Getting professional help can be invaluable. If you are dealing with an unwanted behaviour with your dog that you don't know how to fix, a trainer or behaviour consultant can help you. In a perfect world, every new puppy would attend a puppy class. I teach puppy classes, and I still attend them for the socializing benefits. Regardless of why you need the help, knowing what to look for in a trainer can be challenging since it seems like everybody has conflicting opinions.
My first recommendation is to avoid believing everything you read online. I know that is ironic because I am sharing this online, but I still believe that you should vet your online sources before considering their word gospel. There is a ton of valuable information online, but there is also a lot of not so great and even harmful information online. I will list some helpful online sources at the bottom of this post, so you have a few places to start if you want to do some research.
Before learning anything about dog training, I used to think that dog training schools were like public schools where they all taught the same curriculum that was approved by some people in a committee or board that oversaw dog training. Sure, some trainers may be better than others, but surely they would be teaching more or less the same thing, right? Unfortunately, this is far from the truth, and finding a good trainer requires some digging. If you are looking to work with a trainer in person (or even virtually), there are a few things to consider. Let's talk about them.
1) What Is Their Training Philosophy?
You want to look for a trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods to train. Any trainer who uses force or intimidation to train is one who you want to steer clear from. First of all, force and intimidation is not necessary to train a dog. These methods can work, but they work because your dog is afraid of what will happen if they don't do what they are supposed to. Positive reinforcement creates dogs who are much more confident and who actually WANT to do the things you ask them to do. If you can train your dog effectively using positive reinforcement, why would you choose a training technique that would scare or hurt them?
Second of all, not everyone is physically capable of training with force and intimidation. I am 5'4" and weigh 120 lbs. Many clients look scared to hand their dogs to me because they do not believe that I am strong enough to hold on to them. It was actually a problem when I would show up to consultations for new dog walking clients and some people would ask to see me physically hold on to their dog before hiring me. I am neither strong not intimidating, so does that mean that I am doomed to have poorly behaved dogs? Fortunately, no. Anybody can train with positive reinforcement. In fact, I do a good chunk of my training while sitting on the floor, which means that children, people with physical disabilities, and elderly people can train their dogs just fine without having to shape-shift into a macho bodybuilder.
Finally, punishment based training can cause unintended consequences. If you pop the leash every time your dog pulls, but they also happen to only be pulling when they see another dog, they may not realize that the leash pop is because of the pulling. Your dog may actually associate the leash pop with seeing the other dog. What will happen here is that your dog will begin to feel uneasy or anxious when they see another dog. I have seen the results of dogs who have been trained like this, and it is absolutely heartbreaking. Also, if the punishment is timed poorly, the dog may not realize what they are being punished for. Since the punishment seems random, they can shut down and become too afraid to do anything at all, resulting in a dog who spends all day every day trembling in fear.
Shock collars, prong collars, spray bottles, penny cans, and other aversive equipment are big red flags, but the type of equipment is not the only thing to watch for. The word "correction" is something to watch out for as well since it implies the dog will be "corrected" (a.k.a punished) for unwanted behaviours. Any collar or harness can be aversive if leash corrections are involved. The absence of equipment also doesn't mean the absence of force. Kneeing a dog in the stomach for jumping up on you requires no special equipment but is still unpleasant for the dog.
2) What Kind of Language Do They Use?
Take a look at the trainer's website and look for the kind of language they use. I already mentioned that the word "correction" is a red flag, but there are others to watch for. Anything that references pack theory is something to steer clear of. This would include terms like "alpha," "dominant," and "pack leader." Pack theory was originally presented by Dr. David Mech, and then he later came out to say that he was wrong. Unfortunately, the theory had already gained a lot of popularity by that point.
There are a couple of problems with applying this idea to the dogs we live with. The first is that the original study was done on wolves, not on dogs. In addition, the study was done on unrelated wolves in captivity so they were not displaying their natural behaviours. In the wild, wolves are seen in families rather than packs. The wolves that seem to be in charge are actually the parents of the other wolves.
If someone references being the pack leader or says that your dog is trying to dominate you, that shows gaps in their knowledge about dogs and dog behaviour. At best, this person likely does not have enough knowledge to help you through challenges you experience with your training. At worst, this kind of trainer may recommend training techniques and equipment someone with more education would never suggest because they may actually be harmful.
3) What Qualifications Do They Have?
Unfortunately, the dog training industry is fairly unregulated, so there is nothing to stop someone who is completely unqualified from offering dog training services. If you were looking for a dog trainer and found one close to you, it would be easy to assume that they would have some sort of certification in order to be in business. This is not the case. Before hiring someone, do your research to see what credentials they have.
If you are looking for a trainer, some good qualifications include:
If you are looking for a behaviour consultant, look for at least one of the following:
It is unlikely that you will find someone who has all of these certifications, and it is also unnecessary. The information is largely the same, so having all of them would be redundant. One more thing to keep in mind is also that trainers can gain knowledge by shadowing underneath another qualified trainer. Certifications are expensive, and some require you to already have work experience before getting certified. If a trainer is working towards their CPDT-KA (for example), and they have also shadowed underneath a qualified trainer, I would not write that person off right away.
Final Notes
Hopefully this advice is helpful. The last tidbit I have for you is to trust your gut. If a trainer suggests something that makes you feel uncomfortable, ask questions about it. I love when my students ask me why we do something or why we don't do something else. It shows that they are invested in their training and that they really care about making progress with their dog. If a trainer can't or won't explain the why behind their methods, that's another red flag.
Some Good Online Sources:
My Favourite Dog Training Books:
Plenty in Life is Free by Kathy Sdao
When Pigs Fly by Joan Killion
Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
Sources:
https://positively.com/dog-training/myths-truths/pack-theory-debunked/
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