Locating and Interviewing the Trainer
Whether you live in the city or the country, there are probably a number of people teaching dog classes in your area. Odds are their experience and techniques will vary widely. Luckily, you can do a little preliminary sorting from the comfort of your home.
Where to Find a Trainer
The first place you can obviously look is your local phone book. But understand that anyone can say he's a dog trainer and even take a large ad to that effect. There is no regulatory organization and no set test anyone has to pass to claim the title of dog trainer. A better course of action might be to note the names in your local phone book, then check them against the membership lists of the associations related to dog training. (See Appendix C for Web sites of the associations.)
The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, or NADOI, is the oldest group in existence, but not the largest. Members have to have been teaching dog classes for a specified period of time. They have a small annual meeting and conference.
Few occupations are as entirely unregulated as dog training. Someone who has never even seen a dog before could take out ads as a dog trainer without encountering any legal problems. To be sure that you don't waste your money on a con artist, do sufficient research and try to speak with people who've used the trainer you're considering.
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, or APDT, was formed specifically to promote positive methods of dog training. APDT has grown quickly, and it is the largest organization, holding a multiday conference every year. Professional members must be teaching classes. After a specified number of teaching hours, they can take a written test to qualify for the title “Certified Pet Dog Trainer” (CPDT). They have to take continuing education to maintain that designation.
The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) is the newest of the bunch. Currently, they require applicants to fillout an extensive application, including essay questions, which they then assess for knowledge of learning theory and canine behavior. In the future, approved courses will be required. Members are called certified dog behavior consultants (CDBC).
If no one in your area is a member of any of these organizations, talk with local veterinarians for guidance. Some work closely with reliable trainers, referring behavior problems to them.
Actual university-certified animal behaviorists are few and far between. Anyone calling herself a behaviorist without the appropriate veterinary board certification is being dishonest. Be wary of these individuals.
What to Ask a Trainer
First, you can ask about any memberships in professional organizations. There are sometimes omissions from the Web site lists. The person may have joined recently, or another group may have organized. Second, ask what continuing education they avail themselves of. New techniques and new training devices come along regularly, new studies are released, and it's always good to hear from a variety of experts. Good trainers tend to frequent seminars, attending at least a couple every year.
Ask for the trainer's training philosophy, or basic techniques used in classes. You want someone who's using lure/reward or clicker training, the two most-common positive methods. Stay away from anyone using choke or pinch collars, electronic collars, or force training. If the person can't quickly explain how he trains, he doesn't have the foundation of understanding necessary for teaching good dog classes. Someone who's teaching others has to understand why they're doing what they're doing or they won't be able to explain procedure or adjust methods if they aren't working.
Ask how long the person has been involved in training dogs, and where he acquired knowledge related to dog training. You can also inquire specifically about experience with toy dogs or Yorkshire terriers. If you're asking about a puppy class, ask how the puppies are screened before coming to class. You want to be sure health risks are minimized. Finally, ask if you can observe some classes. Trainers should welcome the opportunity for you to watch them work. Cross off any who refuse. You should be welcome to observe, but your dog should stay at home or in the car. Dogs not registered for the class should not be allowed in the building while class is taking place.
