Dog training is truly an art form. It takes time to develop the sense and ability to increase or change a dog’s behavior.

As someone whose point of view has been from within the world of dog training for almost 18 years, I believe that the best training services are those that focus on the individual dog owner. Your job as a leader, partner, and protector is to make the best decision possible. Narrow down your options when it comes to choosing who helps you. Make a short list. Treat them like you’re the casting director for your big budget new look. It is so important.

Start by asking questions about the method. Many dog ​​training enthusiasts, as well as large corporate entities, promote a particular genre of dog training. Your body of knowledge may be limited to just one way of doing things, or in the case of larger companies, designing a cookie cutter program limits corporate risk and makes information easier to spread to many. staff trainers.

I have never met a dog handler who doesn’t like to hear the sound of their own voice, so let them talk and listen very carefully. After they have told you how to train your dog over the phone, ask questions related to the methods that run counter to their preferences. For example, if they believe in the rewards of food or “no contact” dog training, you can ask for their opinion on sliding with slip chains or slip collars. Or, if they tell you that a person should only use a particular method, ask their opinion on what should be done if that approach doesn’t work for your dog.

Follow any explanation by asking “Why”? If the answer you get is a stale “because” based purely on ethics or feelings, then you are definitely a hobbyist. A professional will always take the time to articulate both the positives and negatives with any method or approach. Most importantly, a professional can carefully weigh the dos and don’ts based on the individual factors present in each case. Someone who is very polar in their views may be suffering from a very limited frame of reference. Lack of experience can be difficult to deal with in the future. Training your dog is about finding balance. Find balance in the responses you get from people when deciding, and you will likely get what you are looking for from your dog in the end. Keep an open mind. Even if you don’t fully understand the content, you are probably fine.

In my opinion, dog training that is worth paying for includes 3 things; Realism, relevance and rhythm.

Here are some of the main points to consider when looking for a dog training professional:

1. Call everyone and watch out for the “dog gods”

(promising miracles or unconditional guarantees)

Never settle for the first person you talk to. Those who actually answer the phone, or who return in a short period of time, should have a check mark. This often means that their services are taken seriously. Is this company part-time or is the person’s full-time job? Great question, please ask. If necessary, repeat calls to ask follow-up questions. Once you’ve had time to digest a representative sample of what has been said, any professional worth their salt welcomes the opportunity to clarify. If they seem too defensive about a particular sight before meeting you and your dog, move on.

Beware of the dog gods. Never get carried away by those who promise to give you the world. I call these people “Gods of dogs” because if someone tells you that they will do all the work while you are on vacation in the south of France, they are selling you for convenience. Dogs are not cars that come into the shop on Mondays and go back to work a few days later. Most of these gurus can demonstrate results, but how long will those results last once the dog returns to his unique lifestyle? If someone videotapes your results for you, be aware that this is nothing more than insurance against a complaint that your dog is no longer performing as promised. Let’s wind the tape …

Focus on services that emphasize the importance of the owner in the process. The commitment of the true coach (you) is always the first thing that matters.

2. Home visits vs. Group sessions

Many people find it difficult to have help at home because they have heard that their dog needs to socialize with other dogs. Understand that socialization is an important part of a dog’s life, but be clear about what the term is not. Socialization is not random play with other dogs. It doesn’t happen naturally without taking great risk. This is the animal world after all, and if left to their own devices, dogs can be quite tough at times. (Almost as tough as humans)

The socialization that dog owners unknowingly refer to has more to do with learning acceptable behavior by human standards than it is for dogs.

Taking your dog to class is an artificial environment where dogs exist at various levels of concentration. Depending on the setup, there may be a socializing value in group sessions, however you still need to learn how to apply this in the real world. If the sum of your learning and support takes place within the confines of a training field, who will be there to help when you take your first real walk around the neighborhood?

A common observation from dog owners is that their dog seemed to do very well in the group class setting, but faltered once they returned home. The world in which your dog lives can be the ideal place to learn because the subtleties and unpredictable events of life will present themselves while you have a professional on hand. You, as a dog handler, can learn to deal with things first hand. No transition is required. Group sessions are limited because they are structured around the business aspect of dog training. More people through structured hourly classes translate into higher returns for the business owner. When speaking with group session owners, be sure to ask how much personal attention you will receive. Combine that with other considerations, such as the distance you’ll have to travel, the length of each session, the options for missed classes, support between visits, and how many other dogs will split the instructor’s time.

Home visities

A single 3- or 4-hour home visit can often help, but generally benefits the business aspect of dog training. In fact, these practices contradict most adult learning principles regarding attention span and information retention (not to mention your dog’s attention span). Look for a service that focuses on giving people the time they need at a flexible pace. Remember, you are learning as the dog learns. Make sure appointment scheduling is based on a variety of factors, individual progress being the most important. If it’s a weekly timeline, is there an option to delay the sessions for any reason? Also, ask what kind of support you will receive between sessions and after the service. If you have a question, how long can it take to be answered, or are there even options to ask questions along the way?

Group sessions

The biggest attraction of group sessions over home visits is the perception that they cost less. Be careful not to speculate on effectiveness, most teams offering group sessions structure their courses so that you enroll at various levels along the way. Starting with a puppy and progressing through levels 1, 2, 3, 4 can cost as much, or even more than a program designed to provide you with what you need. Typically, with group sessions, you are paying more for less.

3. Lifetime warranties

Any guarantee that promises unlimited follow-up visits at no additional cost is a huge claim that needs to be scrutinized carefully. The fine print generally advises that you must have followed the trainer’s instructions or made an honest effort to get a trainer to come back unpaid. Is it up to the trainer whether you have followed the instructions or your own? You may feel like you’ve followed the instructions, but what if the trainer doesn’t? No unlimited visits? You can check if this is a legitimate claim by requesting references that support any guarantee of unlimited visits. In addition, it will give you the opportunity to appreciate how many “limitless” actually turned out to be for those people. Don’t pay much attention to testimonials written on websites or other marketing materials. I would encourage people to focus more on what the services actually entail and to worry less about what they promise to offer you in the future.

Four. Franchised and Large Dog Training Programs

Be sure to always ask about the individual experience level of any prospective dog training, but in particular, any franchised dog training program or big box program. A typical franchise company has a 23-day “intensive” program that they offer to their franchisees. That means the average florist can go from promoting himself as an excellent florist and, 23 days later, can also claim to be a competent professional dog training consultant. Personally, the parent company often markets impressive claims of experience for the company as a whole, but you will find it difficult to find the individual experience level of its individual franchise owners. In either case, the franchisee or big-box coach is required to train in a certain way and they may not be able to legally deviate from the program, even if they wanted to!

Good luck in your search for a dog training professional and in all of your dog training endeavors.