BLACK TIE KENNELS
Where Breeding, Training, and Handling
is a formal Affair
CHOOSING A TRAINER
Training a dog may seem simple to some but it is anything but. Many people buy book after book on dog training and
think they can do it themselves. This is simply not the case and many dogs end up in shelters each year because of it. Did
you know the number one reason a dog is surrendered to an animal shelter is because of behavioral issues. Issues that
could have been solved or even prevented from developing had the owner simply chosen to train with a professional
trainer.

Choosing the right trainer could be the difference between life and death for your dog! It's just as important as deciding
to actually train your dog
So why exactly can not you not realistically expect to be able to train your
dog all by yourself?

It's pretty simple really. To have a well adjusted dog you need to have a very well
socialized dog and absoulutely nothing beats a group puppy or basic obedience class
for socialization experiences. Not only that but dogs must be able to preform all the
tasks that you teach them in a variety of situations.

That said, there are some excellent books on the market that can HELP you
train your dog. Nothing beats the advice and second set of eyes of an
experienced professional though.


So what exactly should you look for in a trainer and his/her training classes?

Well first off be careful about local clubs or organizations that offer dog training classes. You would think a
class held with a dog club would be reliable and well taught but this is not always the case. Often these
classes are taught by volunteers who base their qualifications to train solely on the fact they may have
competed and accomplished a title with at least one dog. Ask how the club selects their instructors. Try to
find a professional who makes or has made a living training dogs.

Next look for a trainer who's program is behavior based. Behavior based programs are all positive
reinforcement. Ask the trainer what equipment he or she regularly uses in classes. If the program is behavior
based choke chains, slip collars/leads (not to be confused with a no slip lead), and pinch collars won't even
be on the list. In fact they will not be allowed in the class at all. Buckle or snap collars and gentle leaders
should be the answer you get if the class is truly behavior based.

Another excellent question to ask is what the trainer plans to do to keep students safe. This one is
especially important if you have a little dog. By the way if the trainer says that they separate little dogs into a
totally different class from the big dogs you should probably avoid this class. Segregated classes like this
don't really do anyone much good and often are formed because the little dogs can't "take it" like the big
dogs can. This usually means that the training methods being employed are harsh, at least where larger
dogs are concerned. Go and observe a group class taught by the trainer you have in mind and see how alert
they are to the safety of their two and four legged students. If a situation arises where one dog is threatening
another what does the trainer do about it, and do they react quickly? Does the trainer repeatedly have
problems that put pets at risk of injury ? If so, regardless of how well or how quickly the trainer reacts each
time you should probably avoid this class as well. After all if your dog is ever injured in a class taught by such
a trainer it won't be much consolation that the instructor was there three seconds after the fact. That doesn't
mean you can use safety as an excuse to avoid training. It simply means that you must find d a safe class to
train in.