So Many Options... What’s a Dog Owner to Do? - April 11

by Patty Homer

When the need arises to hire a dog trainer, whether it is for simple obedience training or complex behavior solving, the vast number of trainers and techniques can be overwhelming and confusing. Dog training is not an exact science; there is not one way to teach a new behavior or one way to modify an unwanted behavior. There are too many variables in dog training; just a few are: the dog’s environment, owner compliance, physical and mental health of the dog and the dog’s individual motivation. For these reasons alone, no dog trainer should ever give a guarantee to the outcome of training. 
Obedience training is different than behavior modification. Obedience training is teaching a dog to sit, lie down, come, stay, and walk nicely on a leash — for this you would hire a dog trainer. Behavior modification is modifying unacceptable behavior such as excessive barking, biting or jumping and aggressive, anxious or fearful behavior — for this you would hire either a behavior consultant or a veterinary behaviorist.
There are two major training methods — traditional and positive. Most training options fall into one method or the other, but each method may include techniques that cross the line into the other method. Every dog trainer, regardless of what method they use, has different opinions and techniques.

Traditional Training
Formal dog training began during World War I when troops started using dogs in combat. Many dogs became casualties of war which created the need for the rapid training of new dogs to replace those who gave their lives. The method that was used to quickly train these dogs is known as “traditional” training. Traditional training is based on physical punishment and/or intimidation.
Traditional training involves leash “jerks” and the use of choke, pinch and/or shock collars. This method creates a training atmosphere of pain and intimidation and is sometimes linked to ideas of dominance training, meaning the belief that it is impossible to train a dog unless you are the dominant animal.
Traditional trainers believe that this method provides highly reliable results and that the aversive equipment (choke, pinch, shock collars) does not harm the dog when used correctly. Critics of traditional training believe that the method and tools are cruel and harmful even when used correctly. Lately, traditional training has become popular and made to look simple on television and while these methods may work for some dogs, it has a very undesirable effect on dogs that are by nature fearful, shy, sensitive and/or aggressive or if the trainer does not have impeccable timing, control, and skill.

Positive Training
Over the years, methods have changed and morphed into gentler methods thanks to the scientific study of animal behavior and training results. Positive training started to become popular in the 1990’s and includes “lure and reward” and “clicker” training.
Positive trainers believe that you can get better, longer lasting results using a combination of positive rewards for good behavior (food, toys, praise) and non-hurtful consequences (ignoring the bad, verbal corrections) for unwanted behavior. They also believe that pain-free methods create dogs that are eager to please, enjoy working and builds a stronger bond between you and your dog. Critics say that using food as a learning tool or reward system is just “bribing” the dog. Positive training when done correctly, however, uses food as a reward (not bribe) and those food rewards are replaced with life rewards (praise, play, affection, privileges) as soon as the dog understands what you want.

Trainer Qualifications
Dog trainers are not controlled by any governing agency. This means that anybody can hang out a shingle claiming to be a dog trainer; it is definitely “buyers beware.” There are only a few dog training associations that test and certify dog trainers’ knowledge and abilities: the Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers (ccpdt.org), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP canineprofessionals.com) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC iaabc.org).
Many trainers advertise that they are certified, but before you hire them, ask who they are certified through! Since there are no legal regulations, it is up to the consumer to check out a trainer’s qualifications. Some companies hire employees, put them through a few weeks of training and declare them certified. There are also correspondence schools that consider a student certified upon completion of some coursework regardless if they have ever laid hands on a dog or not.
Not all trainers offer behavior modification and not all behavior consultants offer obedience training, so it is important to ask how much experience a trainer has with whatever behavior issue your dog is having. You should check references and certifications. The certifying organizations listed above have a list of their certified trainers on their website.

Veterinarians
Veterinarians are the only professionals allowed to prescribe and oversee behavior modifying medications. There are board certified veterinary specialists that work with pet owners and trainers to manage behavior problems. The governing agency for veterinary behaviorists is the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (dacvb.org). All veterinarians are allowed by law to prescribe medications, but most vets are not qualified to counsel dog owners about behavior or training issues unless they have a special interest in behavior or are board certified.
There are many choices to be made before choosing the right trainer. It’s important to start your dog’s training as early as possible, but don’t rush the decision on which trainer to use. Consider all of your choices and interview more than one trainer before deciding on which one is right for you. As in most things in life, having knowledge, skills and experience is ideal. 

Patty Homer is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and a Pet First Aid instructor. She has been training dogs for 20 years. She owns Good Pup dog training and boarding in South Kansas City. Her certifications include CPDT-KA (certified through the Certification Counsel of Professional Dog Trainers); CDT certified through the International Association of Canine Professionals. She is the Founder and President of HEARTland Positive Dog Training Alliance. For more information, visit her website at www.goodpupkc.com.