Dog Training Classes - Find The Right Dog Trainer

It is so important to find the right dog trainer if taking dog training classes. Not everyone is a so called expert. I have heard some horror stories, like this one for example, where the trainer was wrong.

“Today’s lesson will teach you how to give your dog the “Down” command.” He went on to say: “Now with your dog sitting by your side and with a little bit of slack on the leash, loudly say the word ‘Down’ and then step on the leash hard so that your dog is forced to the ground and knows exactly what the down command means. This will show your dog that you are in charge and capable of making it go down whether it likes it or not.”

Like mindless listeners, the entire class obeyed the lesson and literally crammed the heads of their dogs down into the ground by stepping on the leash. By the time the entire training session had ended, it seemed like every “down” command ended in shrieks and moans from every dog. There was mass hysteria while the toy dog breeds fought the leash and collar and the larger dogs just got confused, not understanding the forcefulness of the lesson.

Any dogs that rebelled against their owners and the leash in the attempt to force them down, were asked by the instructor to stay behind for some “special handling”. This special handling only turned out to be a much more aggressive counter-lesson with a rolled up fist and an aggressive action towards the dog.

Is This Worth Saving A Few Dollars?

The above scenario happens all too often. It seems that with a few months of reading and researching dog training manuals, almost anyone can become a dog training “expert”, regardless if the training principles they are teaching are wrong or not. Such negative dog training only destroys the responsiveness, initiative, willingness and motivation of any dog involved towards learning.

It just goes to show you that wherever there is money to be made in any type of field, especially dog training, you’ll always have your egomaniacs and fake “experts” rushing to fill the gap and make a quick buck.

“It may be a simple matter of economics”, as one pet store owner was saying. “Many dog owners come into the store and want to know how to properly train their pets. Although I sell dozens of instructional booklets, they want one-on-one teaching instruction. However, it’s quite expensive to hire a professional, so all they do is search the Internet, or their local newspaper ads to find a cheap dog training class, which is usually run by someone that does not know what they are doing and for the most part uses aggressive tactics.”

The point here is to let all of you dog owners know that it is much safer to work on your own training abilities by using qualified information, instead of hiring the wrong person to do the job. There are some organizations, such as “Secrets To Dog Training”, that are nationally recognized and professional trainers like Dove Cresswell with her “Dove Cresswell’s Puppy and Dog Training Program” to teach dog obedience and training classes for your dogs.

Your dog’s training is important. Use the right advice and you will have a well trained dog.

Dog Breed Training Groups Check Before Signing Up

There are hundreds of dog training books that can be found in libraries, bookstores and on the Internet. Most of them are fine and teach thorough, positive training methods.

You can have two Labrador Retrievers that, emotionally, may be as different between each each as a Rottweiler would be to a Pomeranian. The training protocol and corrections for one dog may not be necessarily suited to the character and personality of the other.

A suitable training correction for a dog that has an outgoing personality and is on the stubborn side, may cause trauma to a dog that is naturally sensitive and cannot emotionally handle such dog training tactics, even if both dogs are the exact same breed.

Professional Obedience & Dog Breed Clubs

You’ll find many clubs devoted to specific breeds and training groups all around the country. They are considered to be the most reliable and educated people to go to for training and specific breed information. For the vast majority of information, this is probably true, but some are also guilty of assuming all dogs of the same breed should be trained and treated in the same manner.

The blame should rest upon whomever is running the group. However, choosing this leader is more a personality contest, instead of education and training history with canines. Criteria for the selection usually boils down to whomever is the most persuasive speaker, has had the longest membership, or even how bad the person wants the job.

There was one group who selected the lead trainer and spokesperson solely based on the fact that she had the best working dog the year before. There were no requirements for success in the dog training area.

Another group had a specific opening for just “trainer” and the only requirement was that they had to have worked their own dog up to receive the Companion Dog Title. What training methods that person used, or whether or not it was positive or aggressive, had no bearing on the position.

Investigate Before Allowing Your Dog To Be Trained By Such A Group

If you are considering paying for dog training lessons with a specific group, even if the group is nationally recognized, asked the same questions you would from any dog trainer:

1. What are his or her references?
2. How many dogs have they trained?
3. Where did they get their knowledge and training advice?
4. Do they admit that no 2 dogs are alike, even from the same breed type?
5. Do they use harsh training methods?

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