18/12/2024
****** HOW TO SELECT A DOG TRAINER ******
Do you know that in the United States literally ANYONE can legally call himself or herself a dog trainer, even a specialist in some sort of training, such as service dog training or behavior modification, without ANY qualifications other than an interest in dogs?
Dog training is an unregulated industry. There are no legal requirements for being a dog trainer - no license (other than a business license), no certifications, no education, nothing, nada.
It's easy to start a dog training business. Just print some business cards and maybe some other marketing materials - and distribute them - it's easy these days! Sadly, the unsuspecting public has no idea what to look for or what they may be getting themselves into.
Sadly, most general practice veterinarians are of little help when steering their clients to a dog trainer. Most of the time they refer, not based on qualifications or even direct observation of a trainer, but rather, because someone recommended a particular trainer or training organization to them.
This puts dogs, their guardians, and the general public at risk for the consequences of a poor selection process. The threat is not just that of a poorly trained dog, but often, a dog that is damaged in the process or worse. Just do an internet search for dogs dying due to starvation in board and train services.
Good dog training is based on behavior science, and it takes a while to learn this and learn how to properly apply the principles and techniques.
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists has published guidelines for selecting a dog trainer. The organization recommends that a a minimum, the trainer should have taken classes in animal behavior, learning theory, and psychology.
A good trainer should have documented continuing education, as is required by reputable certification bodies, such as the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA).
As I have posted here many times before, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers International (APDT-International), the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) agreed on Joint Practice Standards in the fall of 2018.
All members and certificants of these organizations agree to abide by the written standards and uphold a detailed code of ethics.
But you need to do a little investigation! It wasn't long ago, I discovered a trainer who was interviewed for a television story, advertising herself as a specialist in aggression, and publicly claiming affiliation with some of these and other organizations was indeed engaging in false advertising! In other words, she was NOT certified by or affiliated with any of the organizations!
You've got to familiarize yourself with the standards, and you've got to ask questions! I am happy to have people call me who ask questions because it tells me they have done their homework and care about what kind of training they want for their dog.
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) recommends looking for trainers who have certification from organizations which espouse scientifically-based, humane training methods, such as the IAABC, the CCPDT, and the KPA.
Additionally, the ACVB recommends that if a trainer uses any of the following methods or tools, dog guardians should look for a different trainer:
1. The equipment recommended for basic obedience includes or is focused on choke collars, prong collars, or shock collars.
2. Trainers who ban head collars of any kind may rely unduly on force.
3. The trainer instructs you to manage your dog’s behaviors by pinching toes, kneeing the dog in the chest or abdomen, hitting the dog, forcibly holding the dog down against their will, constantly yelling at the dog, frequently yanking the collar constantly, or using prong, choke, pinch or shock collars or electronic stimulation.
4. The trainer believes most or all training is about encouraging the person to be “alpha” and teaching the dog to “submit”.
5. The trainer explains that most dog behavior, for example, jumping on people, occurs because the dog is trying to be “dominant”.
6. A trainer recommends “alpha rolls”, “scruffing”, “helicoptering”, “choking” or any other painful or physical methods as a means of “training” or modifying behavior.
Do not be swayed by an impressive website or marketing campaign. Many really good trainers put their time and money into actually teaching and training rather than an expensive website and marketing materials.
Find out what the initials after a trainer's name (if they have any) mean. They can mean a lot or a little.
One last tip - in general, you cannot judge the quality of services by the fees. Many ill-qualified trainers charge exorbitant fees! That's so consumers will think what they have to offer is something of very high quality. In fact, the opposite is often true.
In summary, dog training is a science and an art. It requires serious study and commitment to do it correctly and safely. Sadly, dog training is an unregulated industry, and anyone can call themselves a dog trainer.
But beware! Great harm can come from an unqualified trainer! You must know the standards and you must ask the right questions, and last, but not least, you must do your homework and find out whether what you've been told is actually true.
Resources:
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior position statements: https://avsab.org/resources/position-statements/
APDT International Standards of Practice: https://apdt.com/standards-of-practice/
CCPDT Standards of Practice & Ethics: https://www.ccpdt.org/about-us/standards-practice-code-ethics/
IAABC Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics: https://iaabc.org/en/code-of-ethics
IIABC Hierarchy of Behavior Change Procedures: https://iaabc.org/en/hierarchy
Cindy Ludwig, M.A. B.S., R.N. , KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner), CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed)
Owner, Canine Connection LLC
Voted Best Springfield, Missouri Dog Trainer
www.canineconnectionmo.com
417-597-4295
AKC CGC Certified Evaluator, using modern, science based methods for dog training. Member of IAABC and APDT. 
