Have you ever gone home to see your puppy make your whole living room his personal fire hydrant? How about leaving for work trying to cover the freshly gnawed side of your shoe? Do you have friends who took rabies shots before deciding to ever visit you again? If this is you then it might be time to call in dog training experts into your abode.
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 canines progress inthe 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 speak 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 needs (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 should I choose: individual or group classes? Individual classes are always advisable because your pet gets the complete focus of the teacher. However, group classes are a good alternative also because your dog will get to develop his social skills as he interacts with others of his own kind. It will also be easier on the pocket to share the trainer’s rates and other fees. Make sure that the group of dogs your pet is included in are healthy and vaccinated.
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 convinient way.
