How To Pick A Dog Trainer

By Gillian Ridgeway

It is all so confusing. You have asked the same dog behavior question to a variety of people, including your Veterinarian, the clerk in the pet shop, the person in the dog park and of course you have consulted with the Internet. The same question has gotten you an equal amount of answers, all different. So, whom do you believe?

The best people to consult with are the professionals who work in the trenches with hundreds of dogs. Your Veterinarian is a great resource and so is a dog trainer. So, the next question becomes, are all dog trainers qualified?

Looking for a dog trainer who can guide you towards the goals you have for your dog is a task in itself. Do your research now and you will have the best resource tool for life. Ask your Vet and people in the local dog parks who they would recommend. Gather information from the dog training schools in your neighborhood. Find out their schedules and then set up an appointment to go and audit a class.

There are lots of important questions to ask yourself when you are watching the class in progress. Are the instructions clear? Is the class well run and organized? Are the people and the dogs enjoying themselves? Do the dogs seem to be learning the lesson? There is no government certification for dog trainers. Anyone can hang out their shingle and call himself or herself a trainer and that is why your research has to be complete. There is an association of dog trainers called the CAPPDT – The Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. This group is a self-governing body. This means that they abide by a strict code of ethics. Their members continue to educate themselves by attending workshops and seminars. The CAPPDT holds an Annual Conference that is 3 days long and covers topics such as dog aggression, kids and dogs, upcoming dog training techniques and even business related topics. By checking if the trainer you are interested in is a member, you will have the knowledge that they follow the code of ethics and that is a great start. Making your decision based solely on price or location is not the best idea. Take your time. Speak to a number of trainers before making your final decision. Check out their qualifications, how long working with dogs, even what activities the trainers own dogs are involved in.

The school that you choose for your dog should work with positive methods only. There is no reason, with the information and knowledge available to trainers these days, that there needs to be brute force involved. However, being positive does not mean being permissive and that is the key.

Training your dog should be fun. Look for classes that you will enjoy and that enthusiasm is bound to be picked up by your dog. Happy training!

Gillian Ridgeway, AHT, has worked with dogs for over 33 years. She is director of Who’s Walking Who in Toronto and Ajax. A consultant for TorontoBarks.com, Gillian also writes for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Dogs in Canada. She has appeared on Dogs in Canada TV, Global television, Q107 radio and in Toronto Life, and is co-author of the book, “Citizen Canine.” She travels with the Iams SuperDogs Performance team and teaches learning theory at University of Toronto. Gillian can be contacted at 416-465-3626; www.whoswalkingwho.net

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