How to Find a Good Dog Trainer


BY LINDA MICHAELS, M.A. — DEL MAR DOG TRAINING

Woman and Her Dog Shaking Hands Silhouette
Good Trainers!

With the overwhelming variety of dog training collars and methods advertised, it is often frustrating for pet parents to find the best trainer. Please remember this: The safest, as well as the most effective methods are based on force-free/pain free/fear free scientific principles. The consequences of using other methods not only include a high risk of psychological and very possibly medical injury, but they are entirely unnecessary. Renowned veterinary behaviorist and editor of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Dr. Karen Overall (DVM, PhD), provides an outline in her article aptly titled, Good trainers: How to identify one. (Overall, K., et al., 2006).

This easy-to-use reference guide was developed for pet parents, dog trainers, veterinarians, shelters, rescues, groomers, and other pet-related professionals.

“Good Training Tools: Safe and effective.
a) Small bite-sized treats
b) Leashes
c) Flat collars
d)  Harnesses
e) Praise
f) Toys

Tools to Avoid: Cause anxiety, fear and may cause aggression.
a) Shock collars/ electric collars / e-collars/ static collar
b) Prong collars
c) “Correction” collars
d) Choke collars, choke chains
[e] Citronella collars

Problematic Tools:
a) Flexi-lead
[ b] Crates (overuse)

How to make the case for force free dog training linda michaels del mar dog trainer dog psychology positive reinforcement
Learn How to Make the Case for Force-free Dog Training DVD

What is positive training?

a) Based on a reward structure that encourages the dog to want to work more with you
b) Only reward based, there is no punishment or “correction”
c) Having the dog pay attention to something that is coupled with the reward [Best standards of training techniques include capturing, luring, and shaping.]

What about punishment?

a) Punishment increases anxiety and fear
b) Punishment ruins relationships

c) Punishment inhibits desired learning
d) Punishment does not tell the pet what to do
e) Punishment makes animals more reactive so it increases aggression and arousal. Any animal that was already aggressive will become worse when punished.
f) Punishment increases the risk of physical and psychological injury. Dogs manhandled with choke chains and prong collars often have laryngeal, esophageal, thyroidal, and tracheal damage. Recurrent laryngeal nerve damage or paralysis can sequelae and may be detected by a change in bark. “

Overall, K., Brammeier, S., Brennan, J., Brown, S., Bryant, D., Calnon, D., . . . Seksel,K. (2006). Good trainers: How to identify one. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 1, 47-52.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” M.A./Psychology a Top Ten Rated U.S. Dog Trainer — Del Mar Dog Training, may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com  for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com  All rights reserved.