Find a Dog Trainer or Behavior Consultant
If your dog is showing signs of aggression and potentially dangerous behavior then you need a behavior consultant.
If your dog is exhibiting annoying behaviors such as jumping on people or pulling on the leash, and these are a nuisance rather than dangerous, then a trainer will be able to help you.
Not all dog trainers are specialists in dog behavior, so ask to make sure the person you choose has experience in dealing with the problem you need to solve. Take your dog to the vet to determine if an underlying medical problem is influencing the dog's behavior. Dog training and dog behavior consulting are unregulated so it is up to you to decide whether the professional that you choose is qualified. If your dog is aggressive with other dogs, be sure to mention this so that you can have private lessons prior to enrolling your dog in a group class. Talk to more than one person if you can before choosing and be sure that you understa
nd their methods. Be sure that they will use a positive reinforcement-based approach. If possible, find a person who uses clicker training to help dogs change their behavior. Check references that they give you. If a trainer suggests that they take the dog into their facility to do the training, be sure to visit and see the facility and the dogs currently in residence. Ask to see the trainer working with a dog to see that the dog is happy and likes the trainer and that positive methods are being used. A trainer that uses violence or aggression with your dog will make matters worse and the dog will become even more likely to bite weaker members of your family. Read a cautionary article about "boot camp" type training. Behaviour modification is most likely to succeed if you keep the dog with you and work with a professional so that you have the tools to be able to work with your dog.
Use the list below to find a dog trainer or behaviour specialist in your area. Listing below does not construe an endorsement by Doggone Safe - this list is provided as a service - users are encouraged to do their own research before selecting a dog trainer or behavior consultant.
If you are looking for a clicker trainer (Doggone Safe recommends clicker training) please be aware that not all trainers that use a clicker are true clicker trainers. Clicker training is a positive only method of training. Clicker trainers do not use choke collars and do not resort to punishment even when dogs "misbehave" during training. Clicker trainers do not click/treat for the correct behavior and punish for the incorrect behavior. Clicker trainers ignore behavior that they don't like and reward behavior they do like. Positive trainers set up situations whereby the dog has the best chance of succeeding. They do not set up situations where the dog is likely to fail and thus receive a correction to teach the proper response. They do not use the leash to yank on the dog if it pulls, jumps or otherwise acts inappropriately. Positive trainers do not throw chains at dogs, growl at them or otherwise intimidate them to teach them new lessons. Click here to read an article that explains why punishment and positive training don't mix.
Read a terrific article about what to look for in a dog trainer.
Visit the website of the International Positive Dog Training Association and Truly Dog Friendly for more information about humane dog training.
Please note that any method of training that involves physical force, intimidation or fear or involves throwing things at or toward the dog, yanking the dog, choking the dog or using electric shock (regardless of how mild) can cause behavior problems to worsen and can be dangerous for weaker members of the family. For example if the dog is frightened or intimidated in the presence of a child he may associate these negative feelings with the child, increasing the chances of a bite. Please visit our blog for more information from experts (including the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior) on why you should avoid dog trainers that rely on intimidation and dominance in training.
Find a Professional
Doggone Safe has not evaluated the trainers listed in the resources below and it is up to you to do your own research and determine whether the training method they use is the method you want to learn and to use with your dog. Doggone Safe recommends clicker training.
Can't find a trainer?
Click here to follow a clicker course on your own, thanks to Sue Ailsby
Click here to watch some terrific videos on how to train almost anything
Canada
Doggone Safe Members - Members provide many services including grooming, pet sitting, training, behavior consulting, humane education and more.
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners - Certified Clicker Trainers
Dogs and Storks presenters - if you are concerned about your dog's attitude or behavior towards your baby
Truly Dog Friendly Trainers - force-free and pain-free trainers (membership on the the list is based on approval and monitored)
International Association of Force-Free Pet Professionals - members pledge to use force-free methods only in training
Clicker Trainers
More Clicker Trainers
Association of Pet Dog Trainers - has some Canadian members
Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers
Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors
Professional Animal Behaviour Associates
Teresa Lewin - Animal Behaviour Consultant - Clicker - Southern ON - Doggone Safe Co-founder
Canine Communications Studies and Puppy Power - graduates around the world
Veterinary behavior consultants - scroll down to Behavior heading
International Positive Dog Training Association
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Dogtrainersdirectory.com
International Association of Canine Professionals
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
USA
Doggone Safe Members - Members provide many services including grooming, pet sitting, training, behavior consulting, humane education and more.
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners - Certified Clicker Trainers
Dogs and Storks presenters - if you are concerned about your dog's attitude or behavior towards your baby
International Association of Force-Free Pet Professionals - members pledge to use force-free methods only in training
Clicker Trainers
More Clicker Trainers
Truly Dog Friendly Trainers - force-free and pain-free trainers (membership on the the list is based on approval and monitored)
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Animal Behavior Associates
Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors
Veterinary behavior consultants - scroll down to Behavior heading
Laughing Dog Enterprises and i2iK9 - Jennifer White and Steve White (Washington State)
International Positive Dog Training Association
Dogtrainersdirectory.com
International Association of Canine Professionals
Jennifer Shryock - Animal Behavior Consultant - Clicker - North Carolina - Doggone Safe VP
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
INTERNATIONAL
Doggone Safe Members - Members provide many services including grooming, pet sitting, training, behavior consulting, humane education and more.
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners - Certified Clicker Trainers
Dogs and Storks presenters - if you are concerned about your dog's attitude or behavior towards your baby
International Association of Force-Free Pet Professionals - members pledge to use force-free methods only in training
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors
International Positive Dog Training Association
Dogtrainersdirectory.com
International Association of Canine Professionals
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists
Please send an email to joanorr@doggonesafe.com if your organization is not listed here and should be.
If you are a Doggone Safe member and you do not appear in the Doggone Safe directory please let us know.
If you want to be listed in any of the other directories listed here, please contact the managers for each one. Doggone Safe has no affiliation with any of them. They are listed here as a service.
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