Choosing somebody to train or work with your dog is a decision that deserves much more consideration than simply finding somebody nearby with a good-looking Facebook page.
Your dog cannot tell you whether they are frightened, confused or uncomfortable during a training session. They cannot research a trainer’s qualifications, question their methods or decide that they don’t want to use a particular piece of equipment. That responsibility belongs to you.
Unfortunately, not everyone who calls themselves a dog trainer has the same level of education, experience or understanding of canine behaviour. Some trainers continue to use aversive methods and equipment such as choke chains, prong collars and electronic shock collars, despite the potential welfare risks associated with using pain, fear or intimidation as part of training.
That is why knowing what to look for can make such a difference.
What are aversive training methods?
Aversive methods are techniques designed to make an unwanted behaviour less likely by introducing something unpleasant. Depending on the method, this can involve physical pressure, pain, intimidation, fear or other forms of discomfort.
Examples can include deliberately tightening a choke chain, applying physical corrections to a lead, using a prong collar to create pressure around the neck, or using an electronic collar to deliver an electric stimulus.
You may hear these methods described using terms such as “correction”, “pressure”, “balanced training” or “consequences”. The terminology can sometimes make a technique sound considerably less concerning than what the dog actually experiences.
The important question is not what somebody calls the method. The important question is what happens to the dog.
Why should dog owners be concerned?
The biggest problem with using aversive techniques is that changing behaviour is not necessarily the same thing as changing how the dog feels.
Imagine a dog who is frightened by other dogs. If that dog is corrected every time they bark or lunge, the outward behaviour may reduce. That might look impressive from a distance, but the dog may still be frightened. They may simply have learned that expressing their fear results in something unpleasant.
This is particularly important with warning behaviours.
Growling, for example, is communication. A dog may growl because they are frightened, uncomfortable, guarding something valuable or feeling threatened. If the growl is punished, the dog may learn that communicating their discomfort is unsafe.
That does not necessarily make the underlying problem disappear.
Instead, you can potentially end up with a dog who is still uncomfortable but is less willing to communicate it.
This is why behaviour should be assessed rather than simply suppressed.
A professional should be asking questions such as why is the dog behaving this way, what is triggering it, what is the dog experiencing emotionally and what can we teach the dog instead?
The red flags to look for before you book
One of the easiest ways to protect your dog is to do your research before your first session.
1. They talk about dominance and being the “alpha”
Dogs do not need to be physically dominated into behaving.
If a trainer repeatedly talks about showing your dog who is boss, establishing yourself as the alpha or dominating your dog, I would want to know considerably more about their understanding of canine behaviour before allowing them to work with my dog.
2. They recommend aversive equipment as the solution
Be particularly cautious if a trainer immediately recommends a choke chain, prong collar or electronic collar without carrying out a proper assessment and considering why the behaviour is occurring.
Equipment should never be a substitute for understanding behaviour.
3. They talk about correcting rather than teaching
Ask a simple question:
“What are you going to teach my dog to do instead?”
If the answer is primarily about stopping, correcting or punishing unwanted behaviour, rather than teaching an alternative response, that should make you pause.
4. They promise a quick fix
Behaviour is rarely as simple as it appears.
A dog who is aggressive towards other dogs, terrified of being left alone, guarding the home or displaying serious anxiety may have a complex combination of learning history, environment, genetics, emotions and previous experiences contributing to the behaviour.
Be wary of anybody who promises that they can “fix” a serious behavioural problem in a very short period.
5. They tell you your dog needs to be frightened
This is a major red flag.
Your dog does not need to be terrified of you in order to respect you. Training should not rely upon a dog being frightened of making a mistake or frightened of what will happen if they don’t comply.
6. They cannot explain their qualifications
“Experienced dog trainer” can mean many different things.
Ask where they trained, what qualifications they hold, how much formal education they have undertaken and whether they continue to develop their knowledge.
There is an enormous difference between somebody who has owned and trained dogs for many years and somebody who has undertaken substantial education in canine behaviour and learning theory.
Experience is valuable, but experience and education are not interchangeable.
What if you have already started working with a trainer?
This is where things can become difficult because you may already have paid for several sessions, bought equipment or been given a training plan.
Perhaps the trainer has told you that you must use a particular collar. Perhaps you have been told to correct your dog whenever they bark, growl or react. Perhaps you have tried it and immediately felt uncomfortable.
Listen to that feeling.
Watch your dog carefully.
Are they becoming increasingly worried around you? Are they avoiding you when you pick up the equipment? Are they displaying signs of fear or stress during training? Are you being told to increase the level of pressure because the previous correction “didn’t work”? Are you becoming anxious about doing the exercises because you don’t feel comfortable with what you are being asked to do?
These are all reasons to stop and reassess.
You are allowed to say:
“I’m not comfortable using this technique and I don’t want to use it with my dog.”
You don’t have to debate canine training theory with your trainer.
You don’t have to convince them that you are right.
You don’t have to continue simply because you have already paid.
And you certainly shouldn’t allow somebody to make you feel guilty for refusing to use a method that you believe compromises your dog’s welfare.
What should you do if the trainer won’t accept your decision?
Walk away.
It really can be that simple.
If you have clearly said that you do not consent to a particular technique being used on your dog and the trainer continues to pressure you, that is a significant red flag.
Your relationship with your dog is yours.
A professional can make recommendations, explain their reasoning and give you options. They should be able to have a conversation with you about your concerns without becoming defensive, dismissive or intimidating.
What does good training look like?
Good training isn’t about allowing your dog to do whatever they want.
It isn’t about ignoring unwanted behaviour.
It isn’t about giving a dog unlimited treats and hoping for the best.
Good training involves understanding how dogs learn, identifying what is maintaining the behaviour, teaching appropriate alternative behaviours and managing the environment so that the dog has the best possible chance of succeeding.
For behaviour problems involving fear, anxiety or aggression, it also means looking beyond the behaviour we can see and considering the emotional state driving it.
A dog who is lunging at another dog doesn’t simply need to “stop lunging”. We need to understand why they are lunging and help them develop a more appropriate response.
A dog who is growling at visitors doesn’t simply need to be silenced. We need to understand what the visitors represent to that particular dog and change the dog’s emotional response where appropriate.
A dog who pulls on the lead doesn’t need to be made frightened of pulling. They need to learn how to walk successfully with us.
That is what makes behaviour work so much more than simply stopping a behaviour.
Questions to ask before choosing a trainer
Before booking, ask:
What qualifications do you hold?
Where did you study canine behaviour and training?
How would you describe your training methods?
Do you use punishment or aversive equipment?
Do you use choke chains, prong collars or electronic collars?
What would you do if my dog became frightened during a session?
How would you approach a dog displaying aggression?
What happens if your initial approach doesn’t work?
Will you explain the reasons behind the training plan?
A professional who is confident in their education and methods should not be offended by sensible questions.
You are your dog’s advocate
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to hand over your judgement simply because somebody calls themselves a dog trainer.
You are allowed to ask questions.
You are allowed to say no.
You are allowed to change your mind.
You are allowed to stop a session.
And you are allowed to leave.
Your dog relies on you to make decisions on their behalf, particularly when they are frightened or unable to understand what is happening.
So choose your trainer carefully. Look beyond impressive social media videos and claims of being able to “fix” dogs. Find out what somebody has actually studied, understand how they work and pay attention to how your dog responds.
The right professional won’t expect you to choose between training your dog and protecting their welfare. Good training should do both.