Choosing a Trainer

By Jon Dakins

Choosing a Trainer

Selecting a dog training program is an important decision that you make on behalf of your dog. The benefits of a good choice include an improved bond and increased obedience. The drawbacks of making a poor choice include frustration and lost time and money.

Training information is available online, on TV, on DVDs, and in books and magazines. Dog training classes can be attended locally or you can even have a trainer come to your home to assess and train your dog.

With so many options it can be difficult to know which training path is the right one for you. In the hope of helping you select the method that will work best for you, we suggest taking the following elements into consideration.

Identify What You Want from the Training

Most people looking into training fall into one of the following three camps. Identify which camp you are in and make sure that the training program you pick is designed to accommodate your needs.

Group One: Preventative Training. These folks have recently gotten a new dog or puppy and want to start out the right way. They enroll in a training class and work with their dog so that he will grow up to be an obedient and loving member of the family.

Group Two: Advanced Training. These are people who prefer to teach their dogs the basics at home but who would like to progress to having dogs that perform neat tricks or perform on an agility course. Individuals who are interested in advanced training typically have a background in working with dogs.

Group Three: Behavior Modification Training. These folks are struggling with crazy dogs. Whether the problem is excessive barking or chewing or aggression, their dog has a hot button or two that is creating lots of problems. The dogs have typically either not been to training or failed the training classes they have attended. Their owners love the dog, but are being driven nuts by his annoying actions.

Depending on where you are with your dog, you should factor what you want from the training into your selection.

For example a person with an aggressive dog that has bitten other dogs, snarled and snapped at people and who constantly rents Cujo from Netflix would be best advised to look into in-home assessments with a local trainer who specializes in aggression cases.

On the other hand, someone who has a new puppy and wants tips on housebreaking would have success with online training that would give them the information they need to take care of their dog without having to leave their home.

Identify where your dog is at today and where you'd like him to be. Then look at the trainer's programs to see if they match your goals.

Identify What You Want from the Trainer

There are many different training styles. Some trainers swear by clicker training while others prefer the quick results of remote collar use. Before selecting a trainer answer these questions:

1. Do I want someone who uses mostly positive methods?

2. Is my dog a "hardy" dog who can handle corrections without shutting down?

3. Am I comfortable turning my dog over to someone else to train and even correct?

The majority of trainers subscribe to positive reinforcement training. This is a method based on behavioral psychology that combines positive rewards, such as treats, for good actions and withdrawal of good things, such as attention, for bad behavior. Most dogs respond well to being rewarded, and their increased motivation leads to quicker training results and a more enjoyable training experience. However, some dogs are either harder to motivate or more stubborn and end up responding better when both positive reinforcement and corrections are used.

Second, the "hardiness" of your dog is a factor. As mentioned, some dogs do best when they get rewarded for good things and corrected for mistakes. These tend to be the more dominant breed dogs who are strong willed and who require more assertiveness before they fall in line. Dogs that get frightened by verbal corrections should not be trained with aversive methods as it scares them, lowers motivation, and makes training miserable. No dog should be hit or hurt during training regardless of their toughness.

Third, are you comfortable with having someone else handle your dog in a manner different than your style? While it is tempting to turn your dog over to a professional trainer and have them "take care of it," approaching training this way doesn't improve your status with the dog - it improves the trainer's status with your dog. In addition, not everyone is comfortable when someone else scolds, verbally corrects, or gives a physical correction to their dog.

What Training Should Look Like

Training should have the following qualities:

• Organized training plan.

• Dog friendly training equipment and methods.

• Fun.

If you are attending a group class, try to drop in on another one of the trainer's sessions prior to signing up. Look for:

• A small class size offering one-on-one attention.

• Different training classes based on need (puppy, beginner, advanced).

• A trainer interacting positively with dogs and people.

• Proof of vaccination required.

• Positive, upbeat treatment of the dogs.

Training Costs

Training costs vary depending on the trainer, the class size, the type of instructions and more. Generally private lessons will range from $30 to $65 per hour, group lessons are typically $75 and up depending on the number of weeks and the class size.

Plan ahead and pick out the trainer - and training style - that works best for you. And remember that if you can set aside a few minutes a day for your dog you can even pick the person most likely to train the way you want: you.

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