How To Find a Dog Trainer

No dog is a hopeless case – not even yours.  It's just a communication problem between you and your dog.  Being a dog in a world of humans is like having to live in a foreign country where you do not know the language.  But professional dog trainers and behaviorists can help you learn the canine language.  Finding a dog trainer is easy – it's choosing one that takes a little more time.

First Places To Check Out

The very first place to look for a dog trainer recommendation is your veterinarian.  He or she gets asked about dog behavior problems all of the time.  Besides, some dog behavior problems like suddenly having accidents in the house may be due to physical illness.  That would need medication and not a dog trainer.

Your vet may also have a community bulletin board where people live business cards.  This is also a great way to find a dog trainer.  And don’t for get your local pet supply store and your groomer (if your dog needs to go to one).  They get asked about where to find a good dog trainer all of the time.  Many major pet store chains now offer group training classes.

Next Places To Check

If those initial forays into hunting for a dog trainer don't pan out, don’t worry.  There are still many places to try.  You can try your friends and neighbors with well trained dogs and ask them for a recommendation.  You can look in your local yellow pages.  You can also go online to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers to find out the locations of dog trainers near you.

Check It Out

Once you find a list of likely dog trainers, given them a call or email them if they have a website.  Be sure to ask if you can sit in on a training session without your dog.  This is the best way to find out what the dog trainer is like and if you think you can get along with him or her.  Some things to watch out for include:

• Hitting or striking a dog
• Use of electric shock collars, prong collars or choke collars
• An unruly class
• Small puppies being allowed in a class with large adults
• A bad-smelling training facility

Never compromise on finding a dog trainer.  Your best friend is too important for that.  And never forget that dog training books can also help you in between training classes.