how to find a great dog trainer

If you’re like me, you’ve done some research online to find out more about dog training and dog trainers in your area.  The amount of conflicting information out there is overwhelming!  How do you know what’s right?  Who can you trust? 
You don’t want to take your beloved fur-friend to someone who doesn’t have the ability to make training enjoyable.  You also don’t want to waste your time or money on trainers who can’t help you reach your training and behavior goals.

That’s why I’ve created a list of things to look for when hiring a trainer (or behavior consultant or behaviorist – these are three different levels of expertise and we’ll talk about that in a moment)

But first, why listen to me?  I’ve been working with dogs on and off for over ten years in different capacities.  I’ve worked under trainers, groomers and breeders.  I’ve taken care of litters of puppies from champion line parents, walked, fed, played with and trained dozens and dozens of different breeds (hundreds of dogs), bathed and done basic grooming for breeds from yorkies to mastiffs.  I’ve been running my own professional training business for around 5 years now where I’ve trained in group and private settings.  I continue my education by shadowing other trainers, participating in webinars, workshops, classes and training events, I read books and watch training/behavior dvds and online materials.  I attended a 2-year program to receive a certificate in dog training and I’m now a mentor trainer through that organization.  I volunteered with two service dog organizations for a total period of two years.  I’m an evaluator through the American Kennel Club to give CGC and other titles in a variety of behaviors.  I have my own apprentice program that I’m building based on everything I wish I had learned earlier in my training journey.  I also created and co-admin two of the trainer groups in my state and I’ve found the very best people to continue my education and give me resources to use the latest in behavior science to help my clients succeed.
In short, I’ve been around the block.  I’ve seen some amazing training and I’ve seen plenty of clients get swindled out of a good training experience because they didn’t know what to look for.  I’ve seen dogs shut down and abused in the name of “training” and I’ve spent a lot of time fixing these dogs who are brought to me after negative experiences with trainers (most who mean well, but don’t know nearly what they should).

Here’s a list of things to look for when hiring a great trainer:

1.  They should always be learning!  Continuing education in this field is a must in order to be relevant and successful.  Some of the best trainers I know, who’ve been training for decades, all agree that the more they learn, the more they realize they don’t know.  Ask the trainer what they do to further their education.  If they don’t have a good answer, move on.

2.  They should have a network of trainers and other pet pros to refer you to when they’re in over their head!  There’s no such thing as a trainer who specializes in everything.  If they claim that, they have no idea how much there actually is to know and you should move on.  Jack of all trades means master of none.  In addition to having a referral network, the trainer should be able to recognize when they’re over their head and be happy to refer you to better qualified professionals.  They should also be willing to consult other professionals for advice when they are not sure what to do.

This includes referring to other pet professionals where appropriate.  For example, it is not ethical for anyone other than a behaviorist or veterinarian to recommend specific medications.

3.  They should be willing to let you sit in on a class or private lesson (if they can get client permission) to show you their process before you hire them.  Because of the personal nature of private lessons, they may say no to that, but if they have classes and won’t let you sit in on one before hiring them, find another trainer.

4.  They’re familiar with a variety of training tools and methods and are able to correctly adjust training plans to fit the needs of each individual dog.  If they insist you use specific tools (other than food or a muzzle for aggressive dogs) without meeting your dog and discovering their learning style first, move on.

5. They don’t make time-based training/behavior guarantees.  Every dog is different and it may take some time to determine what exercises and techniques work best for your dog to enable them to learn more efficiently and enjoy the training process.  If you are the one doing most of the training, the results will depend on the amount of work you put in…not on what they’re able to learn when your trainer is there.  Putting deadlines on training can also add stress to you and the trainer, making it more likely that one or both parties will resort to quick fix methods rather than actually teaching the dog desired behaviors. 

6.  They have a solid understanding of behavior science.  This one can be tricky to pick out since a lot of trainers know enough terminology and rough behavior science to sound like they know what they’re talking about.  If you have a background in psychology or early childhood education, you should be better able to pick up on what to look for since dogs and kids learn pretty much the same way.  If not, find another trainer if your trainer seems to use primarily punishment to communicate with the dog what NOT to do.  A great trainer who understands behavior science will mostly focus on teaching your dog DESIRED behaviors.  Done correctly, your dog will be so focused on learning the correct behaviors that they won’t need too many corrections for unwanted behaviors.  Your trainer should also have a solid understanding of management and how to keep dogs from rewarded themselves for unwanted behaviors.

