What 'makes' a good dog trainer, great?
What 'type' of dog training & trainer is the best... or the 'right' way to train?
Clickers - 'Reward based' - aversives -'positive only' - no collars - target - dominance - Gentle Leaders - harnesses - 'science-based' - quadrants - punishment - huh?
The terms & fads are many and very confusing to the average dog owner. Add to that is a dog training world which is flooded with well meaning, eager folks who take a few weeks worth of classes then set up shop, clicker & treats in hand and call themselves a trainer. Sadly there are no licensing laws locally or nationally and while being 'certified' holds a small amount of legitimacy, these 'certificates' are given by private, for profit organizations who are essentially self appointed overseers of the training world, with specific agendas & who are also selling their own wares. Certification is easy enough if you agree to their personal standards, have some basic knowledge & more importantly, the hundreds of dollars they require you to pay for their stamp of approval.
“Reliability off lead should always be the most significant criterion when evaluating and comparing training methods.” (Koehler 1962)
While the style of dog training Koehler popularized so long ago may have be somewhat outdated, the above quote from the training guru of those days, still rings very true. It is important that a pet owner does their homework - ask to observe a class or lesson; ask for references of past students and discuss what methods a trainer uses and WHY. Trainers who have a narrow minded approach to training, often openly condemn all other methods other than their own. A trainer who is experienced in, understands & utilizes all ethical forms of training will be the one who can best address a pets needs and issues. There is not one right approach to train a dog, but there ARE some wrong ones. A trainer who limits himself to a single method or form of training & 'tools' in their toolbox, is limiting YOU and your pet in its capacity to learn and best resolve any issues.
Most of all, find a trainer that makes YOU feel comfortable. It is no secret that the best of trainers are also a 'people person' who is able to communicate as clearly to you as they do your dog. You should feel comfortable asking as many questions as you need to, ask 'why' if need to & letting them know if you are unsure about the process. Communication is what training is all about and it needs to be a '3 way street' in dog training: The trainer, the dog and you.
What 'type' of dog training & trainer is the best... or the 'right' way to train?
Clickers - 'Reward based' - aversives -'positive only' - no collars - target - dominance - Gentle Leaders - harnesses - 'science-based' - quadrants - punishment - huh?
The terms & fads are many and very confusing to the average dog owner. Add to that is a dog training world which is flooded with well meaning, eager folks who take a few weeks worth of classes then set up shop, clicker & treats in hand and call themselves a trainer. Sadly there are no licensing laws locally or nationally and while being 'certified' holds a small amount of legitimacy, these 'certificates' are given by private, for profit organizations who are essentially self appointed overseers of the training world, with specific agendas & who are also selling their own wares. Certification is easy enough if you agree to their personal standards, have some basic knowledge & more importantly, the hundreds of dollars they require you to pay for their stamp of approval.
“Reliability off lead should always be the most significant criterion when evaluating and comparing training methods.” (Koehler 1962)
While the style of dog training Koehler popularized so long ago may have be somewhat outdated, the above quote from the training guru of those days, still rings very true. It is important that a pet owner does their homework - ask to observe a class or lesson; ask for references of past students and discuss what methods a trainer uses and WHY. Trainers who have a narrow minded approach to training, often openly condemn all other methods other than their own. A trainer who is experienced in, understands & utilizes all ethical forms of training will be the one who can best address a pets needs and issues. There is not one right approach to train a dog, but there ARE some wrong ones. A trainer who limits himself to a single method or form of training & 'tools' in their toolbox, is limiting YOU and your pet in its capacity to learn and best resolve any issues.
Most of all, find a trainer that makes YOU feel comfortable. It is no secret that the best of trainers are also a 'people person' who is able to communicate as clearly to you as they do your dog. You should feel comfortable asking as many questions as you need to, ask 'why' if need to & letting them know if you are unsure about the process. Communication is what training is all about and it needs to be a '3 way street' in dog training: The trainer, the dog and you.