Who trains your dog basic manners or consults to help solve your dog’s behavior problems is one of the biggest decisions pet caretakers can make.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated by the fact that there is no regulation in the training world. Anyone who wants to can claim to be an animal trainer, behaviorist or animal behavior consultant. Further complicating the matter are the many different approaches trainers can take when they work with dogs. Finally, let’s face it, as with any profession, the marketplace is filled with trainers of varying levels of skill.

So what’s a pet caretaker to do? How do you decide which style of trainer to hire? And once you’ve decided that, how do you pick someone to help man’s best friend, and you, have a better life together?

Fortunately, there are a number of professional international training organizations that require their members to adhere to codes of ethics and conduct. There are also third-party certifying agencies that assess trainer knowledge and skills. Finally, your gut can tell you a lot about whether you want to trust your pet with a specific trainer.

First, we’ll examine some of the different approaches used by dog trainers, then we’ll consider professional groups and the different levels of training a trainer might have, and finally we’ll wrap up with green flags and potential red flags you might consider before deciding on a trainer.

Methodologies

There are a number of approaches to dog training, and some trainers will use a combination of approaches. Positive reinforcement (sometimes referred to as R+) is used in many methods of training, but it is also its own standalone category. However, positive reinforcement does draw on evidence-based methods like classical and operant conditioning.

Unfortunately, some methods rely on compulsion or pain, and therefore aren’t considered humane by trainers who strictly adhere to force-free, fear-free, intimidation-free, and pain-free methods.

Let’s take a look at the basics of some of the main approaches.

Positive reinforcement

With positive reinforcement only, trainers only reinforce desired behaviors, frequently with food. For example, if the trainer wants the dog to sit and the dog sits, the trainer gives the dog some form of reinforcement that the dog values (food, a toy, play, petting or praise, depending on what motivates the dog), thus making the dog more likely to sit in the future.

Bad behavior is not acknowledged, and there is absolutely no physical punishment.

Clicker training is frequently used in positive reinforcement training.

Evidence

Evidence-based trainers rely on understanding dog psychology and how dogs learn based on the latest studies.

They rely heavily on positive reinforcement (giving the dog something to make a behavior more likely to occur in the future, like giving a treat for sitting to make sitting more likely to happen again). They may sparingly use negative reinforcement (removing something to make a behavior more likely to occur in the future, a practice sometimes used when rehabbing fraidy animals) and negative punishment (taking something away from the dog to make a behavior less likely to occur in the future, like turning away from a dog to decrease jumping behavior, or in the human world, grounding a teen to decrease the behavior of staying out past curfew) may be used sparingly. Positive punishment (adding something to make the behavior less likely to occur in the future, like physically punishing a dog for barking to decrease barking) is not used in evidence-based training.

At the heart of evidence-based training are classical conditioning (think Pavlov and those dogs salivating when they heard a bell ring) and operant conditioning (in which a dog learns her behavior causes something else to occur, like sitting causes the person to give her a treat, and so she offers that behavior again in the future to cause a treat to come her way).

Clicker training is frequently used in this training approach.

Relationship

This training approach focuses on creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the human and animal. It relies on the human having a deep understanding and awareness of the animal, the animal’s needs and capabilities, and setting the animal up for success.

When a dog isn’t performing as desired, the focus is on solving the why behind it (pain? distraction?) rather than continuing with an unfruitful effort.

Positive reinforcement and clicker training are frequently used in this approach.

A strong bond with an animal can also improve the efficacy of other training methods.

Model or mirror

Model- and mirror-based training take advantage of the dog’s ability to learn through observation.

For model-based training, the trainer might praise or scold a model (human) for doing things and the dog learns by watching what desired and undesired behaviors are.

For mirror-based training, dogs observe the human and mimic the behaviors.

In these approaches, the dog’s ability to learn by example works with dog’s social instincts.

“Balanced” or crossover training

“Balanced training” is a euphemism for using a combination of positive reinforcements for desired behaviors alongside corrections or punishments for unwanted behaviors.

The underlying belief is that positive reinforcement and teaching alternate behaviors is not sufficient to halt unwanted behaviors. Aversive corrections rely on positive punishment, that is, adding something unpleasant to make a behavior less likely to occur in the future.

