dog trainer...what question to ask
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Check out How to Choose a Dog Trainer, there's some excellent information about how to choose a trainer.
You wanna meet and see them work in person because you will get a better gist of their personality and training methods.
Big questions to ask are "What training methods do you use?"
Positive reinforcement is the safest, scientifically proven, most up to date and humane way to train an animal. Watch out for trainers who use positive reinforcement AND positive punishment (leash jerks, shock collar, etc)
"What sort of corrections do you use?"
The harshest correction a dog should EVER receive is a time out.
Other questions to better get to know them:
"How did you become a trainer?"
"How many dogs or types of dogs have you worked with?"
The more experience the better. Large and small dogs are different.
"Do your dogs have any titles?"
Big questions to ask are "What training methods do you use?"
Positive reinforcement is the safest, scientifically proven, most up to date and humane way to train an animal. Watch out for trainers who use positive reinforcement AND positive punishment (leash jerks, shock collar, etc)
"What sort of corrections do you use?"
The harshest correction a dog should EVER receive is a time out.
Other questions to better get to know them:
"How did you become a trainer?"
"How many dogs or types of dogs have you worked with?"
The more experience the better. Large and small dogs are different.
"Do your dogs have any titles?"
Here's my two cence-Find a trainer that's willing to work with you and your dog and isn't completely and solely set in any one method or type of training. Find a trainer you feel comfortable and willing to work with. Watch them work with other dogs and people and get a feel for them.
Every single person is going to tell you to watch out or look for something different and someone's deal breaker might be someone else's requirement. It's going to depend on what you are looking for in a trainer, no one else.
I mean, right here in this thread there is very little I would agree with when looking for a trainer for me. But that's me, not you.
I tend to feel that watching and listening to already going training sessions give you a better feel for if it's the right trainer for you and your dog than a laundry list of questions.
Story Time:
When I finally found my trainer I was at a training club in a giant room of trainers, assistant trainers and people. I had already spoken to a couple people I wasn't overly impressed with. So while trying to get out of everyone's way I ended up watching one of the trainers classes and just loved how she worked with the people and dogs. I waited until the end of the class to talk to her and we must have spoken for two hours while they packed up stuff all around us.
We clicked. I had finally found what I was looking for but let me tell you, she certainly isn't what everyone would be looking for. But she works for me and my dogs and that at the end of the day is what matters to me
Every single person is going to tell you to watch out or look for something different and someone's deal breaker might be someone else's requirement. It's going to depend on what you are looking for in a trainer, no one else.
I mean, right here in this thread there is very little I would agree with when looking for a trainer for me. But that's me, not you.
I tend to feel that watching and listening to already going training sessions give you a better feel for if it's the right trainer for you and your dog than a laundry list of questions.
Story Time:
When I finally found my trainer I was at a training club in a giant room of trainers, assistant trainers and people. I had already spoken to a couple people I wasn't overly impressed with. So while trying to get out of everyone's way I ended up watching one of the trainers classes and just loved how she worked with the people and dogs. I waited until the end of the class to talk to her and we must have spoken for two hours while they packed up stuff all around us.
We clicked. I had finally found what I was looking for but let me tell you, she certainly isn't what everyone would be looking for. But she works for me and my dogs and that at the end of the day is what matters to me
This can be a bit misleading.
The harshest correction is what the dog considers harsh. If I smacked my dogs on the butt they'd think I was inviting them to play, but for one of my dogs breaking eye contact and turning my body away is the end of the world for him. The dog determines the reward and the dog determines the punishment.
However.... *Ideally* the dog does not get punished at all b/c he is set up for success, not failure. Many trainers believe in setting a dog (especially a dog with "issues") up to make the mistake that got him at the trainer's to begin with. They set the dog up and then punish for making the mistake that they knew he was going to make anyway.
Then some trainers just aren't experienced enough and push a dog beyond what he's capable of and he makes a mistake that has to be corrected.
Personally I find it much more effective to set the dog up to succeed and not allow him to practice the undesired behavior to begin with.
The better the trainer, the less need for punishment. Every time I've had to punish my guys it has been because of a mistake on my part. The more I learn, the less I find myself in a position where I have to punish period.
Now watch, now that I've said that, someone is going to start a squabble and I'm going to have to beat 'em all off each other
The harshest correction is what the dog considers harsh. If I smacked my dogs on the butt they'd think I was inviting them to play, but for one of my dogs breaking eye contact and turning my body away is the end of the world for him. The dog determines the reward and the dog determines the punishment.
However.... *Ideally* the dog does not get punished at all b/c he is set up for success, not failure. Many trainers believe in setting a dog (especially a dog with "issues") up to make the mistake that got him at the trainer's to begin with. They set the dog up and then punish for making the mistake that they knew he was going to make anyway.
Then some trainers just aren't experienced enough and push a dog beyond what he's capable of and he makes a mistake that has to be corrected.
Personally I find it much more effective to set the dog up to succeed and not allow him to practice the undesired behavior to begin with.
The better the trainer, the less need for punishment. Every time I've had to punish my guys it has been because of a mistake on my part. The more I learn, the less I find myself in a position where I have to punish period.
Now watch, now that I've said that, someone is going to start a squabble and I'm going to have to beat 'em all off each other
The trainer should explain to you what they are going to do before they do it, make sure you are comfortable with and understand what they are suggesting.
They should be happy to spend time with you, your lesson should not feel rushed as if the trainer is too busy for you and has better things to do.
It goes without saying that a trainer should never bring anger into your lesson or how they handle your dog. No one should ever, ever kick or hit your dog or be directly cruel to it. Be careful of any trainer who wants you to leave your dog with them and won't let you be part of or even watch how they are training your dog. There are no trade secrets in dog training. If the trainer is being evasive or secretive about the methods they use - run a mile!
A good trainer will keep a good attitude in your dog throughout the lesson, that means your dog will have his ears up, his head up most of the time - I say most of the time because IMO all training adds stress to a degree but a good trainer will know how to recognise and control it.
They should be happy to spend time with you, your lesson should not feel rushed as if the trainer is too busy for you and has better things to do.
It goes without saying that a trainer should never bring anger into your lesson or how they handle your dog. No one should ever, ever kick or hit your dog or be directly cruel to it. Be careful of any trainer who wants you to leave your dog with them and won't let you be part of or even watch how they are training your dog. There are no trade secrets in dog training. If the trainer is being evasive or secretive about the methods they use - run a mile!
A good trainer will keep a good attitude in your dog throughout the lesson, that means your dog will have his ears up, his head up most of the time - I say most of the time because IMO all training adds stress to a degree but a good trainer will know how to recognise and control it.
I completely agree with you. We don't choose what is and isn't aversive to a dog. I've seen dogs completely shut down on head collars yet a lot of so called "purely positive" trainers put them on every dog and puppy they come across. Just because we say it is kind/gentle/not aversive, does not make it so.