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How long has the company been in business?
What certifications does your trainer hold? CPDT-KA should be the bare minimum. A membership with an
association does not qualify as certification. Memberships are often purchased and can be misleading.
Does your trainer call him/herself a BEHAVIOURIST? If so, check credentials. Using this term without a
degree in Applied Animal Behaviour is dishonest at best. No, Cesar Millan is not a behaviourist and has had
to pull the use of that term from his entertainment show.
What kind of training methods does your trainer use? Be careful, trainers against reward based methods
will often replace rewards with leash corrections or worse. These corrections are not necessary and can
degrade your relationship with your dog. Consequences should never include pain, fear or intimidation.
Does the trainer or school have to resort to using a special collar in order to "train"? Shock collars, prong
collars and martingales (designed for a sight hound, not as a correction device), are the usual weapons of
choice and serve only to suppress behaviour. These tools only mask a lack of skill and understanding of true
learning theory.
Does your trainer have a good reputation for delivering results?
Is your trainer recognized by other professionals providing related pet services?
What certifications does your trainer hold? CPDT-KA should be the bare minimum. A membership with an
association does not qualify as certification. Memberships are often purchased and can be misleading.
Does your trainer call him/herself a BEHAVIOURIST? If so, check credentials. Using this term without a
degree in Applied Animal Behaviour is dishonest at best. No, Cesar Millan is not a behaviourist and has had
to pull the use of that term from his entertainment show.
What kind of training methods does your trainer use? Be careful, trainers against reward based methods
will often replace rewards with leash corrections or worse. These corrections are not necessary and can
degrade your relationship with your dog. Consequences should never include pain, fear or intimidation.
Does the trainer or school have to resort to using a special collar in order to "train"? Shock collars, prong
collars and martingales (designed for a sight hound, not as a correction device), are the usual weapons of
choice and serve only to suppress behaviour. These tools only mask a lack of skill and understanding of true
learning theory.
Does your trainer have a good reputation for delivering results?
Is your trainer recognized by other professionals providing related pet services?
Important Questions to Consider
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