog and its owner.

DO YOU NEED A DOG TRAINER OR A BEHAVIOURIST?

The first decision is whether you need a dog trainer or a behaviourist.

Trainers teach new skills such as recall, loose lead walking and settling etc.  Whereas a behaviourist focuses on addressing behavioural issues such as aggression, anxiety and fear.  When it comes to behaviour stuff in particular, training only plays a small part when it comes to addressing underlying issues.

If you are unsure of what type of help you need, it’s best to contact a few trainers to find out how they can help.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Knowing what to look for is half the problem, when I was looking for help with my dog Tywin, I struggled to find the right help and ended up helping him myself.  I think a major part of the problem when choosing the right dog trainer is owners don’t know what to look for.  

Below are the key factors I would look for if I needed help with a dog.

TRAINING METHODS

Let’s start with the obvious one, what training methods do they use.  In simple terms, the dog training world is split into two camps (see below).

Force-free / Positive Reinforcement

This approach focuses on teaching the dog what to do via rewarding/teaching desired behaviour and stopping unwanted behaviour by management, changing the environment and prevention.  This approach also focuses on trying to identify the root causes of behavioural issues and addressing them appropriately.  The aim with this approach is to achieve lasting behaviour change even if it takes a bit longer.

Balanced / Correction Based

This type of training focuses on stopping unwanted behaviour as quickly as possible, often without understanding what’s causing it.  This can involve verbal corrections, physical corrections and equipment designed to stop unwanted behaviour (shock collars, choke chains etc.). This can be effective in the short-term and in the long-term it can lead to an escalation of the original behavioural issue or causing a new one.

Whilst the trainer or behaviourist you choose will dictate the methods used, it is ultimately down to the owner to decide what they are comfortable using on their dog.  There is a lot of information about how aversive training works, the harm it causes and the potential for making things worse.

So when it comes to the methods being used ask yourself one question ‘What am I comfortable with?’.

READ THEIR REVIEWS

It’s easy to see lots of 5 star reviews and automatically think the trainer you’re looking at is excellent.  However, one thing I recommend every dog owner does is read a few of the reviews - you can tell an awful lot about how someone works by what their clients say.

Reviews that mention quick fixes, one session miracles, corrections or leadership are usually associated with trainers who use equipment and methods that would fall under ‘aversive’ - this means techniques that focus on stopping instead of understanding behaviour have been used.  Whilst these methods can stop behaviour quickly, they are often ineffectual in the long-term and usually make things worse.

Instead, look for reviews that mention addressing underlying causes, thorough behaviour assessments and long-term behaviour change (even if it took longer) - these types of reviews usually mean the trainer or behaviourist involved is focused on figuring out why the dog behaves the way it does instead of simply suppressing their behaviour.

In my opinion, this is the gold standard for dog training and behaviour.

MEMBERSHIPS TO LOOK FOR

There are a lot of dog training and behaviour qualifications out there.  Some good, some not so good.  When it comes to what membership organisations to look out for, the below are reputable and assess their members to a high standard.

ABTC

APBC

FABC

IMDT

APDT

PACT

COAPE

ARE QUALIFICATIONS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING?

Whilst qualifications are important, they aren’t the be all when it comes to dog training, experience plays a key role too and there are some excellent trainers and behaviourists who aren’t members of the above organisations.

However, in my opinion and having gone through a few assessments myself, qualifications show that an individual has been assessed to a high standard and uses up-to-date methods.

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

Another benefit of the above memberships, is that they require all members to undertake a certain amount of studying/learning per year in order to keep their knowledge up-to-date.  

Now some in the dog training world will make this out to be a bad thing, but in my opinion it is essential.  We are constantly learning more about dogs, their behaviour, what affects them and how to help them.  How can that be a bad thing?

Tywin taking a well deserved rest during a training course about lead walking.

BEWARE THE GUARANTEE MAKER

Another thing to be wary of are trainers and behaviourists who can guarantee to “fix” any dog's behaviour, regardless of the issue.  Whilst this might seem impressive or even reassuring to dog owners, in my opinion it’s actually one of the biggest red flags.

But why is that?

Simply put, dogs aren’t machines and unlike a car or computer, which can usually be fixed by replacing broken parts - there are many factors that go into their behaviour.  Health, environment, learning history and most importantly, owner compliance.  Much of the progress a dog will make is in between sessions, that requires an owner who is committed to following the training plan created by their trainer or behaviourist.

The word guarantee can also give owners the false impression that their dog’s behaviour can be fixed easily and with minimal effort.  It’s not uncommon that I will hear from someone who has tried one of these guarantee trainers and instead of helping their dog, the owner is left feeling deflated, confused and like it’s their fault the “fix” didn’t work - when in reality that isn’t the case at all.

So what can a good trainer or behaviourist guarantee?In my opinion, the best guarantees are:

• Having the best interests of you and your dog as their top priority.

• Honest and specific advice to your dog’s behaviour.

• Setting of realistic expectations.

• Support and guidance throughout the whole process.

Sounds a bit boring and vague when compared to the promises of guaranteed fixes and immediate improvements but after hearing from many failed owners, being honest and realistic is the best way forward.

UNIQUE APPROACH

The truth is that we only know so many ways to train a dog, generally speaking these fall into two categories.

1. Stopping unwanted behaviour

2. Teaching the dog to do something different

Now the above is a very simplified explanation but ultimately, that's how the two types of training methods mentioned earlier work.  Now unless there has been some new, top secret method that only a select few are privy to, I’m thinking this might not be 100% truthful.

Pickles and I taking a break during a training session.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Choosing a dog trainer or behaviourist is not just about hiring someone to fix a problem.  It’s about putting your trust in someone who will not only influence your dog’s behaviour and welfare but who will have a big impact on your day-to-day life and I believe that trust should be respected and treated carefully.

Whilst there are many good trainers and behaviourists in this industry, there are a lot that I wouldn’t trust around my dog.  Taking the time to research, ask questions and understand how they work can save you a lot of time, money and frustration in the long run.

The aim of this post isn’t to try and convince you to choose one method over another, but to help you find help that aligns with your values and your dog’s needs.

If you’d like to find out more about me, click here.

In an upcoming post, I’ll be giving you my top 5 questions to ask your future dog trainer or behaviourist before you work with them.