Training: Dog trainers

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A good dog trainer can help you with anything from teaching basic commands to dealing with problem behaviors such as aggression or separation anxiety. But you'll need to do some investigating to make sure you get a good one. Trainers aren't licensed or regulated, and anyone can hang out a shingle declaring himself a professional dog trainer or behaviorist.

How to find a trainer

The best way to find a skilled trainer is through word of mouth. Ask your vet, the breeder or shelter where you got your dog, the local humane society, as well as dog owners in your neighborhood for recommendations. If you spot a dog at the park with stellar obedience skills, ask her owner for a reference.

You can also search for trainers in your area on the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) website and ask if they teach classes. The APDT doesn't screen members, but it encourages them to use humane methods and to keep up with the latest in training and behavior with classes and conferences.

Signs of a good trainer

Once you've got a few recommendations, you'll want to suss them out a bit. Here are some things to look for:

The trainer uses treats, praise, and games to teach. These methods are considered more effective--not to mention more humane--than physical punishments such as jerking the leash, shaking the dog by the scruff, rolling the dog onto his back, and any other technique that frightens or hurts the dog.

The trainer has education and experience in pet dog training. Seems obvious, but it's not required in order to call yourself a dog trainer, so it's worth double-checking.

The trainer is a good communicator with humans as well as canines. She'll be teaching you how to train, so ideally your trainer will have people skills as well [Continued]

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There's an alternative to private or group lessons, which is sending your dog away to a trainer--kind of like boarding school for canines. This isn't a popular choice among dog owners, and for good reason. Your dog may learn to be perfectly obedient with her trainer, but she won't necessarily transfer that obedience to you. What's more, you won't learn anything about training dogs. Without regular practice at home, your dog is likely to lose her new skills.

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