Hard Truth: Choose The Right Dog Trainer, Not Everyone Should Be Training Dogs.

If a dog trainer doesn’t have a demo dog or a dog you would genuinely want yours to behave like, you should be asking why. If they can’t demonstrate the behaviours they’re teaching, can’t reliably communicate with their own dog or their own dog struggles with the same behaviours they claim to help owners with, why should you trust them to help you ?

No dog is perfect but a trainers own dog(s) should reflect their knowledge, mechanics, understanding and ability to apply what they teach and show it produces reliable, repeatable results. It should be proof that their training works and their own dogs should reflect the standard they are asking you to work towards. Their own dog(s) and clients should be their greatest advertisement, not their social media.

A trainers success isn’t measured by how many posts they make, it’s measured by the progress their clients achieve. Their clients should be a testament to the effectiveness of their training program if the owner has been consistent, disciplined and committed to their dog. Anyone can build a social media following, not everyone can consistently produce well trained dogs and educated owners.

A good trainer shouldn’t just tell you what to do, they should be able to show you. They should be comfortable demonstrating their training, answering questions and explaining the “why” behind their methods without becoming defensive. They should also be open to prospective clients sitting in on a lesson or spectating a class. If someone is competent and confident in what they do and has nothing to hide, transparency shouldn’t be a problem.

Before hiring a trainer, ask yourself:

• Would I want my dog to behave like theirs ?

• Can they demonstrate the skills they’re teaching ?

• Do their clients that have completed and been committed to their dogs training program reflect consistent, long term results ?

• Are they open to questions and observation ?

• Do they become defensive when challenged ?