10/09/2026
How to pick a good dog trainer ?
Look at their reviews
Are people actually getting results? Do they have experience with the breed and the issues you’re dealing with?
Go local if you can, and ideally get a recommendation from another dog owner. Ask who they’ve used and what their experience was like.
Have a look at their social media too. Can they actually demonstrate their skills with different breeds and different behaviours? Are they sharing useful tips and knowledge, or just telling you what to buy?
And most importantly… do you like their approach?
A good trainer should be able to explain things in a way that actually makes sense to you. You shouldn’t leave a session more confused than when you arrived 😂
🚩 Things I’d be wary of:
• Promises of quick fixes
• “One method works for every dog”
• Overcomplicated language that you don’t understand
• Selling online courses as the answer to everything without any practical support
• Rigid rules like “never use treats”
• Fear, pain or intimidation being used as training methods
• Trainers who don’t ask you any questions about your dog before giving you a solution
A good trainer should ask lots of questions. Your dog’s history, breed, environment, behaviour, what you’ve already tried and what you actually want to achieve.
They should also be happy for you to ask questions.
Having trained your own puppy is great, but that doesn’t automatically mean you have experience working with more challenging behaviours, different breeds and dogs with a whole history behind them.
The proof is in the pudding.
When you meet your trainer, you should come away understanding their approach and with a training plan that actually makes sense for you and your dog.
There are no quick fixes, but you should be able to see that the techniques being used are appropriate for your dog and, over time, see progress. 🐾
