We want all owners to develop a true bond with their dogs involving genuine and mutual love and respect.

What’s wrong with puppy or dog training offered by my local pet store?

Pet stores are in the business of selling dog products. Offering training camps and classes is a way for these stores to market and bring in new customers. Classes offered by mega pet stores build you up as a giant treat dispenser to your dog. Most owners find out quickly that this type of training does not end in reliable and consistent results. Think about it, is a retail employee that’s gone through a short commercial training program truly qualified to train your dog?

Tips to finding the best dog trainer for you:

  1. Google the name of the dog training company or facility. Also be sure to Google the personal name of the dog trainer. Be wary of trainers that are operating under multiple names, particularly if one of those business names has bad reviews or complaints.
  2. Call the trainer and talk to them directly. Get a feel for what their training philosophy is and why they are in the business of training dogs.
  3. Get a list of references from the trainer. These should be recent and true clients, not associates or personal friends of the trainer. Call at least 2 or 3 of these references. You’d do the same finding a babysitter for a child, wouldn’t you?
  4. Avoid most trainers that offer a free consultation or evaluation. These are trainers or companies that are either very inexperienced or they will try to pressure you into a contract (bait and switch) during their visit. Experienced trainers typically charge for a dog evaluation because it involves them coming out to your home, working with you and your dog personally, and leaving you with valuable instructions/tips whether or not you choose to purchase a training package.
  5. The trainer must have a demonstration dog and you should be wow’ed by how well it’s trained. The demo dog is a direct example of the trainer’s ability.
  6. Avoid trainers that focus on dominance reduction as a way to train dogs. This method has been made popular from a certain TV dog trainer, which makes for an entertaining TV show but it’s definitely not healthy or reliable training. The same goes for treat or clicker training.
  7. If you have a difficult or aggressive dog, a truly talented trainer should never label your dog as a “lost cause” or suggest your dog be medicated to solve a problem. The trainer should be versatile and able to use a variety of techniques to solve a wide range of dog problems.
  8. Most trainers will advertise a warranty of guarantee on their training. Ask the trainer to explain in detail what this means and see if you can find evidence (reviews, testimonials, calling references) of them really living up to their promises.

How should a trainer’s demonstration dog perform?