How to Find a Reputable Dog Trainer

Pet owners have a difficult task when trying to find a reputable dog trainer. In a totally unregulated industry, where anyone can decide to go out and say they’re a “dog trainer”, it’s important for owners to be vigilant when trying to find a pet professional. This article will help you know what to look for when you start looking into dog trainers.

A note about service dogs: It can be difficult to find dog professionals who works with owner trainers and their service dogs or service dogs in training. Finding a credentialed force free trainer, even if they don’t have service dog experience, is still a great place to start for basic obedience and structured socialization!

For a quick overview of a few things to look for in a trainer, watch this great video from Fear Free Happy Homes!

When you start looking for a qualified trainer in your area, the first thing I’d recommend doing is looking at their websites and social media platforms. Here’s what I’d specifically watch for:

1. Do they have pictures where dogs are wearing aversive tools like e-collars, prong collars or choke chains?
2. Do the dogs in their pictures look stressed?
3. Can you easily find the services they provide and what they charge?
4. What credentials and professional affiliations do they have listed for potential clients to see?
5. Are they clear about what training methods they use?
6. Do they respect local laws and ordinances like only going to pet friendly stores and keeping dogs leashed in on leash areas?

Once you’ve found a trainer whose website and credentials look ok the next step is calling or emailing them with any questions you may still have. Remember, you’re interviewing them! They should be happy and willing to answer your questions. Here are the questions I’d ask:

1. What training methods do you use?
   • I would ask this question even if they mention positive training methods on their website or social media. Clarify what that means to them and specifically ask if they ever use or advocate for the use of aversive methods or tools.
2. What are your credentials?
   • These should be available on their website but you may have follow up questions.
3. What experience do you have?
   • Along with education, it’s important that a trainer also have hands on experience and that they can clearly tell you what types of dogs they’ve worked with in the past. They should also be able to tell you if there is a specific issue or area of training that they do not work with. Ideally, they have good relationships with other local trainers and can point you to someone else in your area who can help you with anything they don’t offer.
4. Can you provide references?
   • Trainers should be able to provide references from past clients, they may also provide a vet reference or let you know if there’s a specific vet they work with.
5. Do you require vet records?
   • Trainers should always require vaccination records for any dog they work with.
6. What types of safety protocol do you have in place?
   • This would be things like muzzle training dogs that are bite risks, requiring a no dog present consult if the dog has been aggressive in the past, requiring all vaccinations, using a harness paired with a martingale collar if they are taking dogs out, using helpers who aren’t handling a dog and can intervene if something were to happen, etc…
7. Do they believe in using anti-anxiety medication if necessary?
   • A dog trainer should understand that it’s important to look at animal behavior from a wholistic perspective. Behavior is affected by a dog’s environment, temperament, and genetics. Behavior can also be a result of underlying health conditions or medication side effects. It’s important to work with a trainer and a vet to make sure nothing is missed. If a dog is struggling with anxiety, it can be beneficial to pair medication with training.

Trainers should never blame owners for behavior problems. As stated above, behavior is a product of multiple factors. If you hear a trainer saying things like “it’s all in how you train them” or “there are no bad dogs just bad owners” it’s likely a sign that they do not have a full understanding of how complex dog behavior can be.

When talking with a trainer and looking through their social media, watch for scare tactics. Things like, “If you don’t use an e-collar your dog could run into traffic and get hit by a car” or “I’d rather make a dog uncomfortable but keep them from being put down”. These are false dichotomies that prey on some of the biggest fears dog owners have. The truth is that positive training methods are just as effective as aversive training methods and they are actually associated with fewer risks, including things like animals being surrendered for behavior.

Another thing to watch for when considering a trainer is the use of certain code phrases and words. All of the following can indicate a trainer uses aversive methods and/or believes in outdated training approaches based on dominance theory.

• Leadership, alpha, dominance, submissive, or pack
• Balanced, tools, or corrections
• Boundaries, structure, or respect
• Board and Train (not always a red flag but board and trains are much more commonly offered by balanced trainers)
• Squirt bottles, alpha rolling, shaker cans, or bonking
• “Consequences for behavior” or “holding your dog accountable”
• “Be the boss of your dog” or “let your dog know who’s in charge”

For more information on dominance theory and the alpha myth click here!

