Here at Dogs By Andy K-9 Services, we understand just how intensely it’s possible to want a dog. However, simply wanting one isn’t enough to be a good dog owner—once you get one, you have the responsibility to care for your new dog properly, and an important part of that is making sure they are trained right. While you could do your best to train your dog on your own, in our experience, it’s usually best to go with a professional dog trainer. Our team at Dogs By Andy K-9 Services has extensive experience providing high-quality dog training, and in this article, we’ll share three tips for how to choose the right trainer for your canine friend.
- Training Philosophy- When choosing a dog trainer, we encourage you to ask about their training philosophy. This means learning things like what their general approach is and what tools they use. If a trainer uses methods you don’t support, you should probably move on.
- Certification- While there’s no absolute guarantee that a certified dog trainer will be more effective than an uncertified one, having the right certification is evidence that a trainer has spent a documented number of hours working with dogs and studying training methods. Another benefit of choosing a certified trainer is that having that certificate means the trainer is accountable to certain guidelines and standards, and you can research these standards to know more about what you can expect from their practice.
- Involves You in the Training Process- An effective dog trainer will involve you in the training process as much as possible. This is important because your dog spends more time at home with you than with the trainer, and you need to be able to reinforce the instructions and maintain the routine that the trainer establishes. We at Dogs By Andy K-9 Services will make sure you have all the information you need to keep your dog in good habits and behavior long after their training with us is complete.
