Dog Trainer & Behaviorist
Here at K9 ADVISORS, I will share a little about myself, my results-oriented approach to resolving dog behavior issues and successfully training dogs to be predictable and obedient. With my system, I will also train any owners to properly interact and work with any dog. Many people ask me, “How long does it take you to train a dog?”, my answer is, “It depends how smart the owner is”. The reality is that it takes about three times as long to condition a person than it does a dog. This is because dogs think in a very linear and simply manner, where as people think in a very complex manner. Therefore, people tend to question each step when dogs just do what is asked of them. I show the owner how to be clear and consistent with words and body language, so that a dog will be focused and do what is asked. My training methods are based on basic psychological conditioning principles. This makes it very easy for the dog to be trained in minutes and simple for the person to understand. While I utilize various conditioning strategies, the elemental factor of praise is the most important of all. I always tell my clients that “A little praise goes a looooong way”. People would be surprised at how much a dog would be willing to do with just a little praise. My systematic technique is founded on precisely timed praise, indirect corrections, and ending with praise. The conclusion of any dog training session should always end with praise and show immediate results.Choosing a qualified dog trainer is not an easy task. There are many people, even thousands, who have taken a few online courses or have read a few books, or have seen a few videos and consider themselves “certified dog trainers”. They may even carry a card that says “Certified Dog Trainer”. Scary as it may be, there is no such un form certification for dog trainers. Many different dog training courses provide their own certification, but that is it.
Four very crucial questions to ask an individual who claims to be a dog trainer are:
1) How long have you been a dog trainer?
2) What is your specialty?
3) What approach and equipment do you use when training a dog?
4) Can you provide at least 3 references, including one from a training/boarding facility, a veterinarian, and a client with a similar dog training situation such as mine?
Clients should be sure to call or visit those references and perform a basic online search of this person and their company by simply typing their name and company name into Google or other popular search engines. Furthermore, owners should pay close attention to the interaction between the dog trainer and the dog - this will tell an owner a lot. If the dog trainer uses clickers, gentle leaders, retractable leads, or treats to train, they are likely NOT an authentic and experienced dog trainer - just one that has read books, seen videos, or taken online courses. For more information contact the K9 ADVISORS TEAM.