03/02/2025
🐾 How to choose a dog trainer 🐾
The dog training industry is an unregulated 1. This means you do not have to qualify and literally anyone can call themselves a trainer.
Why is this dangerous?
You could be taking your dog to someone with no formal training, they do not know the science, proper techniques or how to deal with some of the bigger problem areas. Owning dogs all your life and training your own simply doesn’t prepare you for some of the reactivity cases, separation cases, under/over socialised cases and more that you will come across as a trainer, including many health problems that can effect behaviours. Every dog is different and you need to be taught how to handle that effectively and also ethically. But mostly, as a trainer it’s actually extremely rare that we are handling the dog. We are actually human trainers. Our job is to train YOU how to train your dog and this takes people skills too. So even if you’ve done a great job training your own personal dogs it doesn’t prepare you for teaching someone else how to do it in all different scenarios.
Do I believe qualifications are a must?
Not necessarily. I have them and continuously work on myself and keep up to date with science. I could do that without officially qualifying. To me it’s mostly important that the person claiming to be a trainer is doing just that. Attending courses, webinars etc and trying out different things to keep up to date and bettering themselves- after all no1 knows absolutely everything!
If your dog trainer isn’t doing this- run!
Puppy play dates:
Whilst trainers certainly aren’t opposed to dogs having their friends and playtimes (they absolutely need it!) they are often run incorrectly with a free for all type play. This can result in rude and unwanted behaviours, over socialisation and later problems with recall, poor play styles and even reactivity. Most training sessions will encourage dogs to be working with their owners in the presence of other dogs to learn how to keep focused in distracting places but also how amazing and important you are as the owner.
So what are you looking for/asking for?
🐾Qualifications? If none what CPD (continued professional development) do they do?
🐾 What are their ethics? Do they align with yours?
🐾 How are their group sessions run? Is the focus on you and your bond/training?
Here’s mine:
I’m qualified with IMDT (institute of modern dog trainers). I am a member of UK Sniffer dogs and also Kids around Dogs (both have to take courses and qualify for). I also am a member of the school of canine science’s high performers where we do challenges/tasks and development weekly in all different areas. I attend monthly webinars for Kids around dogs to keep up to date with them too. As well as these I will often do singular seminars/webinars that pop up throughout the year and I take my own dogs to other trainers courses on scent work, agility and mantrailing (it takes a village to give everything sometimes!)
Photo is 1 of my own dogs in competition taken by Coalcroft photography!
Welcome to Petiquette! Dog training classes that are fun, positive and help you on your way to many
