What type of dog trainer do you need?
Get clear on what type of training you need and want for your dog before you choose a dog trainer.
In my opinion, there are three categories of trainers:
Three images of dogs with people form a grid.
~Working Dog Trainers~
These are trainers that work with dogs that have real jobs. These dogs will be service dogs, police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, etc.
~Competition-Style Trainers~
These trainers will have their eye on perfecting behaviors that can be used in sports like Obedience, Conformation, Agility, etc.
What competition-style and working dog trainers have in common is that they are focussed on teaching dogs to perform very cool, impressive, and sometimes unnatural behaviors in a precise manner.
~Pet Dog Trainers~
The majority of us need a pet dog trainer to help us help our dogs live in a pet home. Pet dog trainers are often focussed on teaching dogs to do nothing. We're focussed on impulse control, coping skills, house manners, and practical solutions for life with dogs.
Pet dog trainers will have a very different approach to training, and may suggest some things that you may not expect! Pet dog trainers are more likely to be forgiving of small "mistakes," encourage more natural movement, and will probably want to teach your dog just a handful of specific behaviors while helping the humans learn to use those behaviors in everyday life to solve or prevent issues. Doing nothing is REALLY hard for so many dogs. We generally want our pet dogs to chill in the house for extended periods of time, refrain from stealing muffins off the counter, wait for us while we pack the kids in the car, and quietly keep us company while we work from home, read a book or watch TV in the evenings. This is a hard, important job, and lots of dogs need help learning how to do it well.
You may need or want a variety of trainer types for your dog, too! You might want to compete in dog sports, but also need help teaching your dog to be a good house pet for you at home. Or maybe you have a service dog, but you also need help teaching your Very Good Dog to be a good house pet after working hours.
What kind of dog trainer does your dog need?