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Training Wheels?
 Unfortunately, no certification, special license, or education of any sort is needed to call yourself a dog trainer. Anyone can do it, and many do. That's why it's extremely important to educate yourself, define your needs, and find out as much as you can about a potential trainer before enrolling in a class or arranging for private lessons. Three biggies to keep in mind as do your research:
Training philosophy is grounded in teaching dogs what is "right".
When it comes to dog training there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that dogs sometimes have very different ideas than we humans do when it comes to what they consider friendly, acceptable behavior. (Butt sniff as first rule of greeting etiquette?) The good news is that while their instinctive impulses may differ from ours, dogs are pretty easy to bring around to our way of thinking.
We can easily use the way animals learn to "sculpt" their behavior, by consistently rewarding the desirable behaviors we see and ignoring or interrupting the undesirable behaviors.
Actively teaching your dog what you'd like him or her to do is the most effective, most efficient, and benevolent way to go. Because dogs are generally not being "bad" when they misbehave in our eyes, they are just being dogs, doing natural doggy things.
So look for trainers who take the time to kindly and clearly teach dogs what we humans want them to do, and who also know how to convince dogs to want to do it for us, rather than primarily waiting for undesirable behavior to occur and then punishing it as though the dog is "trying to get away with something".
Don't' forget, dogs make associations with you and with the situation every time you interact with them. Thus, an unfortunate side effect of using harsh punishment to train is that, while your dog may learn to respond to your requests, they may also form negative associations to you, to the situation, the environment, or to training in general.
Alpha rolls, physical and mental bullying, or anything that inspires pain or terror in your pet should be avoided. In the long run, instilling fear - as opposed to respect and affiliation - will serve to intensify behavioral issues.
Training methods can be tailored to your dog's personality.
When it comes to learning, one size doesn't fit all. Some dogs may respond best to effusive praise and constant encouragement; sensitive pups may do better with a lower-key approach. There are all kinds of variations and approaches, and a good trainer will feel comfortable making minor adjustments to her style or method.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Does the trainer produce confident, social, well-trained dogs? Ask to meet the trainer's personal dogs and/or ask for references from satisfied clients. Be sure to observe a class before enrolling; talk to the students after class. Generally speaking a good trainer will produce dogs that are safe and comfortable around people, reliable off-leash, working happily with relaxed, happy body language, and, here the real clincher - gadget or equipment free (at the completion of training. Many training tools are useful during the learning process, but really, to qualify as a training tool and not a crutch, they've got to be phased out very quickly).
Bottom line? A good trainer facilitates clear communication and a strong, mutually respectful bond between you and your dog.
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Do Try This at Home
 While a good trainer lays the groundwork for successful human/canine communication, maintaining that healthy relationship is up to you. Doctor Dunbar's Good Little Dog Book is a handy resource.
This easy to digest book offers not only training tips, but also valuable insight into how dogs think so that you can begin to problem solve on your own. |
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Dog Star Daily's Puppy Bite is a weekly email consisting of one training tip and one *treat* -- a tidbit of dog-related info, news, great products or places. To submit a tip, treat, or product for consideration please email us: driandunbar@gmail.com
Woofs & wags,
The Dog Star Daily Team
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