by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: January 28, 2009   Last Updated: December 30, 2011

While there may be no Victoria Stillwell or Karen Pryor in your neck of the woods, there are certainly lots of other dog trainers in your area. Choosing one from the many may feel like an overwhelming task and dog owners may feel a bit uncertain on where to start. Of course, choosing a good dog trainer should take more effort than randomly picking a name from the phone book or choosing the one within walking distance. Here are some helpful tips on how to narrow the number of choices;

-Ask around

A good place to start is by asking a referral. You want to know that the actual trainer has received good feedback by others. You do not want to be the first to discover the trainer is not for you. You can start by asking shelters, grooming facilities, breeders and even better, veterinarian offices. They may be able to direct to you towards a few good ones. You will notice at this point that you will have only a handful of choices.

-Ask to Visit the Facility

This is a good way to get a "feel"before getting too involved. You may actually even attend a class and see what you think. Some dog trainers also offer trials where you get a free session and then you can decide to continue or not. The facility should appear clean, positive and the dogs and should appear relaxed. Most training sessions are even fun!

- Training methods

Ask about trainers enforcing positive training methods. These trainers focus more on rewards, while bad behaviors are just ignored. This brings the best out of dogs and dogs learn much quicker when there are good stuff happening. Dogs actually may look forward to class as they may get many goodies and they will be eager to please.

-Search for Clarity

You want a patient trainer that is willing to repeat himself or herself for sake of clarity. Trainers that rush through the sessions are more eager to get done and make quick money, rather than focusing on teaching the techniques to the owners. You must feel comfortable with the trainer and the trainer should be comfortable explaining each step.

-Positive Energy

The trainer should be positive and calm. There should be no screaming or yelling or getting mad or upset. Trainers are calm, confident and composed. Their correction are quick without much fuss. They transmit that calm, assertive energy that Cesar Millan so often refers to.

-Certifications

Good trainers have certification that prove they have dealt with many dogs throughout their career. Look around for certifications or awards hanging up walls. Specifically look for a CCPDT certification that is awarded to professional dog trainers.

Choosing a good dog trainer is very important. They will "form" your dog's training and behavior. Just as choosing a school for a child you want to invest some time on choosing a good dog trainer. The truth is, anybody can become a dog trainer. There are no specific tests or licenses. All it takes is to print some business cards and give them out. For this reason, you want to choose wisely and with no rush. A good dog trainer is ultimately an investment that may likely last for all the dog's life..

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