training 101

If you feel you are ready to bring a rescue dog into your home, then you must be willing to invest in professional training. Proper socialization and obedience instruction is critical to the well-being of your dog and everyone with whom he/she comes into contact. Selecting a trainer requires careful thought and consideration, and, in that vein, here are a few key components to review.

THE BASICS

  • The reality is this: dog training is an unregulated space, which frankly means that anyone can claim to be a trainer, regardless of qualifications. What further complicates things is there are myriad certifications, some of which are more legitimate than others, but there is not one gold standard. The Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT-KA) is perhaps the most widely known certifying body of dog trainers, but realistically, it only requires $385 and passing a multiple choice exam.

  • Hiring a dog trainer is simply not black and white, but here is a list of questions to ask when vetting someone:

    • What is your education and/or certifications?

      • Given the inconsistencies in certifications, it’s virtually impossible to make a hard and fast rule about which certifications are the best. However, it is still important to inquire and, what is perhaps most significant, is the education a trainer has in dog training. Ideally, you will find someone who has an undergraduate or graduate degree related to animal behavior, and/or who has attended many workshops and seminars and is committed to continuing his or her education. Take a look, for instance, at Jason Cohen’s education listed here. This is a prime example of what to look for in a trainer.

    • Describe your experience working with rescue dogs and behavior issues such as fear, reactivity, and separation anxiety.

      • It is absolutely critical that whichever trainer you hire has robust experience working with rescue dogs, since there are certain challenges that are more prevalent in rescues, such as the ones listed above.

    • What is your philosophy on dog training?

      • The answer to this question should be clear, concise, and transparent with respect to how the trainer you’re interviewing works with dogs. This can be a divisive question, and there are people who fall all throughout the spectrum of positive reinforcement to dominance theory. We highly recommend finding someone who is “positive first”, using positive reinforcement as the initial approach.

    • Please describe a few of the strategies that are in your toolbox.

      • Be sure that the person you’re interviewing has a repertoire of evidence-based, practical tips with which to provide you. Trainers should also be able to share video examples of their work, where you can see their training in action.

    • Do you have two to three references and/or success stories with which you can provide me, specifically those with rescue dogs?

      • Do not just take a trainer’s word about their practice; check with people who have worked with them! Be sure that those who have hired the trainer in question are willing to give him or her a vote of confidence.

  • Possible red flags of an unqualified trainer:

    • No formal education or apprenticeships

    • No examples of their work (e.g., videos)

    • Limited positive reviews and success stories

WHAT IF MY DOG NEEDS SOMETHING MORE?

There are instances in which a dog’s challenges surpass what a qualified trainer can offer. For instance, if your pup has a psychiatric need, then he or she must be seen by a Behavior Vet. CAUTION: There are many people out there who claim to be “behaviorists”, and that claim is simply not true. An authentic behaviorist will either be a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB), and will have completed a wide range of required graduate coursework, as well as having passed a series of oral and written exams.

RECOMMENDED DOG TRAINERS