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| Warning! Don't hire a trainer until you read |
Anyone can call themselves a "dog trainer, dog behaviorist, dog and
absolutely NO special training, certification, licensing, or degrees are
required by law?
This means any person, at any time, anywhere, with any level of
knowledge or experience, can start a dog training business,
charging trusting dog parents $50, $80, or $100+ an hour! All without
any guarantee that the parent is receiving humane,
responsible, educated, scientifically-valid advice and services.
There are many, many dog trainer "certifications" available to people
who pay money and take a course or enroll in a school.
Some of these certifications are more respectable than others. But the
bottom line is, anyone can open a school and start
"certifying dog trainers". A certification is only as good as the
organization or school that did the certifying.
There are no government licenses in place for dog trainers.
There are no nationally recognized or enforceable standards of
practice for dog trainers.
This means that dog trainers can do just about anything to your dog
and call it "training", and likely get away with it, even if they
hurt your dog physically or psychologically!
Before you hire a dog trainer, do your research. Ask for certifications
and other qualifications, and then research those things.
Ask for references and then call them! Remember that you are hiring
someone who is a member of a profession where
'anything goes' - so be cautious! If a trainer tells you they use a
particular tool or technique, do some digging - the Internet is a
wonderful place to gather information and will help you make informed
decisions.
Your dog trusts you - he relies on you to protect him and keep him
safe from harm. You owe it to your dog to choose the best
trainer possible. This is a person that will address the problems you
seek help for and offer solutions that help - not hurt - your
best friend or your relationship with him.
absolutely NO special training, certification, licensing, or degrees are
required by law?
This means any person, at any time, anywhere, with any level of
knowledge or experience, can start a dog training business,
charging trusting dog parents $50, $80, or $100+ an hour! All without
any guarantee that the parent is receiving humane,
responsible, educated, scientifically-valid advice and services.
There are many, many dog trainer "certifications" available to people
who pay money and take a course or enroll in a school.
Some of these certifications are more respectable than others. But the
bottom line is, anyone can open a school and start
"certifying dog trainers". A certification is only as good as the
organization or school that did the certifying.
There are no government licenses in place for dog trainers.
There are no nationally recognized or enforceable standards of
practice for dog trainers.
This means that dog trainers can do just about anything to your dog
and call it "training", and likely get away with it, even if they
hurt your dog physically or psychologically!
Before you hire a dog trainer, do your research. Ask for certifications
and other qualifications, and then research those things.
Ask for references and then call them! Remember that you are hiring
someone who is a member of a profession where
'anything goes' - so be cautious! If a trainer tells you they use a
particular tool or technique, do some digging - the Internet is a
wonderful place to gather information and will help you make informed
decisions.
Your dog trusts you - he relies on you to protect him and keep him
safe from harm. You owe it to your dog to choose the best
trainer possible. This is a person that will address the problems you
seek help for and offer solutions that help - not hurt - your
best friend or your relationship with him.