Tips To Looking For A "Good" Dog Trainer

Dog training is definitely not rocket science and is easier than you would expect particularly if you can get help from a good dog training book or guide. It’s also certainly possible for almost any dog owners to train their dogs themselves provided they put in adequate amount of effort.

Nevertheless, you might still want to get additional help from a professional trainer, especially if you got a tough nut to crack in your hand. Before you engage a trainer, it’s always best that you do some research first as there are many trainers with different teaching styles and not every style suit every dog or owner.

Here’s a guide for you to find a reliable trainer:

Ask someone
It wouldn’t hurt you to open your mouth to ask someone for advice or recommendation.
- Ask your friends, even strangers you meet in the park for the contacts of their trainer if you notice that he owns a particular well-train dog. Even if they don’t engage a trainer, you could still possibly pick up some valuable training tips. You’ve got nothing to lose and I’ll bet the owner would also most probably be flattered.

- Ask your veterinarian for recommendations. He deal with dogs everyday and must have seen the best and worse dog. He should have contacts for some good trainers in your area.

- Ask the local Humane Society, dog breeder or even your pet supplies shop owner. They are also a good source of information and might just be able to direct you to a trainer who is particularly suited to training your dog breed.

- You can also check out The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Trainer Directory:
=> http://www.apdt.com/trainers-and-owners/trainer-search/trainer-search.php

This directory has a search engine that allows you to search trainer by specific geographical location and also list out if trainers are Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) to help you make your decision.

*CPDT is certified by the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers an international testing and certification program for professional pet dog trainers. It is basically to ensure that the trainer has a certain level of knowledge and expertise. To be certified, trainers must have at least 300 hours of dog training experience and have passed an exam that assesses basic knowledge of canine training. For more details, visit http://www.ccpdt.org/

There are several things to look out for before you engage a trainer. You might want to consider these factors first before you engage one from a list of good contacts you got. The Trainer must have the following traits:
- must be humane and gentle with the dogs during training.

- must be an effective communicator and teacher. Both you and your dog must be able to understand his teaching for effective training. In short, “Do you understand the words that are coming out of his mouth?” As dog training involve both you and your dog, you must also be able to understand his teachings so that you can practice them when you get home.

- must be experience and up-to-date with the latest training methods. You might want to request a sit-in session to observe him and see if he can deal with the particularly difficult dogs. Don’t be afraid to ask him questions about his training background, training techniques, methods and etc. An experience trainer should have no problem answering your questions.

Distance - This might not be a big factor but certainly one worth considering. Imagine a 4 hours drive for every training session!

Hope these tips are useful to help you look for a good dog trainer.

Good luck in your quest for a good trainer!

About the Author
Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of http://DogsObedienceTraining.com – The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

More dog training technique articles

An introduction to Clicker Training for Dogs
Clicker Training for Dogs What is a 'clicker'? A clicker is simply a small plastic box, containing a metal plate which, when pressed, makes a 'click' sound. What is clicker training? Clicker Training is a method...

Ever Wonder How Fast To Train Or Work With Your Dog?
I noticed the other day, while working with a new German Shepherd dog-mix I adopted from a local animal shelter--how fast and intense you must work with your...

Dog Training Tips
Considered “man's best friend,” dog training professionals have been disseminating more knowledge on how to make this animal live up to that title.Here are tips that one should keep...

Should you choose a puppy just because he is cute and small?
One of the main problems that occur between the dog and its owner is compatibility. The owner might decide to get a specific breed of dog on a false pretense, usually based on what that specific breed looks like. The may decide to pick a certain type because of its muscular built, what the face looks like, or the type of coat. Later on, the owner realizes that his lifestyle and personality does not match with the dogs' personality. <br...

5 Surefire Ways to Show Your Dog You’re The Boss
Do you have problems at your house with who’s in charge? By that I mean, does your dog think he’s the boss? In your effort to form a stronger bond with your dog you may have inadvertently told him he’s the Leader of the Pack. Here are 5 simple and effective ways to correct that.<br /><br />You Must Be The Alpha Dog<br />First, let’s take a look at what a “pack mentality” means. Dogs are...

American Pit Bull Terrier Training: How To Train An Aggressive Dog
Aggressive Pit Bulls can become a very serious problem if not dealt with in a proper manner. New laws exist that state if a dog bites or attacks someone, the dog's owner will be held responsible and the dog put down. This is just another reason that Pit Bull owners should invest the time and energy to properly train...

Comments

Add a Comment