Dog School-How to choose a good trainer.

It’s that time of year when everyone is thinking “back to school”. Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, training is important. The joys and benefits of training your dog are numerous and far outweigh the investment of time and resources. Training builds respect and trust and deepens your relationship with your dog. But how do you choose a good trainer and what are the types of classes available for you and your dog?

Dog training has greatly evolved over the last several decades. Choosing a good, qualified dog trainer can be confusing and challenging. There is no official licensing or certification for dog trainers, although there is one organization that has risen to the top for trainer certification – APDT – American Pet Dog Trainers. They are primarily an educational organization for trainers, with the goal of exposing all types of those enrolled to “humane, science-based training methods.” Additionally, they have a directory of trainers available on their website, www.apdt.com. The website would be a good place to start. There are so many companies and organizations claiming to certify dog trainers. Some are individual trainers offering certifications while others are companies offering franchises to individuals. When considering the hiring of a trainer, it is strongly advised that you check their reputation and their credentials – it can have a large impact on the quality of your relationship with your dog.

Here is a checklist:
• What is the trainer’s reputation with local pet stores, veterinarians, and groomers?
• What is the trainer’s experience and knowledge: how long have they been training? Where did they receive their education and continuing education? Have they earned titles on their dogs?
• How are the trainer’s communication skills – both human and dog?
• How would they describe their training methods? You want to hear terms like: positive, motivational, treats, toys, clicker. If they start trying to sell you an electronic collar for your 8 week old puppy – you may want to look elsewhere as that type of training can have detrimental results.
• You are looking for a training philosophy that is compatible with your personal philosophy, your training needs and your dog’s temperament.
• Training should enhance your relationship with your dog, not damage the trust. You don’t need to dominate a dog to train a dog.

Once you have done your homework and found a trainer you like, your next decision is whether to take private lessons or attend a group class. There are both positives and negatives to the different types of training situations. Private lessons will be more expensive but customized to your dog. Often a focused hour with a good trainer can be more productive than weeks of group classes. It will also depend on your dog. A timid, re-homed rescue may learn much more with a private lesson at home than having to cope with lots of other people and dogs in a strange setting. If you are working out serious behavioral problems, private lessons would be the best.

If you have a new puppy, a group “puppy” class may be your best choice. The class should have strict limits on how old a dog will be accepted into the class. The class should consist of all puppies! This is a great opportunity for your puppy to socialize with other puppies and their people. With all of the distractions of a group class, your puppy will learn to focus on your instructions in spite of all the sights and smells and sounds.

Helpful hints for training your dog:
• Be prepared with the correct style of collar and leash, specified by your trainer.
• Lots of training treats! Your dog defines what a “treat” is – just because the package says it’s a treat, does not mean your dog considers it a reward. It’s your job to find good things your dog loves.
• Make certain your dog has had the opportunity to eliminate before beginning the training class or session. It can be hard to concentrate if he has to go!
• You may want to feed a light meal before your training session.
• Practice, practice, practice. But. . . keep your practice session short and fun. It doesn’t matter if you’re teaching sit, down, come or high five. They are all dog tricks as far as the dog is concerned.
• Train with a smile on your face. You and your dog will enjoy the process more if you’re happy.