DOG Training TOYS

Now that I’ve reviewed the different programs, let’s discuss how to find a trainer. I would look for the following things.

Reputation

You want someone with an excellent reputation. The first person I would ask is my dog’s veterinarian. In my experience, a veterinary referral is the best place to start, because veterinarians are likely to give you an objective opinion based on client feedback without an agenda. What do I mean by this? Vets aren’t trainers. They’re not com¬peting and have nothing to gain by referring or not referring an obe¬dience trainer.

I wouldn’t just take a card or brochure from my vet’s office—I would ask the vet and front office staff about this trainer. Often, the front office hears a tremendous amount of client feedback. Sometimes even more than the doctor. Has this trainer worked with other clients? What was the feedback?
Assuming I got answers that worked for me, I would probably check with another veterinarian in my area as well. You don’t have to be a client there. A simple phone call or a 10-minute visit will usually get you all the information you need. You might wind up with two good referrals for two trainers, or the same trainer might be recom¬mended at both offices.
If you don’t find who you’re looking for at your vet’s office, you can also speak to employees at pet supply stores and professional groomers. Both of these groups work extensively with dog owners and have many opportunities to hear the good, bad and ugly things about local trainers.
By the way, I don’t want anyone reading this to get the idea that most trainers are bad. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most trainers are true animal lovers who are thrilled that they can actually get paid to train and be with dogs. However,…