What Are Important Considerations When Hiring A Dog Trainer?

The most important thing when choosing a dog trainer in Orange County is to choose one who uses reward-based methods of training dogs aka positive reinforcement. You can use force-free or humane training methods, but, just because someone says it on their website does not necessarily mean that they use them. Reward-based dog training uses a combination of giving and withholding rewards to make a behavior more likely to happen again. The use of rewards to increase frequency of a behavior is technically called positive reinforcement . Positive reinforcement dog trainers are some of the reasons dog trainers use this name.

Others refer to themselves as force-free dog trainers or humane dog trainers. This is to differentiate themselves from those who use aversive techniques like electric shock, prong collars or leash corrections. Food is the best reward in practice. You can use play or other rewards, but food is the most efficient. It’s also easier to deliver and it works better in most dog training situations (e.g., teaching a lesson). Dog Play will encourage your dog’s sit-stay; and all dogs love food.

In other words, you need Orange County Dog Trainers that will work with your dog. Use food to train your dog. This is because aversive methods can be dangerous (technically). positive punishment And negative reinforcement ). Those Dogs can become aggressive if they are exposed to dangers. Or Fearful These are serious problems that can take time to resolve. If your dog is on a special diet, don’t worry. You can always find something delicious that is compatible with your dog’s special diet. This will help motivate him. After you have found a reliable dog trainer, inform them about your dog’s dietary requirements.

Now that you are aware of the need to find a reward-based trainer for your dog, what do you do next? What qualifications should you seek in a dog trainer. Remember that I stated at the beginning that anyone could call themselves a dog trainer. Dog training is a skillful activity that requires knowledge. Dog trainers must have good timing and be able read dogs’ bodies. They also need to understand learning theory, which is part of technical information, and they need to have people skills to explain the process to their dog owners.

It doesn’t matter if someone is a dog lover or has grown up with dogs. This is not the most important part. It is important to find a qualified dog trainer. CTC, KPA CTP and VSA-CDT are the best qualifications. PMCT is the letter that will appear after your dog’s name. Dog trainers are becoming more likely to have an appropriate undergraduate or graduate degree, e.g. in animal behavior.

Do not take my word for this. A 2019 article for veterinarians on what to look out for in a dog trainer. Dr. Lisa Radosta suggests that trainers be certified It lists the most common options, including those listed above, as well as CCPDT and PPG (see later for professional memberships). CTC is a two-year advanced program that comes from the Academy for Dog Trainers The Academy covers both behaviour and dog training. Jean Donaldson, a world-renowned dog trainer, runs the Academy. It is also known as “The Harvard of Dog Training”. KPA CTP is the sign that someone has taken the Karen Pryor Academy Professional Dog Trainer Program . This program is for six months and you can enroll at any time. VSA-CDT is a graduation certificate from the Victoria Stilwell Academy Dog Training program. This program is for dogs aged 6 months and older. VSPDT is an acronym for licensed person. Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training . Trainers must be educated and have at least two years of experience.

PMCT is a certification that someone has completed the Pat Miller Certified Trainer course by Peaceable Paws. The following list contains information about Peaceable Paws affiliates and Pat Miller Academy trainers. Peaceable Paws website (look under trainer referrals).

You can skip to the next section if you have found several dog trainers in your area with these qualifications.

If you don’t have CPDT, CPDT, KSA or CBCC-KA certifications, you can search for others who do (all are assessed by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers ) or the PCT/A or PCBCA (assessed and reported by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board ). These are people who have had their knowledge in dog training evaluated and their certifications aren’t the only ones for dog training.