Dog Trainer Green Flags
Dog training is not a regulated industry and a single certification is not equivalent to a robust and thorough education. Most certifications are acquired through a multiple choice test and a handful of hours shadowing a trainer, not enough for a complete education.
A well educated dog trainer is one who has years of experience and a wide range of continuing education with different certifications, courses, seminars, and shadowing.
Be mindful that anyone can claim they are a dog trainer due to the lack of regulations. Take your time researching, interviewing, and asking questions in order to find a reputable professional. Here are some green flags when looking for a dog trainer.
They should make custom training plans for the dogs they work with. A one size fits all approach does not work for all dogs.
They should be open to using a wide variety of tools and methods to find what works best for your dog. If they do not have a solid education on how to use a tool or method they should not be commenting on the validity of that tool or method.
They should give you follow up materials (written curriculum, instructional videos, and/or educational graphics) after every class so you can accurately replicate what you worked on in class. They should also be available in between classes to answer questions and provide feedback.
Training should be about you training the dog, not about them taking the dog from you and giving you back a “perfectly” trained dog.
If you feel uncomfortable with a tool or method they should be able to have a kind, understanding, and fact based conversation with you about that tool or method. They should be able to adjust their training plan if you do not want to use a tool or method.
They should always put the dog’s health and emotional state first before expecting behavior change. They should have a basic understanding of how diet, common medical issues, and pain impact behavior.
They should be able to explain to you why they are recommending a specific tool or method and cite research studies, work from other trainers, and/or personal experiences that reference why they are making that recommendation.
If your dog is going to be in their care for boarding, walks, day school or something similar they should be able to clearly explain their protocols for keeping the dogs fed, watered, exercised, and safe. They should be able to explain how they prevent and handle different emergencies. They should also be CPR/First Aid certified.
They should always communicate with you in a respectful, kind, and empathetic way.
I think the list above is the bare minimum of what should be expected for a dog trainer, but the bar has been set low due to a lack of regulations. Just because someone is offering a good price, has popular social media or your friend had a good experience with them doesn’t make them the right trainer for you and your dog.