If you have a dog and you need to train it but you don't have the energy, patience or time to devote to it, you aren't alone. This is an undertaking that requires a lot of all of these things, and what you want is a safe, well adjusted dog and for you to be happy with the results, too. What may help you get there is to hire a professional dog trainer.
As with any service, cost and quality are going to significantly vary. And as with any profession, especially those that involve both human and animal interactions, training philosophies are going to vary, too. There will need to be some parameters for you to select the right trainer for you.
What's your budget? It can depend on where you live, but in some cases, you may be able to get training services for free, often done weekly by volunteers in shelters or parks. Or, you may pay for pricier service, up to $100 or even more per training session. What's a reasonable fee? That will vary, depending on the trainer's experience, where you live, the length of the program itself and the goals you have for your dog.
What's your schedule? Some training programs are done on a weekly basis, while others happen more often, even daily. Do you want a training program where you have to leave the dog and pick it up later? Or will you participate directly in the training? Most programs also require that you spend some time training the dog yourself every day, whether you do so at home or on site with the program.
In some cases, you may want to consider a "boot camp" facility for your dog. In this case, your dog is going to go away to a special facility for a period lasting up to several weeks. This type of training is very intensive and regular. However, don't be worried about your dog. Most dogs love this type of regimentation. Toward the end of the program, you'll usually be asked to participate so that focus of obedience is transferred from the trainer to you.
The results of this type of training school can be amazing. Dogs who complete this type of program usually end up eager to follow instructions and very disciplined. This is true even if they're not special service dogs. Even so, these dogs usually don't show signs of frustration or repression. Their moods are bright and they play with energy and gusto.
Next, take a look at your goals. Do you want your dog to be able to enter dog shows, or do you just want him to be well behaved enough to not chase the cat or chew on your furniture? Either way, you'll need to have your dog training so that these types of misbehaviors don't happen and good behavior is the result. How you do this and what type of training program you undertake is going to differ depending on individual temperament and your dog's breed.
Some dogs tend to be fearful, either because they've been mistreated or because they're simply shy and submissive. Some dogs may be too assertive, again because they've been abused or just because it's part of their personalities. The type of training you choose will be greatly influenced by the dog's personality and temperament, your own situation, and the attributes you want to bring out or suppress.
Whatever goals you have, and whatever your commitment or budget, you'll want to choose a trainer who has endless energy and patience, and who loves dogs deeply. Most trainers choose their careers precisely because they have these characteristics in great measure.
Beyond the basics discussed, you'll also want a trainer whose philosophy matches your own and makes sense to you, and who will respect and match your goals. Some trainers have a viewpoint that "dog" training is really about training the owner, not the dog, and there may be some truth to that a lot of the time. Some dog trainers are more permissive, friendly, lenient, and focus on emotionally "connecting" with your dog, while others are much more commanding and demand respect and obedience. Still others use a mix of these two schools of thought.
It's likely that you'll lean toward one training style versus another, but neither training style is entirely subjective. Even if you have disagreements with your trainer, there are likely principles that you'll agree on nonetheless. Persistence, patience and consistency, as well as the need for the human to be in the "alpha" position, are just a few of these commonly held beliefs.
When you look for your own trainer, ask for recommendations from friends and family who share similar philosophies, and shop around. You may have to change trainers at least once if you aren't happy with whom you've picked at first. Don't change on a whim, though. One of the most important parts of obedience training is that consistency is key, and a regular environment is necessary so that the dog can integrate what's being taught.
As with any service, cost and quality are going to significantly vary. And as with any profession, especially those that involve both human and animal interactions, training philosophies are going to vary, too. There will need to be some parameters for you to select the right trainer for you.
What's your budget? It can depend on where you live, but in some cases, you may be able to get training services for free, often done weekly by volunteers in shelters or parks. Or, you may pay for pricier service, up to $100 or even more per training session. What's a reasonable fee? That will vary, depending on the trainer's experience, where you live, the length of the program itself and the goals you have for your dog.
What's your schedule? Some training programs are done on a weekly basis, while others happen more often, even daily. Do you want a training program where you have to leave the dog and pick it up later? Or will you participate directly in the training? Most programs also require that you spend some time training the dog yourself every day, whether you do so at home or on site with the program.
In some cases, you may want to consider a "boot camp" facility for your dog. In this case, your dog is going to go away to a special facility for a period lasting up to several weeks. This type of training is very intensive and regular. However, don't be worried about your dog. Most dogs love this type of regimentation. Toward the end of the program, you'll usually be asked to participate so that focus of obedience is transferred from the trainer to you.
The results of this type of training school can be amazing. Dogs who complete this type of program usually end up eager to follow instructions and very disciplined. This is true even if they're not special service dogs. Even so, these dogs usually don't show signs of frustration or repression. Their moods are bright and they play with energy and gusto.
Next, take a look at your goals. Do you want your dog to be able to enter dog shows, or do you just want him to be well behaved enough to not chase the cat or chew on your furniture? Either way, you'll need to have your dog training so that these types of misbehaviors don't happen and good behavior is the result. How you do this and what type of training program you undertake is going to differ depending on individual temperament and your dog's breed.
Some dogs tend to be fearful, either because they've been mistreated or because they're simply shy and submissive. Some dogs may be too assertive, again because they've been abused or just because it's part of their personalities. The type of training you choose will be greatly influenced by the dog's personality and temperament, your own situation, and the attributes you want to bring out or suppress.
Whatever goals you have, and whatever your commitment or budget, you'll want to choose a trainer who has endless energy and patience, and who loves dogs deeply. Most trainers choose their careers precisely because they have these characteristics in great measure.
Beyond the basics discussed, you'll also want a trainer whose philosophy matches your own and makes sense to you, and who will respect and match your goals. Some trainers have a viewpoint that "dog" training is really about training the owner, not the dog, and there may be some truth to that a lot of the time. Some dog trainers are more permissive, friendly, lenient, and focus on emotionally "connecting" with your dog, while others are much more commanding and demand respect and obedience. Still others use a mix of these two schools of thought.
It's likely that you'll lean toward one training style versus another, but neither training style is entirely subjective. Even if you have disagreements with your trainer, there are likely principles that you'll agree on nonetheless. Persistence, patience and consistency, as well as the need for the human to be in the "alpha" position, are just a few of these commonly held beliefs.
When you look for your own trainer, ask for recommendations from friends and family who share similar philosophies, and shop around. You may have to change trainers at least once if you aren't happy with whom you've picked at first. Don't change on a whim, though. One of the most important parts of obedience training is that consistency is key, and a regular environment is necessary so that the dog can integrate what's being taught.
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