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?