How to Choose a Good Dog Trainer

Service and Therapy Dog Consultant

For the majority of modern dog owners, choosing the right dog trainer is one of the most important decisions they will have to make regarding their dog.

Comments below by Carol F. King

  • If taking a 6-9 weekly obedience class paying for the whole thing is most likely fine. If hiring for full Service Dog Training, DO NOT pay for more than a few 3-4 weeks at a time. A "scammer" will not allow this; they will want all the money upfront. You do not want to be stuck with a long, expensive contract if it isn't working out. Sit in on a couple of the Trainer's Classes to see what you think and how you feel. Does he/she treat the dog and handler with respect and kindness, even when "correcting" the handler in the way they are doing something?
  • The trainer should be training you to train your dog. The trainer can train the dog for you; when the leash is handed back to you, the dog will act like it always has with you.
  • The most important part of training for Service Dog work is obedience and Public Access. (how the dog behaves in public) Is the dog afraid of a certain population (children, race, sex, age, etc.)? How about loud unexpected sounds, dump trucks backing up while walking on the sidewalk, buses, trucks with loud air brakes rushing by. Since this is the foundation of the training, choosing a good obedience trainer and not a Service Dog trainer is not a bad idea and maybe easier to find in your area.
  • Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT.com) is a National program, and most likely, you can find a good trainer there. Also, local Breed Clubs often have obedience classes; some local Public Parks have training programs.
  • After the obedience training, you will most likely know if the dog is going to "wash out." Then start putting the "Tasks" on the dog. If your obedience teacher does not know how to help you do this, then look for help. The PTSD list, books on that specific task. By sharing these things with the obedience trainer, he/she will most likely get the idea and be able to help you follow through. Some types of training (sound alert work for a hearing dog) often takes two. One to make the sound (knock on the door) and another to train and reward the dog.
  • For Training Treats. You want something the dog will "sell its soul for." If the dog is not motivated by food, then a "toy" he will do anything for. In the packaged deli section of most grocery stores, they have prepackaged chopped-up chicken to put on salads or for toppings. Often if you look real hard, you will find cubed ham. My current Service Dog was not that turned on with the chicken. However, he got a "scrap of ham," and I saw the look in his eye. I bought the cubed ham; my dog being half Terrier, though it was "his idea" to be trained. (With Terriers, the only way it works is if they believe it is their idea, keep in mind at the same time, without you realizing it, the Terrier is training you.) These packages of meat are most likely too large to use before they spoil. When you open the package, put it in several smaller zip sandwich bags and freeze. Then take one out as you need it.