The Good Pup
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How to Find a Good Trainer |
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A good place to begin is the
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT),
which is one of the largest groups of trainers in the world. APDT
stresses the importance of humane training methods and
discourages the use of punishment. They have a trainer search on
their site.
Another great place to search is the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. This group is one of the premier testing associations for professional trainers. Trainers that have passed this test not only have real working experience, but have the book education behind them as well. You can also see if a trainer has their CPDT when searching through APDT. One of the best places to ask for a recommendation for a local dog trainer is your veterinarian. Veterinarians see many clients and often are in the know of who the good trainers are in the area. Be cautious about using AKC as a resource, many of their trainers still use compulsive methods, so you must ask questions. Also use caution when if you ask your local Humane Society, some of their trainers are volunteers and their credentials vary widely. |
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What to Look For in a Good Trainer |
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You should always look for a trainer that uses humane
training methods. In this day and age there is no reason to use
physical punishment. If they require a choke chain, pinch collar or
electric collar run in the other direction. If they do not use any
food reward be skeptical. If they do not have a veterinary reference
in the local area be very skeptical. Look for their credentials,
they should be posted on their flyer or on their website. Just
because they are apart of an association doesn't mean they are
qualified. Different associations have different standards, some
require only that they pay a fee, while some actually check
qualifications or require that they pass an exam.
A good trainer should have a clear list of what is covered in the class. They should also give hand outs to aid in training. They should readily offer client references. They should also be knowledgeable on all training methods, regardless of what they use. They should have an extensive library of training books. They should be well versed in learning theory and should be able to explain operant vs. classical conditioning and be able to explain the four quadrants of reinforcement and punishment. If you ask about any of these things and they draw a blank face move on. A good trainer should also know their limits and refer to a behaviorist. The best thing you can do is sit in on one of their classes. A side note....Just because someone is a trainer does not mean they are a qualified animal behaviorist. If they are advertising themselves as a behaviorist you need to do a serious credential check. All qualified behaviorists if they are not a veterinarian should work with a veterinarian. A behaviorist should have at least a 4 year degree in behavior or some type of animal sciences.
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