Welp.. that’s a simple one. Research. Research as many trainers local to you as possible. Find out what kind of dogs that trainer likes to work with. Do they prefer puppies? Do they only train aggression? Do they train all of the above? Cool! But find what suits your dog’s needs.
What kind of training style do they use? Are they balanced? Do they only use food rewards? Or do they only use compulsion? I think we can agree that the purely positive training style is heavily preferred, but research what kind of results they are getting. Are they still giving dogs treats for a simple command after six months? If so- i would be a little hesitant. Sure the dog looks happy! He may even look like he’s gained a few pounds.. if you don’t have the time, patience, and diet restrictions for your dog (with zero behavior problems) then i would say choose the balanced trainer who uses both- if you think that’s the right fit for you!
Look for before, during, and after training videos. Key word there- DURING. There are a lot of trainers out there who may claim to use treats, or who may claim to be force free, but if you don’t have a video of how they got the results they got.. how do you know they can be trusted? Look for a trainer whos not afraid to show you how they get the dog where they want them. I would say this is the most important advice i can give!
Look for a trainer who trains in the REAL WORLD. If you send your dog off to a boarding facility, and your dog never leaves the building, how is your dog going to be set up for success at the farmers market? Or at the door when people come over? Commands should be taught in low distraction environments, but once the dog knows the command- real world here we come baby! Will the trainer come to your home and help you? I know a lot of trainers who wont go to a strangers house, i can totally respect that! But if you aren’t getting trained in a house like setting, how will you be set up for success when the dog returns to the home?
How helpful is the trainer when it comes to teaching you the dog owner how to train the dog. I am sorry- but it shouldn’t be too impressive that your dog is doing great with the trainer. Your dog SHOULD be good for trainer. That’s there job, all day every day teaching dogs how to behave. But how does that help you in the home? Are you going to rent the trainer and have him stay with you for 3 months? I don’t think so.. i guess it depends on if you’re a good cook or not! But really.. are you getting hands on help with your dog? That is MAJOR. Will the trainer stay in touch after the dog goes home? If your trainer isn’t letting you hold the leash when it comes to training, that should be a red flag. People skills is half the job!
And lastly- what kind of services does the trainer offer? I prefer board and trains. But look out- there are a lot of trainers out there who give trainers like me a bad rep! If you aren’t getting photos and updates while your dog is away- how do you know he’s getting cared for? Even if they are not text updates, if the persons social media pages are not providing updates at all- i would be concerned.
Finding the right trainer can be hard, but remember you get what you pay for! Just like everything else in this world. If you pay very little for training, it is likely you will get very little in return.