05/08/2025
Client:Trainer matching...This is a goal of mine for 2025
We get clients from all over the US, many who may need help training their dogs. Some may not be interested of course. In years past, I was reactive to only recommend trainers to our clients when when they asked. Instead of reactively recommending a trainer, I want to begin proactively recommending trainers to our clients by providing our clients with a list of professional trainers along with our guide on how to get the most out of a dog. Unfortunately, leads to a new challenge, vetting the trainer, as trust requires both competency and ethics.
Over the last 25 years however, I have unfortunately observed far too many trainers lack the ethical practices I deem required from a professional "canine trainer." Some lack the proper facilities to house dogs for inboard training, which is essential. Plastic crates kept in a garage or even a living room are not sufficient to house dogs for in board training. Additionally, having a professional training facility (either indoors or outdoors) also separates the professional from unprofessional. Training at the local parks is great if that is all one has, but that in my honest opinion is not the approach a well-established professional trainer will take...a competent newly established trainer may be doing this, but if they are good at their craft, it won't be long for them to move to having their own professional facility.
Why this policy? Well, I recall one "well-respected" trainer in particular that trained in parks, and I recommended a client reach out to for help with obedience and informed the trainer to not do any bitework yet. That trainer did not follow my recommendation. While I am fine with a person doing obedience EITHER before or after bitework, I know BEFORE doing obedience during bitework it should first be taught outside of bitework, and then incorperated into bitework by being rewarded under slow but progressive levels of distraction. I recommended this because the owner was struggling with controlling their dog when it got amped up and the dog had not learned any obedience yet at that time. That trainer however unfortunately did not take that approach. After reviewing what happened, I wonder if they were actually trying to create a problem because that trainer and I had political difference of opinions and also because they were associated with another "bandog program" so to speak.
The dog was 5 months old, their first time meeting the owner and dog they put the dog directly into high drive with strong challenges from an agitator, and while the dog was in drive they sought to have the owner control the dog in drive without any prior training of control simply by yelling at the owner repeatedly to "hang em, swing em." As a result of this terrible approach, the dog developed a STRONG desire to tag anyone and everyone he could not trust, including his owner who was now betraying his dog's trust by handing him and swinging him on a choker without any prior training to teach the dog how to comply and understand successful and desirable behaviors...all under that trainer's guidance. This experience stopped me from recommending trainers I personally do not know. Over the years however, many of us have seen unethical encounters of abuse and neglect by other trainers caught on tape, and one thing I have noticed is about 90% of such nonsense is from people that train only part time. Very few full-time well-established trainers are guilty of such nonsense.
Fortunately, after receiving that video (which I still have mind you), I reached out to the owner and thankfully 2 days later had the dog back in my possession so I could personally correct the nonsense that "professional" developed. That mess that was completely avoidable. The dog stayed here for a few months, was completely rehabilitated and then resold to an experienced handler.
So, from here forward, I would like to gather a list of PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS THROUGHOUT THE US THAT HAVE A PROPER FACILITY so I can help my clients connect with well-established professionals. If you are interested, please send me a link to your business website along with a video of your facilities and training. Thank you.
Sincerely,
H Lee Robinson
American Sentinel K9, LLC
AmericanBandog.com