Aversive corrections, such as using a prong collar or choke chain to keep a dog from pulling on a walk, are used to halt the problematic behaviors. While these may seem to work in the present, these aversive corrections cause pain, which can lead to fear and aggression in dogs and damage the bond between human and animal.

Electronic

Electronic training typically uses shock collars or collars that make an unpleasant sound or emit citronella spray when a dog does something undesirable. They are frequently used to train at a distance, such as where the yard’s boundaries are, to avoid approaching a rattlesnake or to deter barking.

These aversive tools rely on positive punishment, that is, adding something unpleasant to make a behavior less likely to occur in the future.

This method only teaches a dog what he shouldn’t do, not what he should do, which can cause problems. Again, this method may seem to work in the moment, but it teaches through pain and discomfort, which can create stress and anxiety, ultimately leading to fear and aggression.

Alpha dog or dominance

Popularized by Cesar Millan, this compulsion-based method is predicated on pack mentality and the erroneous belief that dogs operate based on a submission and dominance hierarchy as wild wolf packs do.

In this approach, the dog is expected to view the human as dominant and constantly submit to the human. For example, humans eat first, go through doors first and don’t allow dogs on furniture as they are not equal to the human. The dominance struggle is continuous and can lead to fear and aggression in dogs. Sometimes, “alpha rolls” are used to “demonstrate dominance.”

This kind of training rarely addresses the cause of bad behavior, and many trainers find this mode of training outdated. Again, such methods can lead to fear and aggression and worsen the underlying behavior problems.

Professional groups and schools

Animal training and behavior rehabilitation are unregulated industries, so the only way for the public to be sure that the trainer or consultant they are considering working with has the skills necessary to help is via baseline competence levels set by reputable professional organizations.

And while certain approaches are inherently humane, such as positive reinforcement, in inexperienced hands, they may be used incorrectly. One of the best ways to be sure the trainer or consultant you are considering working with is competent is to check whether they are professionally certified and consider the minimum experience required to qualify to take the certifying exam.

Below, find descriptions of third-party certifying organizations, professional groups, and schools that help trainers gain experience that can help you navigate the unregulated waters of animal training and behavior rehab and choose the right trainer for your needs.

CCPDT

The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) is a third-party group that allows qualified individuals to take the Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) test. To qualify, a candidate must:

provide documentation of 300+ hours of dog training in the last three years
submit a signed attestation from a veterinarian or existing CPDT member
sign the CCPDT standards of practice, code of ethics and LIMA policies
pass a 180-question test

To maintain certification, they must earn 36 continuing education credits every three years.

Those who pass the CPDT-KA are then able to take a second exam that assesses the person’s skills, the CPDT-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA). This exam requires candidates to video themselves coaching clients and training dogs they have never trained before on four skills. After, they must continue to achieve 36 continuing education credits, of which 12 must be hands-on credits, every three years to maintain their certification.

The next level of certification available through the CCPDT is that of behavior consultant, Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA). To qualify, a candidate must:

provide documentation of 300+ hours of consulting on dog fear, phobias, compulsive behaviors, anxiety and aggression in the last three years
submit a signed attestation from a CCPDT certificant or a veterinarian.
sign the CCPDT standards of practice, code of ethics and LIMA policies
achieve a passing score on a test that only 70% of applicants pass

Organizations and schools

Professional groups like the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) either validate existing certifications of their members or offer certifications their members can earn. Due to the sheer number of possible organizations, I’ll just touch on two here.

APDT

APDT doesn’t certify dog trainers, but the organization offers trainer listing as a benefit of membership. For each listed trainer or behavior consultant, APDT verifies the validity of that person’s existing certification from another group, such as:

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Animal Behavior College
Animal Behavior Society
Association for the Study of Animal Behavior
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors

The APDT’s criteria is that the certification:

Is independent of any school or training program
Requires continuing education units to maintain certification
Is specifically related to dog training and/or dog behavior; general certifications in animal behavior will require evidence of specific work and study with dogs

In addition, members must sign the APDT Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice. The APDT offers ongoing education opportunities and various levels of membership for trainers and consultants as they gain experience.

