HELPING people improve their relationship with their dog has always been my main focus throughout the many years of my dog training career.
Whether it was through the countless obedience, puppy classes, behavioural modification sessions or through this column, I have always been authentic to myself by maintaining my responsibility as a trainer to help people achieve their goals with their dog.
The majority of people tend to seek out the assistance of a trainer after they bring their dog home, whether it's an adult dog or a puppy, and either need help having their dog adjust to the new family or vice versa.
But, on the rare occasion, some new dog owners hire the services of a dog trainer to help them find the perfect dog.
Using the assistance of a trainer before you bring a dog home is probably one of the most responsible things a potential new dog owner can do. But you do have to make sure that you find the right trainer that is going to help you find the right dog.
The first thing to consider is making sure that the dog trainer you hire has plenty of experience - like, years. I'm talking at least 10 personal years, not combined years, of working with a variety of dogs in a variety of training methods in a variety of different fields of training.
This is not meant to offend the new dog trainers coming into the industry. I was there once, almost 20 years ago, doing the best I could with what I knew.
But I knew my limits of knowledge and experience and never bit off more than I could chew. If I let my ego and enthusiasm get in the way of my lack of knowledge, it could have potentially harmed the welfare of a dog and ruined a relationship between a dog and its owner. As dog trainers, we all have a responsibility to the dog we are working with and to our clients to maintain integrity and honesty about what we do and how we do it. Having said that, we all make mistakes, but when it comes to the welfare of a dog that mistake could lead to a detrimental outcome. So, dog trainers must have some forethought about their abilities before they take on any client.
Most new dog trainers have great enthusiasm and are wonderful at teaching puppy classes and obedience, but I encourage the young blood to be patient with themselves and work with what they know.
As I mentioned, when it comes to understanding family dynamics, the psychology of the human-canine relationship, the normal changing behaviours of a dog as it matures and the different temperaments of various breeds and mixed breeds, nothing can take the place of good old-fashioned experience. Experience plays a huge role in the department of dog training when it comes to helping a family bring a puppy or adult dog into their home that will be with them for the life of that dog.
When choosing a trainer for the task of helping you find a faithful canine companion, take your time. Ask for references from friends you know who are happy with their dog. Sometimes it is even advantageous to go to a dog park and find that one person who is actually playing and walking with their dog (instead of sitting on the sidelines watching their dog run around and play with other dogs), and ask them who they used to help them get such a well-balanced dog.
Other trainers can be helpful too. I am not shy about recommending other trainers who I know will be a better match for the person seeking help. For example, if the potential owner wants to compete in obedience trails or deal with aggression, I am definitely not the trainer for them and I would recommend someone whose expertise lies in that field.
Finding the perfect canine companion is not as easy as pointing a finger at a dog you like the looks of, then wielding a magic wand and saying "presto." It takes a committed family, a knowledgeable trainer and a lifetime of patience.
Joan is the owner of K9 Kinship Ltd. and has been working with dogs for over 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at k9kinship.com.
