Training your dog is an opportunity to strengthen your relationship, develop clear lines of communication, and find effective ways to make behavior changes. Finding a trainer that is a good fit is important for you, your dog and your overall training experience. But how do you know if a trainer is a good fit, and how do you go about finding one? Here are three tips for finding the perfect dog trainer for you and your pup.
1. Look for professional certifications.
The most important thing to do when selecting a trainer is to make sure you are working with someone who is appropriately certified. Anyone can claim to be a dog trainer no matter their experience and credential, so it is up to you as a consumer to successfully identify qualified trainers.
Many organizations offer credentials to graduates of their own programs, which can be misleading. Look for a trainer who has received certifications from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the world’s only independent testing and certification organization for dog trainers and dog behavior consultants. This certification indicates that the trainer has proven skills and knowledge of humane, science-based dog training, and has made a commitment to a strict ethical code for personal and business conduct, to continuing education and to enhancing the dog training profession.
When picking out a trainer for your dog, look for these credentials:
- CPDT-KA® (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed): A trainer has passed a comprehensive exam and has at least 300 hours of dog training experience.
- CPDT-KSA® (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Skills Assessed): A trainer has passed a comprehensive exam and an objective skills-based exam along with 300 hours of dog training experience.
- CBCC-KA® (Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed): A dog behavior consultant has passed a comprehensive exam on behavior modification and has at least 300 hours of dog behavior consulting experience.
2. Research the trainer’s methods and experience.
Once you’ve verified a trainer is properly certified, take a deeper dive into their website, social media channels, and customer reviews, or give their office a call. How do they describe their programs? What types of training do they have experience in? What have past customers said about their services?
The two biggest questions you should be able to answer after this review are:
- What kinds of training methods and models are used in their programs?: Science-based dog training focuses on positive reinforcement based, force free methods that rewards dogs for good behavior as the most effective, humane type of training. When researching your trainer, if they mention any other type of training, proceed with caution. The use of punishment in training will not help your dog learn, and will likely only result in damaging your relationship with your pup. Also beware of organizations that use terms such as “dominance” and “alpha” – these models do not align with science based dog training and may be indicative of poor training practices. Same for trainers who are evasive about sharing their training methods; good trainers will be transparent about how they train and answer any questions you may have.
- What areas of dog training do they have experience in?: Let’s say you find a dog trainer that’s highly reviewed in your area… If they only have experience in puppy training and you need help with reactivity, the trainer wouldn’t be a good fit. Identify what your dog is good at and what you need help with so you can identify your goals for training. Use these goals to find trainers who have the experience and resources needed to help you and your dog. There are likely several trainers in your area with experience in basic training, reactivity training, behavior modification, service dog training and more; you just need to find the right fit!
3. Make sure the trainer is a good fit for you and your pup.
YAY! You’ve found a trainer who is certified and has experience in the type of training you need – the final step is making sure the trainer is someone you trust and feel comfortable with. After all, you’ll be trusting this person with your precious pup – and communicating with them a lot throughout the training process.
Look for a trainer you’re comfortable with handling your dog, and who communicates effectively with you. They should treat you and your dog with respect, communicate professionally, and make you feel comfortable asking questions, sharing concerns, and receiving instruction. It will be difficult to get the most out of training with someone you aren’t comfortable with, so don’t settle for the “easy” option. Consider scheduling an initial consultation with a few different trainers to see who’s style and training plan seem like the best fit for you and your dog.
Finding the right trainer might take time, but it is well worth the investment to ensure you and your precious pup have a positive and useful experience.
Looking for science-based, force-free, coaching-style dog training in Grand Rapids? Be sure to check out Happy Tails and our offerings. From basic puppy group classes to one on one behavior modification work, our trainers have a wide variety of experience and winning customer service focus that’s sure to help take your relationship and communication with your pup to the next level.
Oh, hello! I was told the other day by my sister that she just found a few abandoned puppies at her office parking lot and she intends to take care of them until they reach a mature age. Hence, I’d like to thank you for showing us that it’s better to opt for a dog trainer who’s professionally certified so our pet would remain in good condition. It’s about time she reaches out to an expert to make sure those animals would be well-behaved sooner or later.
I like when you said that I have to look for a trainer you’re comfortable with handling your dog and who communicates effectively with you. I plan to get my dog into a Certified Dog Trainer School so that he can gain skills as an intelligent dog should have. We love him so much and treat him as a real family who likes to have the best for him.
As a first-time pet owner, it is really hard to find a perfect pet trainer for my pet, I’ve consulted with a few people about how to find one but was confused, but this article really helped! Keep Posting.
How much does a dog trainer cost in a month?
It was helpful when you said that you can check what past customers have to say about a dog trainer when you check its reviews. This is something that I will consider because I want my 20-week-old Labrador to attend obedience lessons next week. I have to also note that he acts aggressively when a visitor is at home.
It really helped me when you said that finding a trainer who works well with you, your dog, and your training process as a whole is crucial. During my autumn break, my husband and I want to take a trip for our anniversary, but we don’t want to bring our dog. We’ll need to ask our canine neighbors if they have any dog daycares they’d recommend.
Thanks for pointing out the importance of choosing a certified dog trainer to ensure that they have the proper credentials and experience. My husband and I will take note of this because we are interested in enrolling our two-month-old Labrador in dog training sessions next week. We want to have peace of mind that he is going to be trained by a trusted, skilled expert, so w will follow your tips.
My husband and I adopted a dog in November, and we want it to be trained in obedience. I like your suggestion to find a trainer for your dog based on your goals for the training. We’ll keep an eye out for a dog trainer that specializes in obedience while we search this week.
I could not agree more when you said that you must choose a dog trainer that can make you feel comfortable since you will entrust them with your dog. My husband and I are planning to have our 18-week-old Shih Tzu trained to enhance its behavior, especially when inside our house. Since we want to feel at ease on every training day, we will consider your tips in finding a trainer.
Thank you for your suggestion to look into their methods and their level of experience. My sister is thinking about hiring a dog trainer since she’s been having some behavioral issues with her dog. I’ll be sure to share this with her so she can narrow down some of her choices.
I found it helpful when you suggested determining what your goals are for your dog’s training to find an experienced trainer. My husband and I are planning to have our three-month-old puppy undergo behavioral training so we can start allowing her inside our house. We want to ensure that she is going to be effectively trained by a reliable professional, so we will follow your tips.