Working with an experienced dog trainer can be beneficial for dogs of any age. For new puppies and rescue dogs, basic obedience will help your dog be better behaved at home. An already trained dog can expand upon her skills while getting mental stimulation with advanced training. For dogs who are exhibiting aggression or other behavioral issues, a professional trainer can be a must for everyone's safety.
Picking the right trainer for your dog requires some consideration. Since there is little regulation in the field and almost anyone can say they are a dog trainer, you will want to know what to look for in order to separate the professionals from the unexperienced and make sure that you will get the best results for your dog.
As you start your search for a dog trainer, the internet is a great place to look, but you will want to be extra careful and check for all of the following for any trainers you find online to be sure they are legitimate. You can also ask friends with dogs or see if your rescue, vet, or people you meet at the dog park have any recommendations.
For any dog trainers that you are choosing between, you should look into all of the following:
The final requirement is that you like the way the trainer communicates. A large part of dog training is actually giving you the skills to better understand and manage your dog so, you want a trainer that you feel comfortable communicating with from the beginning and who adequately explains their approach, reasoning, and how they will meet your goals with dog training.
One thing to keep in mind when looking for a dog trainer is that you should often not let price be a determining factor. Given all of these considerations, a qualified and successful dog trainer will often not be cheap and shopping around on budget may mean you do not get the results you are after. You should make these considerations your primary ones and then start looking into cost when you believe you have a trainer that will provide everything you and your dog need.