What to Look For in a Dog Trainer

The dog training industry is rapidly expanding, but almost totally unregulated. Functionally, there are no barriers to entry and anybody can claim to be a “dog trainer” without being appropriately qualified or vetted. Bad trainers often reinforce old behavioural problems while creating new ones which are particularly hard for owners to manage, so should be avoided at all costs. However, it can often be difficult to know what you should look for in a dog trainer. Below are some tips we would recommend owners consider when looking for a dog trainer:

1. We always view experience with working dogs very favourably. Working dogs demand a higher level of involvement and dedication than is the case with a pet, and this often manifests itself as more advanced training needs. A trainer who is able to get results with working dogs is more than capable of resolving common behavioural issues pet owners encounter, as well as offering additional training if needed

2. Does your trainer have a waiting list or immediate availability? While this should not be viewed as an absolute indication of how competent they are, it does suggest that their offer is good enough for clients to be willing to wait for weeks or months to access it

3. Does your trainer encourage you to do “homework” between sessions? If this is not the case, then they are either incompetent or deliberately building dependence so you will continue paying them for unnecessary sessions. The real work in dog training happens at home on a daily basis, where owners “proof” and apply what they have been taught. One hour a week with a trainer is no substitute for this, and attempts to claim otherwise are disingenuous

In addition to training protection dogs, we also run a series of obedience and puppy courses suitable for pet owners. If you would like to find out about any of our training programmes, please DM us on any of our social media feeds, or email info@protectiondogs.co.uk.