5 Tips for Finding the Best Dog Training

Training your dog is important for many reasons. Not only does it establish a good relationship between you and your pup, but it discourages bad behavior like chewing, whining, jumping on people, and bathroom accidents in the house. Some pet owners have no problem training their pups at home without professional help. Other people don’t have the patience or the desire to take the lead. This is when you need expert Seattle dog training.

If you are a new pet owner, here are some tips to help you find the best dog trainer near you.

Choose a Positive Trainer
There are many dog trainers to choose from in any given location, but there aren’t always a lot of good trainers. This is why it’s important to take your time selecting a trainer. A good sign that you’ve selected a great trainer is when the person uses positive training. Positive training includes the following:

•    Avoid intimidation
•    Reinforces good behavior
•    Understands dominance theory and its misconceptions
•    Thinks about training from the dog’s point of view

Positive trainers never use fear or acts of violence against a dog as part of the training. Acting in a negative, violent manner toward a dog is not only cruel, but it can cause the dog to lash out and harm the owner/canine relationship.

Select a Certified Trainer
The person you hire to train your dog should be certified. Hiring someone who does this as a hobby without any credentials is not the best way to spend your time or your money. Certified trainers have years of experience working with dogs of all breeds and know best how to approach specific behavior problems you’re experiencing.

Hire a Friendly Trainer
Grouchy trainers need not apply to train your pup. You want someone with people skills as well as a love for dogs. Also, dogs can sense when a person isn’t quite the happy-go-lucky personality that they are. A friendly trainer will always be a great asset.

Choose a Trainer Who Is Good with People Too
Although you’re selecting a trainer for your dog, you also need to get along well with this person. After all, you will be participating in sessions with the trainer. There are some people who send their dogs to doggy boot camp where the trainer is the only person who has contact with the dog during this time. In extreme cases, this is acceptable. However, the average dog owner won’t be taking such a hardcore approach to training and will be participating in classes with their dog. So, having a trainer who is conversational, easy to approach with questions, non-judgmental, and trains with care is always important.

All Trainers Should Have Insurance
Lastly, don’t underestimate the need for liability insurance. This coverage is important in case there is an incident between the trainer and the dog. You don’t want to be held responsible for any injuries that your dog may cause. Likewise, if your dog is injured for any reason, you’ll know that you have the ability to file a claim for compensation.

Follow these 5 tips for selecting a Seattle dog training, and you’ll have the most well-behaved dog in the neighborhood.