Trainers should be supportive of people who adopt dogs as well as those who decide to purchase a dog through a reputable breeder. If they are overtly disparaging of either option, it may not be a good fit. Different homes and individuals need different things and just because adopting is the best option for one person doesn’t mean purchasing from a breeder isn’t the right choice for someone else.

A good place to search for trainers is through the directories of trusted professional organizations. The following entities provide membership, accreditation and certification to dog trainers and pet care professionals:

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)

• Training methods: The IAABC requires trainers use a LIMA approach and they do not permit the use of e-collars however, a trainer does not have to be force free to be credentialed through them.
• Membership, accreditation & certification offered:
  • Supporting Member
  • Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC)
  • Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC)
  • Certified Shelter Behavior- Dog (CSB-D)
  • Certified Shelter Behavior Specialist (CSBS)
  • Accredited Dog Trainer (IAABC-ADT)
• Professional Directory

Pet Professional Guild (PPG)

• Training methods: Members are not permitted to use force, fear, pain, e-collars, aversive methods or tools when training dogs. Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Membership
• Professional Directory

Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior

• Training methods: Trainers are taught to use positive force free methods utilizing a clicker as a marker.
• Courses & Certifications offered:
  • Dog Trainer Foundations
  • Dog Trainer Comprehensive
  • Dog Trainer Professional (KPA-CTP)
• Professional Directory

Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)

• Training methods: Trainers are not required to be force free and they are permitted to use e-collars. CCPDT’s official stance is that e-collars can be apart of LIMA and the humane hierarchy. There have also been some reporting issues when it comes to trainers who may not be using humane methods with dogs. If a trainer is CCPDT certified I would encourage a pet owner to also make sure they are force free.
• Certifications offered:
  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA)
  • Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA)
• Professional Directory

Pat Miller Peaceable Paws

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Courses Offered:
  • Canine Behavior & Training Academy
  • Advanced Training & Behavior Study
  • Canine Cognition Academy
  • Canine Cognition PLUS- Intern Academy
  • Canine Behavior Modification Academy
  • Canine Aggression Academy
• Certifications:
  • Pat Miller Certified Trainer 1 (PMCT1)- completion of two academies
  • Pat Miller Certified Trainer 2 (PMCT2)- completion of four academies
  • Pat Miller Certified Trainer 3 (PMCT3)- completion of five academies
• Professional Directory

Fear Free Animal Trainer

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certification
• Professional Directory

The Academy for Dog Trainers

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC)
• Professional Directory

Companion Animal Sciences Institute (CASI)

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certifications Offered:
  • Animal Behavior Science and Technology (Dip.ABST)
  • Canine Behavior Science and Technology (Dip. CBST)
  • Diploma of Professional Dog Training (Dip.PDT)
• Professional Directory

CATCH Canine Trainers Academy

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certifications Offered:
  • Pro Dog Trainer- Core Skills
  • Dog Training & Behavior- Basic Pro
  • Master Class- Certified Dog Trainer (CDT)
• Professional Directory

Victoria Stilwell Academy (VSA)

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certified Dog Trainer (VSA-CDT)
• Professional Directory

Malena DeMartini

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT)
• Professional Directory

Michael Shikashio

• Training methods: I have not seen an official position statement from him regarding aversive training tools or methods but in his webinars and courses I’ve only heard him recommend positive training methods.
• Master Course- Aggression in Dogs
• No professional director available

The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)

• Training methods: Members are not required to be force free. APDT advocates for a LIMA approach and the use of the humane hierarchy. They do not have a position statement regarding the use of e-collars or other aversive tools. If a trainer is a member of APDT I would encourage a pet owner to also make sure they are force free.
• Membership
• Professional Directory

Grisha Stewart

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Certified BAT Instructors (CBATI)
• Professional Directory

Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB)

• Training methods: Trainers should be using only force free training methods.
• Accreditations Offered:
  • Level 1 Canine Training Technician (CTT-A)
  • Level 2 Professional Canine Trainer (PCT-A)
  • Level 3 Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A)
• Professional Directory

Fear Free Happy Homes put together an excellent video on what to do if you notice behavior changes in your dog and who is most qualified to help you!

Resources & References

• “Position Statement on Humane Dog Training” published by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
• “Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals” published by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior

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Featured image by John Tuesday on Unsplash