Your dog is your best friend, and you want to make sure that he or she has the best life possible. One way to do that is through obedience training. Obedience training can help improve your dog’s behavior, as well as strengthen your bond with him or her. Did you know that dogs can also benefit from perimeter training? If you have an underground hidden fence and other pet boundary systems set up this training will help your pet to better understand the new limits and obey them with ease.
Hiring the right trainer can be difficult though if you’re not sure what you should look for. We’ve put together some tips on how to find a good trainer for your dog so that both of you can enjoy the experience!
Check for recommendations
When it comes to hiring a dog trainer, you want someone who’ll bring out the best in your pup. To find a good match, ask around and check online reviews. If you have friends or family with pets, ask them for recommendations. Your vet might be able to point you in the right direction as well. To help narrow down your search, look for certifications and licenses—these are signs of expertise.
Establish a budget
Before you begin the search for a dog trainer, it’s important to consider your budget. Think about how much you are willing to spend on training and what type of payment options are available. If there is money in your budget for training, great! But don’t be afraid to ask if there are any discounts available or if the trainer would be willing to work with you.
Ask about class options and times
Once you’ve found a few trainers that meet your criteria, it’s time to start vetting them further. A good place to start is by asking about class options and times. While there are a number of factors that go into deciding which trainer is right for you, this can be helpful in narrowing down who’s worth talking to further. Asking about their experience, qualifications, training methods and approach will also help you get a sense of what type of relationship they’d have with your dog.
Interview the trainer
Interviewing the trainer is an important step in making sure you’re working with someone who understands your dog, and your goals and is able to bring them together. Here are some things to ask:
- Ask about their experience. If you have a very young puppy, for example, you may want to hire a trainer who works with puppies specifically (some trainers don’t). And if your dog has behavioral issues that need addressing, make sure the trainer has experience in dealing with those sorts of behaviors. It’s also helpful to ask how long they’ve been training dogs professionally—the more experience they have as a professional trainer, the more likely it is that they know what they’re doing.
- Ask about their training style and philosophy. Do they use positive reinforcement only? Are they opposed to shock collars? How do they feel about clicker training or clicker-based methods? What sort of time frames do they work within (most trainers will train in sessions lasting anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour)? What kind of proof will show whether the techniques are effective (i.e., client testimonials)? A good place for this information might be on a website or social media page for the business—just track down where all these details can be found before conducting an interview so there won’t be any delays later on!
With the right trainer and training methods, you can get your pet on the right track in no time! We offer professional perimeter training services with a member of our team. In only a few training sessions your pet can learn voice commands and visual flags.