Many dog owners don't have the patience, time or energy to devote to properly training their dog or new puppy. For some, the best solution is to outsource the effort to a professional dog trainer.
As with any professional service the costs and quality can vary greatly. Like many professions-especially those that involve human-animal interactions -- training philosophies can vary as well. Below we have some tips to help you weigh your options and pick the right dog trainer for you and your needs.
Tip 1: Budget -- First start by looking over your budget to help determine your needs and what you can afford. Depending on your location, dog training can run anywhere from free to $100 or more per session. For free sessions consider volunteers, parks and shelters. What constitutes a reasonable fee will be a personal preference and most likely depend on the trainer's experience, length of the program, your goals and your geographic location.
Tip 2: Schedule -- Some training programs are weekly and others may be more frequent. Most programs allow you to be involved in the training session -- some programs are offered at your home and others are offered at a training facility. Many dog trainers suggest you allot time daily to train your dog, whether at home or at the training facility.
Tip 3: Commitment -- Dogs, especially early training need constant, regular blocks of time and attention in order to achieve your training goals. Setting aside an a hour a day is typical when first training your dog.
Many dog owners prefer "boot camp" training sessions. In this scenario the dog goes away to a special facility for several weeks. The training is regular, intensive and long. Some owners may find this extreme but don't fret -- your dog will enjoy it. Toward the end of the session term the owners are usually asked to participate so the owner can begin 'transferring" the obedience to you, the dog owner.
Dog training results are often amazing and leave both dog and owners equally happy! Dogs who graduate are discipline and eager to please their owner. Yet, paradoxically, these dogs show no signs of being repressed. They're happy and play with great enthusiasm.
To Recap:Examine your goals. You may want your dog trained for entering dog shows or you simply want him to stop chewing the furniture. In both cases training is necessary but will most likely be different in nature.
Some dogs are fearful while some are too assertive -- the training you pick will depend on what attributes they have that you want to shape and mold.
No matter your goals or budget, find a dog trainer who exhibits massive patients and boundless energy who also displays a deep love for dogs. Beyond these basics, you will want a trainer whose philosophy makes sense to you and matches your goals.
If you are unsure where to start -- ask friends, co-workers and family members if they have a dog trainer they could recommend. It may make the whole process that much easier for you.