IAABC

Trainers and consultants can be members of IAABC without holding a certification from the group. Membership with the organization allows members to grow professionally through education programs and networking.

The IAABC offers both canine and feline certifications. On the dog side, they offer the Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (ACDBC) and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) ratings. Continuing education hours are required to keep certification current.

To apply for the ACDBC, the applicant must have:

300 completed hours of animal behavior consulting with clients
150 hours of education
two case studies
species-specific knowledge
assessment skills
letters of recommendation

To apply for the CDBC, the applicant must have:

500 hours of animal behavior consulting with clients
400 hours of education
three case studies
discuss four case scenarios
answer questions relating to species-specific knowledge
assessment skills
letters of recommendation.

Schools

There are also programs that lead to certification from that particular school, such as the Karen Pryor Academy. These programs typically require a certain number of hours of experience as well as passing a test or skills assessment before certification is granted. The APDT has compiled a spreadsheet that compares training schools based on nearly two dozen criteria, such as what topics and types of training their students receive. (It does not include the CCPDT in the list because the CCPDT is a recognized third-party accreditation organization and is not a dog trainer organization.)

Things to consider

Once you’ve decided on the training methodology you’d prefer a trainer or consultant used with your pet, and you’ve verified they have a certification that indicates experience, knowledge and skills, you still need to consider a few last variables.

As with choosing any professional to work with, look out for warning signs that someone may not be the best match. At the same time, keep an eye out for positive signs about the trainer or behavior consultant you’re considering working with. This discussion isn’t all-encompassing, but does hit on some of the main points you should consider before trusting someone to work with your pet.

Areas of service

Why does area of service matter? Trainers and behavior consultants typically aren’t specialists in other areas of the animal world, such as being a vet, or they may only specialize in certain types of training or problems, such as basic manners or leash reactivity.

A green flag for area of service is a trainer or consultant who will refer out to others in the animal world.

A leash reactivity specialist with no experience in separation anxiety cases should say something like, “I don’t work with separation anxiety cases and am not comfortable taking on your issue, but here are three people I know who are very good at working with people to resolve separation anxiety problems.”
If the trainer or consultant isn’t a vet, they shouldn’t be giving medical advice. That said, if they suspect a medical issue underlies a behavioral problem, they should recommend a visit to the vet. They might say, “It seems like Boomer’s having trouble walking. He’s an older guy, so it might be worth checking with your vet to see if there are some physical problems that could be contributing to this on-leash reactivity that has just started in the last few months. It’s important for you to see a vet to rule in or out a medical condition for this because if the problem is medical, we can’t solve it with a behavioral approach. Let me take some videos of how he’s walking and write up an email for you to take to your vet.”
A trainer or consultant should also be willing to do research needed to answer a question you ask if they don’t know off the top of their head. You might hear them say, “I am not familiar with that research, but let me check it out and let’s talk about it during our next session,” or, “I’m not sure about the answer to that question and I don’t want to give you bad information that could cause problems. Let me check into it and call you or drop you an email after I know more.”

A red flag for area of service is a trainer or consultant who:

acts like they are qualified to do something they have little to no experience in, such as dispensing medical or nutritional advice if they don’t have a veterinary or animal-specific nutrition degree.
claims certification without mentioning the certifying agency
claims expertise in a topic but is vague or uses incomprehensible language when questioned about the issue
refuses to refer out to other experts for different services, such as grooming, dog sitting, or specialized training

Seeks improvement

You probably don’t want a surgeon operating on you using techniques and knowledge and instruments that haven’t been updated since the last century, in much the same way you probably don’t want a trainer or behavior who earned their certification, called it good, and stopped seeking to learn new things. The training and behavior sector is continually evolving, and so should the person’s skills.

