
Training is an important part of owning a dog and sometimes a specialist is needed to help. This blog will help you find the right person to help you and your canine companion!
How to find a Trainer or Behaviourist to help with your dog?
Looking through the eyes of your dog and empathetically training and relationship building will give you the best understanding of your dog’s behaviour and the best bond with your furry pal. When looking for help with your dog it is important to find someone that will help you to work WITH your dog to get the results you’re looking for, while looking after their wellbeing and meeting their needs. Choose someone who can help your dog to develop the skills they need to navigate life in our human world. All dogs need an empathetic training approach but rescue dogs definitely need this, having often been through trauma or at the very least a lot of change and abandonment they need a kind and understanding approach.


The wrong person
The dog training and behaviour world can seem like a bit of a wild west so it can be hard to know where to start. A big red flag is a trainer that claims they can fix any dog in one session, these trainers often scare dogs into shutting down and these results will likely not last or create massive emotional damage. It is also best to steer clear of anyone using aversive methods or tools like shock collars and prong collars. These trainers use methods that work based on punishing dogs whether through reprimanding verbally or using tools to cause pain and discomfort. Apart from the fact that it is not nice to spend your days intimidating your dog, these methods often have the fall out of damaging your relationship with your dog, losing the trust of your paw pal or denting their confidence which can hinder or halt the training progress and can also lead to further behaviour issues.
When you have found the right person
They should be able to help you develop an ethical training program. This begins with making sure your caine companion has their doggy needs met and that their environment is set up to help them succeed. Then they should be able to develop a realistic achievable plan with everyone’s needs in the mixing pot. They should only use ethical methods that are hinged on rewarding behaviour you want to see more of. They should be able to find out what your fluffy pals’ likes and be able to use this to help them to change their behaviour. Building a solid relationship based on trust and understanding at both ends of the lead can transform pups into super pups!


How do I find them?
The best place to find ethical trainers is through the ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) website linked here. Trainers and behaviourists on this register have to adhere to a strict code of conduct that keeps animal welfare needs at the core of their practice. The ABTC is a charity with the aim of improving animal welfare standards in training and behaviour therapy.