When choosing a Dog Trainer, it’s important to know what questions to ask, so that you can make an informed choice. The Dog Training industry is unregulated, so literally anyone can call themselves a Trainer without requiring any qualifications, skills or knowledge. I’ve added in my own answer to each question, followed by Tips as well as Red Flags.
Q: What qualifications do you have and when did you obtain them?
A: Cert IV in Dog Behavioural Training in 2001
Tips - having a valid qualification helps a trainer stand out from the crowd, shows they are serious about what they do, and care about ensuring their clients get the best help. It demonstrates that their skills have been assessed by a third party, and that they are willing to learn from others. Cert IV would be my recommendation; there are other qualifications and certifications available, but always check out the source to make sure it fits with how you'd like your dog to be trained.
Red Flag - a trainer who claims they don’t need a qualification, or suggests in any way they have a gift or special way with dogs, or have lived with dogs all their life and that qualifies them as a trainer (it doesn’t)! Dog training is a science AND an art, you must know WHY things work as well knowing HOW to make them work.
Q: Do you belong to any Professional Organisations and what ongoing education do you participate in?
A: I’m an Accredited Professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia. I attend conferences, workshops and other educational opportunities, constantly updating my skills and knowledge.
Tips - ask what the trainer is doing differently now to 5 years ago. Credible trainers are always learning new things and making changes to what they do, because they never stop learning. They are also willing to learn from others, collaborate and share knowledge with other trainers.
Red Flag - a trainer who has been doing the same thing for years on end without making any changes, and/or who doesn’t participate in ongoing education and/or indicates in any way they have special skills or knowledge that others don’t.
Q: Can you explain what you do in a couple of sentences in plain language?
A: I help owners to teach their dogs the things they want and need them to do, using rewards. The dogs are set up to succeed with careful planning, and owners are taught how to reward desired behaviour, so it is repeated.
Tips - educated trainers who truly understand what they do, can clearly explain it to dog owners, without ambiguity or jargon, and without needing to conceal what they really do behind an incoherent word salad.
Red Flag - if a trainer’s description of what they do and how they do it isn’t immediately understandable, or they avoid or deflect questions.
Q: What training tools or equipment do you use when training dogs and how long are those things used for?
A: Dogs are trained on a well fitted, comfortable harness or flat collar and a variety of lead lengths, depending on the situation. Food, toys, praise and social interaction are used as rewards. Once each dog has learnt the required behaviour and it’s reliably on cue, food/toy rewards are phased out, but dogs always get praise/social interaction.
Tips - some trainers use aversive training tools such as prong collars and slip leads (to name just a couple), you may need to directly ask if these are used in training as it’s not always obvious. These work because, at best, they are uncomfortable to the dog, and at worst can cause pain and injury.
Red Flag - any use of aversive training tools is a red flag, especially if it's suggested they are used on an ongoing basis. Often it's stated then "when used correctly" they don't cause harm, but they exist and work because the dog finds them unpleasant. If a trainer is using them, ask specifically HOW and WHY they work, and WHY they choose to use them over other alternatives.
Q: Do you guarantee results?
A: No, that's not possible.
Tips - nobody can guarantee results when you're working with another sentient being. We can't do it for our own species let alone another. Guaranteeing satisfaction is fine, ie refunding if you're not happy with the result, but it's not possible to guarantee results.
Red Flag - answering Yes to this question. Double Red Flag points if it's guaranteed within one session. Triple Red Flag points if the trainer also claims they have some gift, special ability or ground-breaking new way of training that nobody else does!