A green flag for seeks improvement is a trainer or consultant who:

attends seminars, trainings, webinars and classes
reads the latest journals and books
listens to the latest podcasts
earns continuing education units to maintain certifications
earns new certifications as their experience grows
belongs to professional organizations such as IAABC or the Pet Professional Guild
is active in the local dog community, such as participating in agility sports, or working with a rescue organization
seeks to work with various types of dogs

A red flag for seeks improvement is a trainer or consultant who:

has only ever worked with a single breed of dog (unless, perhaps, that’s the specific breed you need trained)
doesn’t belong to professional organizations
doesn’t attend seminars, trainings, webinars or classes
doesn’t read about or listen to talks about training and animal behavior
doesn’t have a certification and isn’t working toward earning a certification

Use of aversives

Aversives are things like prong collars, choke chains and shock collars (often, equipment that corrects through pain), and they should never be a trainer’s first choice for your dog. People might be drawn to such tools because they seem to work in the moment. They seem effective in that a shock collar might stop a dog’s barking or a prong collar might stop a dog from pulling. However, these tools can harm animals and can seriously damage the relationship between pet and caregiver.

I’ll say it here – I don’t support the use of aversives under any circumstance, and certain professional organizations require their members to avoid use of aversives altogether or resort to them only if no other less invasive, less aversive method has worked (and in that case, it usually takes a committee of fellow trainers to approve the use of aversives in a training approach).

A green flag on this topic is a trainer or consultant who:

absolutely doesn’t use aversives

A red flag on this topic is a trainer or consultant who:

requires the use of prong collars or choke chains no matter what reason you’re seeing them
reaches for aversives without assessing your dog and their needs, or worse, without even seeing your dog
recommends aversives without trying any other approaches

Understands the problems and your goals

Ever been to the doctor, complaining about one thing, and they ignore your comments on that and give you a prescription for some problem you didn’t even know you had? Then you get home and realize you still suffer from the original problem and, even worse, that you didn’t receive any help for that original problem? You don’t want a trainer or consultant like that. You want a trainer or consultant who listens to you and addresses the problems you need solved, in addition to any other issues that may exist.

A green flag for understands the problems and your goals is a trainer or consultant who:

makes you feel heard
takes a thorough history or briefing of the situation before presenting the proposed plan
takes into consideration your needs
takes into consideration your animal’s needs
explains the proposed solution in a way that you can understand it

A red flag for understands the problems and your goals is a trainer or consultant who:

evaluates your dog without meeting your dog
makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong, or blames you for lack of progress with the training program
explains things in a demeaning fashion
tries to force solutions on you that you don’t need, want, or understand
is vague about the approach they plan to take or the tools they plan to use

Professionalism and policies

Any trainer or consultant you choose should behave in a professional manner and have clear and reasonable policies regarding fee structure, cancellations or rescheduling.

A green flag for professionalism and policies is a trainer or consultant who:

is punctual, starting and ending sessions on time. They should respect your time in the same way they expect you to respect their time
follows through on the things they say they will do
has clear and easy-to-understand policies and fee schedules. Please note many trainers require at least a deposit or full payment up front for each session but allow cancellations or time changes with no penalty when made at least 24 to 48 hours ahead of time.
behaves in an ethical fashion, only mentions previous or current cases with non-identifying details when pertinent to your case
follows through on delivering promised documentation or answers to questions
is realistic about how long a problem usually takes to be resolved

A red flag for professionalism and policies is a trainer or consultant who:

doesn’t follow up with promised materials or emails, which can cause delays in the training process
talks about other cases, particularly giving identifying details or speaking of clients or their dogs in a disparaging manner
has confusing or extremely punitive policies regarding cancellations or rescheduling, particularly requiring large payments up front for packages and not allowing cancellations, rescheduling or refunds.
is tardy for sessions or causes sessions to run over, repeatedly, which costs you more money than you expected
makes promises regarding the results you will receive or how quickly you will see results. Behavioral issues are complex and rehabilitating them depends on many factors, such as the problem itself, the dog’s speed of learning, the trainer’s skill, the caregiver’s ability to follow directions, and the frequency the caregiver or trainer works with the dog, to name a few.

Gut check

Finally, consult your gut. Do you feel cringe-y just thinking about working with a specific trainer? Does this trainer’s approach sound like something you’d want done to you, were you in your pet’s place?

You’re the caregiver, and it’s up to you to select a trainer or consultant who can help train the basics or solve behavior problems and help you improve the bond you have with your animal, not weaken it.

Choose wisely. Pick a trainer or consultant you feel comfortable trusting your beloved animal with and whose methods you can feel good about.

How to pick a trainer or consultant for your pet