Puppy Training - Qualities of a Good Trainer

You may be thinking of hiring someone to help train your pet for you due to having a lack of time, or you are simply inexperienced. In that case, you need to know who to hire. Just ask yourself, what...

You may be thinking of hiring someone to help train your pet for you due to having a lack of time, or you are simply inexperienced. In that case, you need to know who to hire. Just ask yourself, what are the qualities of a good dog trainer? Perhaps you may find these pointers useful.

1) Patience is key.

I place patience at the top of my list because all good trainers must be patient. There is little point trying to rush a dog into learning certain behavior. If the animal doesn't pick up the right cues, there must be some good reason for it. So all good trainers must learn to be patient with the animals. If a trainer is in too much of a hurry, he or she may end up accomplishing less.

2) Understanding of the animal.

There are literally dozens of dog breeds and no 2 breeds possess the same personality traits. To make things worse, no 2 dogs within the same breed are exactly the same either. They all differ in some way or other. Of course, having good knowledge of certain breeds certainly helps. Some personality traits are more obvious in some breeds. Trainers should have a good understanding of the background and genetics of the animals. The knowledge will enable them to alter their training methods so that they are better suited for the puppies.

3) Compassionate and kind.

Sometimes, dog owners like to hire trainers who have won tons of competitions. Maybe these trainers are really good at preparing the animals for the competitions. But that doesn't mean that they are the best people to train your dog. Unless your goal is to have a dog fit for competition, you are far better off hiring a compassionate and kind trainer. A trainer with a good heart will bond quickly with your pet. If the animal goes off course, the trainer will gently guide the animal back on the right track. This is the type of trainer you want for your pet. Training is important, but it doesn't mean your pet has to suffer in the process. It can be fun and engaging as well. And a kind trainer will be more likely to provide that kind of conducive environment.

4) Adequately equipped with the right tools and resources.

During training, you want the training to be effective, and you want your pet to have a comfortable stay with the trainer as well. For this reason, the training grounds should be well equipped with the right training tools and facilities. For example, dogs should not be in an area that is too confined. There should also be custom made obstacles, etc. The training will be more effective with these tools.

You can source for good puppy trainers just by asking other dog owners. If they had a good experience, they will surely refer these sources to you. But don't hire a dog trainer based solely on word of mouth referral. Check out the training grounds yourself and speak with the trainer directly. Only then will you be able to determine the level of expertise that the trainer possesses.