Choosing A Dog Trainer

Training a puppy can be a challenging task. However, teaching your dog basic social and obedience skills will make for a well adjusted canine. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a trainer.

Training a puppy can be a challenging task. However, teaching your dog basic social and obedience skills will make for a well adjusted canine. Just remember that in dog training, the handler needs to be trained just as much as the dog. To help you in your training efforts, you may wish to enlist the help of a professional dog trainer. Dog training will vary in terms of quality, cost and training philosophies. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a trainer.

Determine your needs and your budget. Training costs can vary from free - sometimes offered by volunteers in parks or shelters to $100 per session. Training fees will vary depending on your location, trainer experience, length of program and your goals. Shop around and don抰 be afraid to ask questions.

To help you choose the best training program for you and your dog, determine your goals. You may want a dog who can be entered in shows, or you may just want your dog to be obedient and not chew your furniture. In either case, regular training will be required and the type and amount will vary with the breed and individual temperament.

Make a time commitment to your dog抯 training. Some training programs run weekly, others run more often. You will also need to spend time practicing the exercises and techniques at home every day for maximum benefits. Dogs at the beginning of their training will more time and attention in order to learn. An hour a day is not at all unusual.

Choosing the right type of training will depend on what you want to achieve with your dog and how you want to influence and shape their natural attributes. Some dogs are fearful either from natural tendency toward submission or from past abuse. Some are too assertive, perhaps from past abuse or natural striving for pack leader status.

No matter what your goals, budget or commitment are, you want to choose a trainer who exhibits loads of patience and boundless energy, not to mention a deep love for dogs. Aside from these basic attributes, you'll want a trainer whose philosophy is in line with yours and matches your goals. Some trainers insist that dog training is more about training the owner than the dog. Some are lenient and friendly, basing their training on lots of rewards and only positive reinforcements. Others will choose a more discipline based training. You may need to try more than one style to find the one that works best for you and your dog. Regardless of the training style, most trainers will focus their training on basic principles such as?patience, persistence, and consistency.

Don抰 be afraid to ask for recommendations or references and to shop around. You may need to change trainers once or twice to find one suitable for your needs. Just be careful not to change on a whim. Dogs need consistency and a regular environment in order to absorb the lessons that are being taught.

Good luck and good hunting!