Finding the Right Dog Trainer

Dog Behavior and Training >> Finding the Right Dog Trainer

The assistance of a professional dog trainer can help eliminate or better manage most behavior issues. However, it is important to find and interview a trainer who uses only positive reinforcement and has education and experience in the field. Unfortunately, many trainers still use outdated harsh methods that can not only ruin your relationship with your dog, but also cause your dog emotional trauma and make the behavior issue worse.

In general, avoid any trainer who uses any type of negative reinforcement such as yelling, hitting, isolating or jerking the leash. Using food as a positive reward is the most respected and effective form of training. Beware of any trainer who forbids food in training.

Things To Watch For And Avoid:

• People who guarantee their work. Qualified behaviorists and trainers will always do their best for you, but cannot guarantee outcomes, because animals have minds of their own, and can never be completely controlled by humans.
• If their recommendations involve choking, hitting or slapping your pet, confinement or isolation, this indicates little or no understanding of animal behavior.
• People who misrepresent their qualifications. People who call themselves animal behaviorists, even though they're not academically trained in animal behavior.
• People who want to train your pet for you. Most behavior problems are a result of interactions between the animal, the care giver and the environment. Giving your pet to someone else to "fix" the problem is rarely successful because these three elements aren't addressed. Owners need to work with the animal in the home environment.

Search For a Trainer in Your Area from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers:

• http://www.apdt.com/cgi/trainer-search?m=0