Choosing a Dog Trainer

It’s super important that the experts you hire for a job are qualified and good at that job. You wouldn’t hire a hairdresser to fix your plumbing and vice versa, so dog training shouldn’t be any different.

Unfortunately, unlike a lot of industries in our country, dog training is not a regulated one. This means that anyone can slap on the label of dog trainer/behaviourist and start practicing on your dogs.

I think it’s super important, then to make sure that the individual or company that you hire for help has more than just “a love for dogs and has trained their own dogs”. I also encourage you to ask some really important questions of your potential training expert.

What are your methods and beliefs when it comes to training dogs?

My methods here are based in the science of behaviour. I work to understand the function of the behaviour and humanely and fairly meet that function in more appropriate ways. I have studied the ABCs (Antecedent, Behaviours, Consequence) of behaviour modification and learnt how to apply this knowledge to fixing common dog training problems. My methods are force free, aversive free and intimidation free. I do not advocate nor use such tools as prongs, choke, bark or electric collars. I understand how they work and how that applies to behaviour change and believe that there are more ethical and safer ways of changing a dog’s behaviour. The methods I use are based on the hierarchy of dog needs, and LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) and rely heavily on positive reinforcement.

Heirarchy of Dog Needs written and Created by Linda Michaels from Do No Harm Dog Training and Behaviour

LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) protocol

What happens when the dog gets it right?

This is an important question to ask your potential expert as it gives an insight into the trainer’s attitude towards dogs. Even some simple vocabulary choices such as cue instead of command can inform you about the trainer’s background.

Cue being more of an ask of our dogs, something we offer and if the training has been successful the dog will happily listen to. Command usually indicates less choice involved on the dogs part and is seen as something the dog has to do or else. This isn’t always the case but it is another small thing to pay attention to.

In my training when a dog performs the behaviour that we have asked for they will receive reinforcement for doing so. Reinforcement can be anything from treats, toys, play, pats, praise, life rewards, etc. Most often when I am working with clients dogs my reinforcement choice is food as it is the easiest and quickest to work with, but I have also used toys for dogs that are less “foody”.

What happens when the dog gets it wrong?

Perhaps one of the most important questions to ask a trainer before you start working with them. A trainer’s style becomes very evident, not when the dog is successful, but when the dog fails to do as asked. This will open up many other areas to consider such as; does the trainer use corrections, if so what type of corrections, does the trainer adjust to meet the dog where they are, or are they not setting the dog up to always succeed?

If your dog fails to do the right behaviour for me, I will reassess a few different things:

- Does your dog know this behaviour or do I need to go back to basics and teach the dog more?

- Is there any possible pain being experienced by your dog?

- Is the environment that we are asking the dog to perform in too overwhelming and distracting?

- Are my treats/toys that I am offering actually reinforcers or will the dog more likely work for something else?

All in all if the dog fails, that is on me as the trainer. I need to set your dog up for success. If your dog doesn’t succeed then I need to reassess the set up and foundations of what I am asking.

We can only ever know what a dog knows by what a dog does, after all!

Have you had experience with this particular problem?

It’s important as an owner that you know the expert you have asked for help has experience, particularly with a specific problem. Of course there is always a first time for everything and I don’t discourage giving things a try. But when it comes to other people’s dogs and serious behaviour problems it is important that the trainer you choose feels confident about being able to resolve the issue. This is only fair to you as someone who is paying for expert help and to the dog who can suffer terrible consequences from failed training.

I have no shame in admitting that I cannot and do not know it all. There are so many great trainers and behaviourists that could be better suited to a particular situation and it is only fair to myself, you, your dog and that trainer that I refer you on.

These are only the most important questions to ask an expert before you hire them. There are many more that can give you more information but these will help you to determine whether this is someone you want working with your dog or not.

If you aren’t sure, please reach out and I’d be happy to chat more about how to find an ethical and reliable dog trainer in your area. In terms of my own qualifications, in a country where dog training is not a regulated industry it is hard to find a qualification that gives you everything you need for the job.

I have done and continue to do a number of various courses accumulating knowledge on all things dog and dog training/behaviour - Certificate II in Animal Studies with TAFE (included a year of a traineeship with a vet practice) - Living and Learning with Animals run by Susan Friedman PhD Animal Behaviour Modification and Animal Behaviour Science - Social Media and Web development course with TAFE (for the admin and marketing side of my job) - Various School of Canine Science courses run by Jo Rosie, Nando Brown and Dean Nicholas. Including the Behaviour Bible which is an in-depth 3 year course on dog behaviour. Currently working on the end of year 1 of the course and loving it! Along with these courses I have had practical experience through a variety of settings - Shadowed an animal behaviourist for 5 years, observing and sometimes participating in face to face consultations - Worked as a vet nurse to gain experience with animals - Worked for a dog walking company to gain further experience with dogs and to take training out into real world situations - Offered pet sitting to gain experience working with a large variety of dogs from all walks of life - Observing classes run by other trainers

All in all I have an abundance of knowledge and expertise when it comes to dog training but the industry is always changing, making new discoveries and adapting it’s protocols, so not only do I complete courses but I continue to follow dog science and training news, watching webinars, researching papers and discussing topics frequently with other trainers. This helps me to stay up to date on the science that is dog behaviour and be the best trainer I can be for you and your dogs.