What Should You REALLY Look for in a Dog Trainer?

Trainer & Coordinator Margaret Whitaker with “Bohannan”

A while back, I wrote about whether or not you should care if your dog trainer has any awards or titles on their own dogs or dogs they've trained. 

But in addition to a trainer with the knowledge and dedication it takes to earn titles with their own dogs, what ELSE should you look for in a dog trainer?

The internet is full of articles touting claims like "The Top 5 Things to Look for in a Dog Trainer" or "How to Find the Right Dog Trainer for Your Dog" and on and on.

A quick scan of most of these articles quickly begins to read like a vanilla ice cream recipe:

"Find someone with certifications" -Even though the dog training industry is unregulated, soooo… many of those certifications may not hold a lot of water...

"Look for someone who uses positive-reinforcement-only techniques" -Even though many dogs do not respond well to positive-reinforcement-only training, and many of the trainers who embrace this ideology also embrace a 'death before discomfort' mentality; meaning that if they fail you and your dog, they will recommend behavioral euthanasia rather than referring you to someone who CAN help, or delving into learning techniques that don't align with their personal narrative...

"Find someone you're comfortable with" - Okay, in most cases this is true...but read on a bit to find out when this is NOT helpful.

"Avoid anyone who corrects your dog, or uses corrective equipment"  WAIT.  WHAT???  

Considering that nearly 1/2 of dog owners are seeking help with problem behaviors - including aggression - correction of these behaviors may be exactly what some owners and dogs are looking for!

In keeping with the whole idea of dog training being able to both teach new, GOOD behaviors and to stop or fix BAD behaviors, most of the so-called expert advice on finding a dog trainer is sorely misleading.

It appears that most of these Find-a-Dog-Trainer posts were written by 3 types of authors:

• those who are drinking the kool-aid of 'All Positive' training

• AI

• those who are afraid to say anything helpful about finding a trainer who can deliver results, most likely for fear of backlash from the first group

So, here it is - from someone who's been training dogs for more than 33 years:  Let's debunk some myths, and talk about what people should REALLY be looking for when they're interviewing dog trainers.

#1  One word:  EXPERIENCE.  The dog training industry is indeed unregulated.  There is no single governing body that certifies trainers, or can tell you who is 'good,' 'great,' or 'terrible.'  

To complicate things more, almost every trainer out there has a website peppered with glowing reviews that all seem to say the same thing about how wonderful the trainer is.

So how is a dog owner to know which one to choose?

Well - considering the average, unregulated dog trainer will be in business for less than 5 years, looking at how long your trainer or facility has been open is a good start.  

Longevity means your trainer is doing something right, or they wouldn't still be in business.  But it also means they've most likely worked with many dogs and owners.

Wouldn't you rather work with someone who has trained thousands of dogs, as opposed to say, twenty?

#2  EQUIPMENT:  Unlike those vanilla posts about choosing only someone who uses only flat collars, harnesses, or head collars, let's get honest and accurate.

Any piece of training equipment can be misused and cause harm to a dog (or human).  This is true of all brands of leashes, collars of any & all types, harnesses, head collars, and yes, even treats.  

The real issue at stake is whether a trainer knows how to use many different tools effectively and safely; and can match the right tools to your dog and your situation.

A trainer who limits their tools and techniques is much more likely to end up failing a dog and owner when things don't work out than one who is open to - and well-versed in - the use of all dog training equipment and techniques.

And, of course, now we're back to that pesky #1 point - experience! 

#3  METHODS & TECHNIQUES:  Just like #2, do you really want a trainer who is limited in their 'toolbox' of knowledge and techniques?

Professional dog training should be a field in which trainers continue to learn new and alternate methods and techniques throughout their careers.  

Trainers who are enthusiastic about their training successes are one thing...but like everything else in life, those who are fanatical ideologues should be avoided.  Trainers who tell you their way is the ‘only way’ and everyone else is either ‘abusive’ or ‘too soft’ probably don’t fall into the right category for any owner or dog.

Quite simply put, there is no single 'right' way to train a dog, and I'd wager that the many owners who've spent good money trying multiple trainers until they found the one that could actually help them wish those first two (or three? or four?) trainers had been knowledgeable in more than one method, or one type of training equipment.

Want to know more? Check out our in-depth, extensive information about methods & training equipment here:   https://www.k9counselor.com/methods

#4  TITLES:  Trainers putting titles on their own dogs MEANS something.  As I mentioned in my previous article about titles, the trainer who competes with their own dog shows not only experience, dedication, and knowledge, but often has superior problem-solving skills - simply because they often think out of the box to reach higher and higher goals with their own dogs.  

This translates to someone well-qualified to help pet owners reach their goals, even if those goals don't include trophies and ribbons!

#5 COMFORT:  Yes, in most cases, you should like your dog trainer.  You should be able to relate to your dog trainer.  And you should feel comfortable with your dog trainer.  

After all, you're trusting your trainer with your best buddy's education.  If you're using a board and train facility, you're trusting them with his physical care as well as his education!

If you're doing training in-person with a trainer who trains you to train your dog, then you're trusting that they can communicate with both you AND your dog in a way that will lead to successful dog training results.

So - Question:  When is YOUR comfort not important in the dog owner/dog trainer relationship?

Answer:  When you're only looking to hear what you want to hear.  Sometimes, dog trainers have to be brutally, painfully honest with dog owners.  

This could happen if a truly dangerous dog is not responsive to any type of training or technique (rare, but it happens).

Or if a dog is a bad fit for a home (this may be due to the humans, or the dog...but again, it does happen).

This could also happen if the humans in the household are causing the dog's problems.  This is probably the most common occurrence when a dog trainer has to make an owner uncomfortable - but it's an important one...

If YOU are causing the issues for your dog, it's your dog trainer's responsibility to tell you that - and what you need to do differently to fix the problem.

A dog trainer who only tells you what you want to hear isn't going to help you solve problems and have the best relationship possible with your dog.

You need to find a trainer who communicates clearly with both you and your dog, and who can get you the results you're paying for.

That’s it from this end of the leash.

Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director at Front Range K9 Academy in Wheat Ridge, CO.  She has been training dogs in Colorado professionally since 1990. Jennifer can be reached through K9counselor.com.