Finding a Dog Trainer In Hamilton ON

Finding a Qualified Dog Trainer In Hamilton ON

As with any purchase, it's extremely important to do your research. In this instance, we're talking about paying for a service that will affect a member of your family: your dog. You want to be sure you're hiring an expert, with real qualifications and experience. In my experience, many dog trainers have a system that they've developed for basic dog obedience, but they don't necessarily have any scientific knowledge backing their system. You want to make sure that you have a dog trainer who will be able to answer your questions about specific dog behaviours, tell you why these behaviours are happening, and give you science-based solutions that will get you results.

With this post, I've laid out a basic starting point for some of the questions you should be asking to a perspective dog trainer you're considering hiring. During your conversation with these trainers, make sure to trust your instincts. Do you feel that your getting full transparency? If they seem to be giving you short answers and getting frustrated with you, maybe they're not as confident as they should be because they don't have the proper experience and education to fulfill the quality of work that you're expecting. A truly qualified and experienced dog trainer will take the time to answer these questions in detail, and they should be open about their methods and work.

What methods do they use?

Be sure that you don't let them throw out some confusing buzz words, that you may not necessarily understand. Don't let them simply tell you they're an "eclectic dog trainer", ask for specifics, and ask for examples. Don't be discouraged from asking more. Ask them about what well-known dog trainers and experts they respect and look up to, and then do your research on those dog trainers.

What makes them a qualified and experienced dog trainer?

Here you're looking to find out what experience and education this dog trainer has. Have they completed an apprenticeship under another well-known trainer, do they have a formal education, have they titled dogs in any specific dog sport? Don't be mislead by their number of years as a dog trainer. They may say they've been training dogs for 25 years, but is this a full-time passion, or do they moonlight as a dog trainer and work at 7-11 by day? Do you want the trainer who has an education from a reputable University, or the one who considers himself qualified because he watches a lot of YouTube videos?

What continuing education and qualifications do they have?

In any field, you never want to hire the professional that's not willing to learn the newest and most modern techniques and science. There's always more to learn, nobody knows it all, and you need a dog trainer whose passion for their profession leads them to keep striving to get new qualifications, and new knowledge. Don't be afraid to ask what they do to stay current as a dog trainer.

Who does the work with my dog?

Does this trainer claim that they are going to train your dog? Would they be willing to work privately with your dog, and can you drop Fido off and pick him up later when he's the obedient pup that you've always wanted? If the answer to either of these questions is yes: beware! You should always be involved in the lessons, and the majority of the time, you should be the one handling your dog and holding the leash. Dog training is as much or more for the handler/owner as it is for the dog.

How many dogs are in your group classes, and can I come watch a class?

Group classes are often over-packed, and you don't get the one-on-one attention needed to get the most out of training. If you do decide to go this route, you want to be sure that the class sizes aren't too large, and you want to watch a full class before you decide that this is the right thing for you and your dog.

Reviews

Another important thing to look through is review sites. Check out what others are saying about the services they received on websites like Yelp.

Conclusion

Keep in mind, that these questions are just a starting point. Make sure to find a trainer with real qualifications and knowledge, that's transparent in answering all of your questions. To find out a little more about our dog training services, and what we have to offer, please visit our website at http://www.hamiltondogtraining.ca