If you’re struggling to manage your dog during walks, frustrated by counter-surfing, or embarrassed by excessive jumping on guests, you might be considering hiring a dog trainer. With so many dog trainers available nationwide, each using their own terminology and techniques, finding the right fit can be overwhelming. At Good Woofer K9, we’re committed to equipping dog owners with the resources they need to either train their own dogs or find a skilled trainer who aligns with their goals.
When selecting a dog trainer, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to ensure they are a good fit for you and your dog. Just like choosing a wedding planner or personal trainer, you need to ask questions to ensure the dog trainer will help you achieve your goals within your budget and is someone you trust with your dog.
Here are some essential questions to ask a dog trainer to ensure they are the right match for you and your dog:
What is your training approach or methodology?
Understanding a trainer’s methodology is key to ensuring their approach aligns with your training goals. Common dog training methodologies include:
Positive Reinforcement: Often referred to as force-free training, this method uses praise and rewards to encourage new skills. It’s effective for puppies and general obedience but may not be sufficient for behavioral modifications like aggression.
Correction-Based Training: This approach uses corrections and punishments to address dangerous or aggressive behaviors. Popularized by celebrity trainers like Cesar Millan, it focuses on immediate behavior correction.
Balanced Training: Combining positive reinforcement and correction-based methods, balanced training emphasizes building a strong relationship between a dog and its owner while addressing individual behavioral needs using behavior science.
Please note there are extremes to all approaches and methodologies when it comes to dog trainers.
What qualifications or experience do you have in dog training?
This question has two benefits. (1) you can understand how this dog trainer learned how to train dogs, and (2) you can learn about their special qualifications or any unique background they may have.
For instance, two of Good Woofer K9's trainers are former veterinary technicians and both have extensive knowledge in animal behavior. If a dog owner is researching trainers for a board-and-train style dog training, it may bring them peace of mind when they know their dog is being taken care of and trained by someone who has the knowledge and experience in the veterinary field.
Make sure you are comfortable with the qualifications and background of the dog trainers.
Do you customize training plans for each, individual dog?
99% of trainers who do private lessons or board-and-train style dog training will be customizing the training to cater to your dog's needs and learning style. Group-style training classes are usually curriculum-based and catered more towards training the owner how to train their dog. What this question really targets is how does a dog trainer customize training plans according to the owner's training goals?
For instance, a dog owner who owns an Australian Shepherd and lives on a horse or cattle farm will have vastly different training goals than an owner who owns a "Doodle" and lives in a quiet, suburban neighborhood. Not every trainer, especially for board-and-train style dog training, can customize their training to practice around horses or cattle.
What kind of training tools do you use?
This question is just as important as the "what is your training approach" question. If you don't agree with or are hesitant about a tool a dog trainer uses, it may not be the right fit for you. However, we always encourage dog owners to do their research on different dog training tools and ask trainers about why they use them and how safe and effective they are. It never hurts to ask a lot of questions. We at Good Woofer K9 are always happy to answer questions dog owners may have.
What are some of the tools dog trainers use?
Treats (sometimes dog trainers will use the dog's kibble instead or a mix of both high-value and low value treats)
Toys
Affection
Slip leads
Prong collars
E-collars (or electronic collars)
Shake cans (at Good Woofer K9 we use a rolled up towel instead and call it a "bonker")
Make sure the trainer can explain why they use specific tools and how they ensure their safety and effectiveness.
What is the cost of your dog training services and what is included with it?
Some trainers may not list prices online and pricing structures vary widely and differ based on services. A dog owner with a 12-week old puppy may be a great candidate for online lessons, but a 3-year-old rescue who is reactive on a leash and has a bite history will most likely be a candidate for a board-and-train style dog training package. These different services have a large difference in cost and benefits.
At Good Woofer K9, our board-and-train packages come with more than just the training. We provide the tools and equipment along with access to our exclusive client services such as boarding while you go on vacation and follow-up lessons to help keep up with the training and help you with any roadblocks you may hit.
Do you offer any follow-up support or additional resources?
What happens if you are running practice drills with your dog and it isn't going the same way it was during lessons or it wasn't exactly how the trainer was able to do it? Effective dog training often requires ongoing support. Ask if the trainer provides follow-up sessions or additional resources to help with continued progress or troubleshooting. There are some dog trainers that include it in the price of their packaged services and others have it on an "a la carte" menu.
As we stated above, Good Woofer K9 offers follow-up services to all of our board-and-train clients. This includes checking in after the dog returns home, hopping on a zoom call to help dog owners through a rough patch or a training regression (which happens quite often with puppies when they get to be about a year old). If necessary and feasible, we can do an in-person lesson with the client and their dog to help them with their trouble spots.
Can you provide any references or testimonials from previous dog training clients?
References and testimonials offer insight into a trainer’s success and client satisfaction. Most established dog trainers have a testimonials on their website or platforms such as Google. However, it is always a good idea to ask. If a dog trainer says no to this question, then it is worth noting when you are making your decision on who you want to train your dog and it may be considered a red flag.
At Good Woofer K9, we have testimonials and reviews on our website in addition to Google Reviews. We also provide success stories in our monthly newsletter with a testimonial from the dog's owner. On our social media pages, we have many videos of our dog training sessions. Some of them have verbal testimonials from the dog owners, too.
At the end of the day, you are making an investment in you and your dog's future and you should make sure you understand the whole picture so you can make your investment into dog training a smart and successful one. We hope these questions to ask a dog trainer will help you in finding the best trainer for your dog. If you have any questions for trainers at Good Woofer K9, please send us a message. If you want to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your training goals or roadblocks, click the link below.
Comments