7.  They NEED to be fluent in canine body language.  If they can’t understand what your dog is saying they won’t know if your dog is thriving and enjoying the training process, or shut down.  They won’t know when your dog is stressed or willing to bite.  This creates a huge liability for you and your dog.  I personally know of a case where a dog bit a child and was euthanized because the trainer didn’t know how to read dog body language.  This is a dog who had been improving immensely under the guidance of a trainer friend of mine and I could see progress happening.  It took one experience with a 3rd trainer who couldn’t read dog body language and ended up overwhelming/flooding the dog for a disaster to occur.

8. Certifications are important, but they’re not everything.  I personally know several trainers who are wonderful, have learned from other trainers and they continue their education, but they don’t have any training certifications.  I also know trainers with certifications up the wazoo who I’d never let touch my dog.  Certifications are a plus, but don’t go off of those alone. 

On that note, there are two other things you need to know:

- Dog training in the United States is an unregulated field.  There are no minimum requirements to become a dog trainer.  Someone could read a book on dog training, then advertise themselves as a trainer and charge what the professionals do. 

- There are four “levels” of pet training professionals: trainers, behavior consultants, behaviorists and veterinary behaviorists. 
Many trainers call themselves behaviorists without knowing that a true behaviorist has a PhD in one of the behavior sciences and is also certified as a behaviorist.

Behavior consultants don’t have to have a minimum education requirement, but they do need to have a specific number of hours of experience and pass an intensive test on animal behavior to receive their behavioral consultant certification. 

These are pretty important distinctions and if your trainer doesn’t know the differences between each of these or advertises themselves as a behaviorist (if they’re not), they probably aren’t as knowledgeable as they should be.  It’s probably time to find a different trainer.

9.  Your trainer should respect you and listen to your concerns.  If they try to bully you into methods or situations you are uncomfortable with, find another trainer.  They are allowed to explain their reasoning for why they’d like to train a certain way, but when it comes down to it, you know your dog better than they do.  Be an advocate for you and your dog.  If any of the training they have you do makes you feel uncomfortable or icky, get out of there!

I’m a big believer in gut feelings.  Dogs and humans have evolved together to the point of almost being classified as a symbiotic relationship.  Studies have proven that dogs view us more as parents than their actual canine mothers and fathers.  For the most part, we’re very in tune with each other and gut instinct should be listened to.

10.  Your trainer should be licensed (have a business licenses through the state and city if required by local laws) and insured.  If they haven’t bothered to go through legal channels and set up their business correctly, they’re opening themselves and you up to liability and possible legal action.  If they don’t have liability insurance, they won’t have the necessary precautions in place to protect you or your dog should an accident occur.

11.  They should obey local laws!  I mean, this should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many trainers do off-leash events in leashed-only areas, hold bite-work events with off-leash dogs in public parks near playgrounds or do daycare or board and train programs out of their homes when they aren’t legally zoned to do so.  Many of these laws may seem silly, but there are very good reasons in place for each of them.  Why open yourself up to possible liability and legal action just because your trainer thinks they’re above the law?

12.  What does your trainer do to promote better relationships between dogs and people? 
Do they offer discounted/free classes or workshops? 
Do they advertise additional educational or training services that would benefit their clients? 
Do they check in with you to see how things are going? 
Do they participate in canine community events?
Most of the best trainers are in this profession because they love dogs and they want their clients to succeed.  If you feel your trainer is in this solely for the money, A) boy did your trainer choose the wrong profession and B) they aren’t going to go out of their way to give you access to a variety of resources to give you and your dog the best chance for success.

If you have any questions on any of these or you’d like additional help finding a great trainer in your area, please contact me!  I’d love to help you out!

One final note, I did not include reviews for a reason.  By all means, check out the reviews.  Reviews can be misleading however, and should not be a primary factor in hiring a trainer.  Some clients who leave glowing reviews have never used anyone else and have no idea there could be better options out there.  Some clients may be too embarrassed to share anything other than 5 star reviews because the training relationship between trainer and client can be more personal than in many other professions.  Some training companies will delete or flag reviews with anything less than 5 stars.  There’s a lot going on behind the scenes and reviews don’t always give an accurate picture.