Last year I wrote a blog on finding the right trainer (Finding the Right Trainer). I wrote the blog from the mindset of a person looking for a trainer to help them with particular issues. Tonight I was contacted by an old childhood friend, now living in another province, who just finished her first obedience class and was feeling very frustrated with the process. She wanted to know if her feelings were justified. As she described what happened tonight in her class, I was disappointed in what she was saying. She had a horrible experience. To put it bluntly, it sounded like the trainer was not a quality trainer nor was she in a quality class. So I thought I would revisit this topic and give some more hints on what one should look for in a trainer and a training class.
- The trainer should appear knowledgable and confident. It is important for you to have confidence in the abilities of the trainer. The first night is usually hectic and can be very stressful. Dogs are excited, their focus is off, you are unsure of what is going on, maybe a little nervous about being there...this adds to your dog’s excitement and or nervousness...it can be a difficult time. However, this is also where a good trainer shines. A good trainer should be a whirlwind, especially the first night. A good trainer handles problems, settles excited dogs down, helps boost the confidence of the nervous dogs, reassures their students what they are doing and generally ensures that dogs and their owners are having a good time. A good trainer does this in such a way that it seems effortless. A good trainer should be able to take even the most misbehaved dog in class and within minutes have the dog eating out of his hand.
- A good trainer lets you know ahead of time what to expect and demonstrates not only the knowledge but the ability to handle dogs. Our first night in our basic course is done with just the owners, no dogs. We talk about the course, I demonstrate with my dogs, answer any questions that the owners have and generally leave the owners excited to start the course. I think this helps tremendously and the students always report this as a positive experience.
- A good trainer relies on a myriad of tools and supports. There is more then one way of doing things and if one method is not working, a good trainer is fluid and adjusts the training until he or she finds something that works with that particular dog and that particular owner. This approach is a two way street and a good trainer relies on the owner for feedback.
- A good trainer is neither heavy handed nor forceful. A good trainer does not need to be either one of these things in most situations. If you hear the trainer talking about you needing to be an alpha, the importance of pack structure or tossing around terms such as “dominance” and “being a pack leader”, please reconsider the class.
- A good class is one where there are materials distributed, homework expected, helpful hints suggested and an all around fun and informative time is being had. A good trainer wants feedback and asks students for it.
- A good trainer is available for students both during, between and after classes.
- A good trainer is willing and able to provide qualifications, references, clients and stories that support his or her claim to being a good trainer.
These are some of the things that I would look for and expect. If I was not getting this kind of experience, I would look elsewhere. I always tell people to trust their instincts and be honest with themselves. It will rarely lead them astray.
I know in some areas, finding a trainer can be difficult, let alone a quality trainer. If you are in this kind of situation, learn what you can from what you have and then consult other resources to supplement your knowledge.
Actually, whether you have found a quality trainer or not, this tip is beneficial. There is a wealth of knowledge and information out there on both the internet and in books. A couple of my favorite sources of information are Dr. Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson (her book Culture Clash is one that I highly recommend), Karen Prior, and Dr. Stanley Coren are a few that I like. There are more of course but this will give you a start.
To be fair, there are a lot of well meaning trainers out there. There are also many trainers out there who know their stuff. However, being well meaning and knowing your stuff does not mean that the trainer has the ability to impart that knowledge on people, nor have the ability to work with every dog and dog owner.
Do your research, ask around and find a trainer that meshes with your expectations and personality and just as important, meshes with your dog. It will save a lot of headaches in the long run