You and your dog should both enjoy the training process!

Photo by Jerry Buffman

These days you don't have to look very far to find someone masquerading as someone else or trying to sell you something that is not what you think it is. I have heard our current time period referred to as “the service age.” Reflecting on recent phone battles with various pseudo-service providers, I might call this the “no-service age” or, even better, the “trick-service age.”

Distinguishing quality from fluff is a task that summons us in many of life's endeavors, including caring for our pets. While there are plenty of good trainers available, there are some who profess knowledge about dog training and behavior who are worthy of scrutiny. It could be that the current “cleverly capitalistic” climate in our society and economy will force us to evolve within ourselves some of the traits and skills we so often admire in our dogs and cats. Focus. Attention to detail. Self-reliance. Intuition.

When seeking training or behavioral support for your dog, I suggest that you be like your dog. Be like your dog when she is engaged in an activity that she enjoys. Adopt that focus, attention to detail, sense of self-reliance, and know that success is your responsibility. Not your dog's. Not your trainer's. Furthermore, trust your intuition. If you really get the sense that someone is just telling you what you want to hear, don't ignore that. Dogs tend to be unimpressed with phoniness or facade. So, be like your dog!

Here are a few important points to consider as you search for the right trainer:

—First and foremost your prospective trainer/coach should be someone with whom you feel comfortable. He or she should inspire you and challenge you. Any good trainer knows that reaching the person is the most direct route to helping a dog and should bring those skills to the table along with his or her canine prowess. Compatibility is key, because training should be enjoyable!    

—Your trainer should be capable of helping you understand your dog's specific physical and temperament characteristics from a breed standpoint and how they will influence/direct the training. Working with a dog whose breed predominance is shepherd or collie can be worlds different than working with a retriever or a pug. Finding someone with a good knowledge of breed origins is a plus when selecting a trainer.

—An honest trainer will be straightforward with you about the fact that you cannot train a dog whose basic needs are regularly unfulfilled. Successful training depends on a variety of ingredients working together, and it is futile and unreasonable for a dog to learn while competing with the strain of unnecessary pressure. So, if your teacher is constantly stressing the need for your commitment to exercise, good nutrition, interaction and consistency, take it as a good sign that he or she really cares about your dog, and not as a judgment of your pet parenting. By the same token, be suspicious if your trainer offers you “quick fix” solutions and doesn't emphasize the need for time and dedication on your part.

—A qualified trainer needs to be flexible and versatile when it comes to methodology and implementation. This is because dogs, like kids, are not all alike. Cookie-cutter training programs that attempt to funnel a multitude of dogs through a one-size-fits-all curriculum often leave many by the wayside and their owners feeling disillusioned. Although your trainer may lean toward one approach over another, in order to best help you, he or she should be versed in other schools of training and be capable of accessing any advantages they provide. This leads to the appropriate use of training equipment which is directly connected to methodology.

—As your trainer introduces the use of equipment (I even include a leash, collar and food rewards in the category of training equipment) he or she should be able to help you understand and incorporate these three considerations into your training strategy.

1. What is the proposed equipment specifically designed for (i.e. restraint and/or training) and why is it necessary?
2. How do I use the equipment as a training aid as opposed to merely a restraint or distraction? 
3. How and when does the equipment become obsolete and my own cues/directives take over?

With the help of your instructor you should have all three of these questions addressed before you initiate the use of any kind of equipment.

These may seem obvious but are very important questions that are often overlooked in the fast-paced, meet-the-demand training climate of today. Many programs claim that acclimating a dog to a routine of physical restraint and constant food distraction amounts to some level of training. This is the facade. Although treats and a virtual treasure-trove of devices may offer you some support along the path toward a harmonious relationship with your dog, they are not the end game. A good teacher needs to explain to you the difference between restraining and training, then show you the path from point A to point B.

—Finally, a good trainer should handle your dog in a manner you are comfortable with and be able to exemplify (with his or her own dog or training dog) the skills that you are striving to achieve with your dog, in the type of environment that you will be working with your dog. It is one thing to gain a dog's attention in a controlled environment, and altogether another to do the same in a high-distraction environment like your neighborhood. Put your trainer to the test!

It occurs to me, as I read through what I have just advised, that once again, if you are going to effectively sniff out a helpful trainer, you need to be like your dog. Curious but questioning, investigative, discriminating, and always allowing your intuition to have a say!

Ruff, ruff! Go get 'em!

John Spieser is a professional dog trainer and owner of Dogheart. He can be reached at john@doghearta2.com.