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

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

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 as dog skills.

The trainer specializes in certain problem behaviors. If you're dealing with a specific issue, such as anxiety or aggression, look for a trainer with a track record of helping dogs with that problem.

If you think you've found a good trainer, ask if you can sit in on a class and watch her in action. Or, if you want individual training sessions in your home, ask for a consultation so you can see how the trainer interacts with your dog.

How much trainers cost

Group versus private training

The one case where you'd be better off with private training is if you're dealing with a specific problem, such as separation anxiety. Group classes don't allow much time for one-on-one attention, but a private lesson lets the trainer evaluate your dog and come up with a tailored training plan.

You may also want to go with private sessions if you can't make a regular class; they usually meet weekly for about an hour, and run for a few months.

Bottom line: Trainers can be a huge help, whether you want to teach your dog the basics or you're dealing with a serious behavior problem. But because dog trainers and behaviorists aren't regulated, you'll need to do a little sleuthing to find a good one.