There is nothing worse that rushing to get dressed for the office and finding your good pair of shoes all chewed up. Unless of course, it’s coming home to find pee puddles and poop hills all around your living room. And when was the last time you had friends over without them being attacked or slobbered by your unruly pet? If you have had it with doggie nightmares, then maybe it’s time to call in the experts in dog training.
People who want to take personal charge of their pet’s training but either don’t know how or have no time have come to rely on the services of in home dog training companies. Certified trainers are dispatched to do what needs to be done and the dog owners can sit back and watch their canine’s progress in the comfort and privacy of their homes. Before you decide to engage in hiring the dog trainer, here are five important questions you need to ask.
At what level of obedience is your dog? If your canine is already moderately well-mannered, this means that you have been at least a little bit successful in dog training. You may want to continue in this. However, if you believe you are not qualified to teach him anything, then you should call in the experts as soon as you can.
Where are all the good trainers? The best trainers are those whose work speaks for itself. Talk to your friends and neighbors who have used a professional’s services in training their pet. If they don’t know anybody, they should know somebody who comes highly recommended. Check the yellow pages or surf through the internet for companies or individuals that offer the training your dog need (basic obedience training or specific behavior modification). Research on their rates and find one that gives you the best value for your money.
What makes a good trainer? The most important thing you need to check in a trainer is his manner of handling the dog. Violence, yelling, or force of any kind should not be tolerated regardless the reasons he may have. Feel free to ask for personal records and referrals he has to you can check it yourself. There are no official government licenses for animal training to date; however, most of these professionals have graduated from courses that will equip them in the career path they’ve chosen. One of the best qualifications they can have is the International Association of Canine Professionals’ CDT or CDTA certification.
Which is better: individual or group classes? One-on-one sessions will ensure that your pet gets all the attention and teaching concentrated on him. It will probably help him learn faster. Group classes on the other hand, will help the dog further develop social skills with others of his own kind. If the trainer is good, he will be able to customize his teaching to each student’s learning curve. It will also be better economically for more people to pitch in and share the expense of their dogs’ education. If you prefer group classes, form one with pet owners you know who take good care of their pets. With all the rough housing that’s bound to happen, you wouldn’t want your own infected with fleas or other kinds of infection.
When should training begin? Right away! Ideally, training puppies should begin as early as 8 weeks old. However, you can always teach an old dog new tricks. If you are prepared, your dog is in attendance, and you have a competent trainer, then sky’s the limit! Through in home dog training, you can have a trained dog the safe and convenient way.
