Finding a good dog trainer is not that difficult, if you know what to look for.

Here are some criteria you should look for when choosing your dog trainer.

Aim for stress and fear free only. Your chosen expert should not compromise on that, regardless how your dog behaves. Unless your goal is to have a dog you always need to control, don’t pick someone who teaches you that. Be aware that stress is what the dog perceives. A perfect example is the nose type harness promoted and recommended by many positive dog trainers. Most dogs are irritated and stressed by it. The best dog experts find solutions that are in the dog’s best interest, because they know that stress-free increases learning and decreases reactivity, which is also in the owner’s best interest.


Your dog trainer should be experienced: Of course, new trainers can’t be as experienced as seasoned ones, but they also shouldn’t deal with the most difficult dog problems. The best place to get hands-on experience is at a humane society/animal shelter.

Education and experience should relate to training and/or behavior. It takes years for anyone to master a field. That includes dog training and behavior as well. Groomers or vet techs, and veterinarians for that matter, are experienced in handling a dog, but not necessarily knowledgeable regarding behavior - although some have a keen interest in behavior and expand into that. There are leading behaviorists that are also veterinarians, for example Ian Dunbar.
Your dog trainer should have experience and education posted on his/her website, in addition to client testimonials.


Into the experience category falls your dog trainer's ability to individualize. Can he/she solve problems, or only applies a once-learned chart-type program. Dogs are individuals. What sounds good theoretically doesn’t always work for each and every dog. Your chosen pro should be able to adjust, without compromising on stress-free methods. If in doubt, focus on what they do, not what they say. Spoken words and actions are not always congruent. To the dogs, the actions matter, not the words. Turn the volume down when you watch TV trainers. Watch the dogs. Do they seem stressed, fearful or shut-down?


Your dog trainer should be approachable, accessible and personable. The best expert is a bad choice if you don’t get along with him/her. Your dog will pick up if you are nervous or feel intimidated. Your trainer should be patient, motivational, supportive and encouraging, not belittling or short-fused.

He/she should be able to remain calm and positive regardless how your dog acts. It’s easy to stay mindful with a well-behaved dog, harder with a misbehaving one. And, don’t feel bad if your dog misbehaves – THAT IS THE REASON why you hired a dog trainer.


Dog pros should enjoy dogs and anything that has to do with dogs. For that reason they love to gather where dogs and dog folks, both owners and other pros, are - in parks, at conferences, workshops and seminars.

Focuses on success, not problems;

Asks you what your goals are, and begins shaping towards them;

Investigates why the behavior is happening, what in the relationship isn’t working;

Always addresses the root of the problem.

Excellent experts in their fields can be found both as group trainers and private behavior consultants. Some do both, some specialize in one field or another.

Many good group dog trainers are connected to behavior experts and vice versa.



Excellent dog experts can come with titles and certificates – or not.

A behaviorist generally is someone with a degree in a behavioral science, for example psychology. But the term is not protected, which means that anyone can call him/herself a behaviorist. Like consultant, trainer, coach, whisperer and expert, it can describe someone with extensive knowledge and experience, or someone who picks up a leash and jumps on the trendy and profitable dog business bandwagon.

The same is true regarding certification. It simply states that the trainer follows the doctrine of the particular place they took their training with, but even that is rarely monitored or enforced. Certification translates into money for these self-regulated organizations and schools, because often they require mandatory re-certification, each time with a fee attached. Some certified trainers are fairly close minded, applying a once learned method only, regardless if it works or not.

Generally though, certified trainers have a keen interest in dogs and dog behavior and make an effort to learn more and expand their knowledge, and that is good. Being not certified can be an indication that the trainer picked up a few ideas here and there he/she wants to profit from, and knows little more than the dog owner. But it doesn’t have to mean that. Some excellent dog pros are not certified because they refuse to follow any one doctrine, learned from many places, are self-thinkers and apply their own ideas – they are the leaders and mavericks in the canine field.

This can all be pretty confusing, and my best advice is to not be side-tracked by titles and certification, but to make knowledge, experience and philosophy your priority.



The best dog trainer understands how mammals learn ; knows species-specific dog behaviors and communication; cares about the unique dynamics of each social group; understands your dog’s psyche – her individual abilities and limitations; and takes inherent disposition and past-learned experiences into account. He/she respects everyone within the social group, including children and works with integrity.

That is reflected in the fees your expert charges: The best dog trainers have a keen interest in dogs and behavior and invest time and money to learn more; attend seminars and workshops, do literary and field research, and stay current on latest studies and ideas you and your dog will benefit from. When you pay your professional, you pay for his/her time, but more so for the knowledge he/she acquired over many years.



Not every dog is suited to be in a group class because of fear or over-arousal caused by highly stimulating environments. Your training facility should be able to assess that, and honestly recommend private behavior modification, even if they're out of money. Often these owners return to the facility once their dog is able to handle it.

A group class is rarely the best place to deal with behavior problems, but an excellent place to learn the technical skills that sharpen training responses - and to have fun. There are facilities that are better equipped than others, because of the level of experience their instructors have and the space available, to modify problem behaviors as well.

But don’t be discouraged if you have a dog who isn’t suitable for group classes, or if you failed graduation. Failing doesn’t mean that you or your dog failed, but that more work needs to be done, perhaps with a private trainer first. And vice versa – graduating does not automatically mean that you have an always well-behaved dog. It can simply be that she has learned to perform certain actions in a certain setting reliably.

Group trainers and behavior experts should work hand in hand so that you end up with a well-behaved dog in all situations.