Dog owners looking for training beware!

Newsweek calls "Dog Training the great home business of the 2000's" 

Please check the credentials of your trainer carefully.

 During this last economic down turn dog training has become a franchise business. I saw two articles in Newsweek proclaiming it a great home business, and see the link to the franchise below.

Learning how to work dogs takes years of experience, it is not learned in three weeks; the average franchise training period.

Now you don't have to train with me, but get a good reputable trainer, not an "Instant" trainer. Good dog trainers are born knowing they will work dogs. Its their talent.

Kells at yoga time

Three good questions to ask a trainer.

"How long have you trained dogs? How long have you taught?"

"How many clients a year do you see?"

I personally would not go to a trainer that had not worked dogs for less than five years. And been training for two years after that, dogs really are an apprenticeship, seven years is about right.

Quark and Val, study in color

The most important question should be

"Do you compete?"

A  good trainer competes with their dogs. A good trainer is willing to put their skills on the line in front of their peers, and they compete currently. Its better if they do well, but that not as important as actually doing it. 

"What titles have you put on a dog?"

I don't care what venue a dog trainer competes in, but I thinks it should be something that requires training; Competitive Obedience, Agility, Rally O, or Herding.

 If a trainer does  not compete, how do we know their training is sound?

I also like to know that my trainer still goes to seminars and still is  learning. I have met trainers that stopped going to seminars years ago, and I think they  decline as a trainer.

Fancy credentials from organizations do nothing for me, there are a lot of great  dog trainers that do not need, or have credentials or certificates. I have a university degree with Honors, I spend my money on seminars.

Beware the instant dog trainers !

That's my two cents worth.   

  Happy Training!

 Leo  trying to sleep on the COOL air vent.

Bark Busters franchise is an example from NewsWeek.

Think twice, all problems solved with three weeks of training experience?

This is just an example I found in a Newsweek article, there are others.