While training varies from dog to dog based on the desired outcome such as puppy development, basic obedience, or advanced obedience, reducing reactivity, or scent detection, the fundamentals are the same. At the end of the day, we are all dog trainers. Whether it’s your first dog or your third, you’re a dog trainer. Are you training your dog to engage in desirable behaviors or undesirable behaviors? The moment we start to pay attention to everything we’re training the dog to do is the same moment we can really start to push the dog to engage in desirable behaviors.
There are infinite ways to train dogs. Selecting a dog trainer and dog training program comes down to what you, as the client,t are looking for. Is your dog aggressive towards strangers or other dogs? If so, you want to research different trainers, read reviews, and look for a program that yields real-world results. Just like any industry, there are myths, people looking to make a quick buck, and theories that sound good, but aren’t practical.
How does the trainer talk and act during the consultation? Do they lead by example? Are they confident? Does their training methodology make sense? What’s their experience? What certifications do they have? How do their personal dogs behave? You wouldn’t take fitness advice from someone that’s out of shape, so don’t take dog training advice from someone whose dogs aren’t trained to an advanced level.
Dogs are like people. They are highly intelligent, emotional animals. When researching dog training programs, make sure the one you choose is holistic. You want someone to train your dog who is professional, experienced, objective, and respectful. And look out for any training program that is extreme, either too hands-off or too hands-on. The answer is always somewhere in the middle.
Get in contact with the team at Dynamic Canine Solutions and schedule a consultation to see what dog training program would work best for you and your dog.
