07/18/2026
What Makes a Great Dog Trainer?
It’s About Far More Than Training Dogs
By Simon Chapman
There is an old saying:
“People won’t remember everything you taught them, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”
I believe that applies perfectly to dog training.
Over the years I’ve met thousands of dog owners, worked alongside military dog handlers, police handlers, search and rescue teams, pet owners and professional trainers from around the world. I’ve also watched countless training sessions from the sidelines.
One thing has become abundantly clear.
The best dog trainers are very rarely the ones shouting the loudest.
They’re rarely the ones constantly telling everyone how many dogs they’ve trained.
They’re rarely the ones trying to prove they’re the smartest person on the field.
In fact, the very best trainers often say the least.
They observe.
They listen.
They ask questions.
They adapt.
And somehow, both the dog and the owner leave the session feeling better than when they arrived.
That, in my opinion, is what truly matters.
A Dog Trainer Doesn’t Just Train Dogs
Here’s perhaps the biggest misconception in the industry.
People think they’re paying someone to train their dog.
They’re not.
They’re paying someone to teach them how to train their dog.
The dog only spends a few hours with you.
The owner spends the next ten or fifteen years living with it.
If the owner leaves your session confused, intimidated or frightened of making mistakes, you’ve failed.
No matter how obedient the dog looked for those sixty minutes.
Knowledge Is Essential…
Experience matters.
Qualifications matter.
Understanding learning theory matters.
Reading canine body language matters.
Understanding behaviour, motivation, genetics and welfare all matter enormously.
But knowledge alone doesn’t make someone a great instructor.
Universities are full of incredibly intelligent lecturers who would struggle to teach a five-year-old how to tie their shoelaces.
Teaching is a completely separate skill.
The same applies to dog training.
Can You Teach People?
This is the real question.
Can you explain complex ideas simply?
Can you demonstrate an exercise in three different ways if the first explanation doesn’t work?
Can you spot when someone doesn’t understand without embarrassing them?
Can you encourage instead of criticise?
Because every owner learns differently.
Some need to see it.
Some need to hear it.
Some need to physically practise it.
Some need reassurance before they’ll even attempt it.
Teaching people is an art.
Dogs are often the easier part.
Confidence Is Fragile
Many owners arrive feeling embarrassed.
They apologise before they even get out of the car.
“I’m sorry…”
“He’s normally worse than this…”
“I’ve probably ruined him…”
“I’ve watched so many videos…”
“I know I’m doing everything wrong…”
Imagine how much courage it takes for someone to admit they need help.
Now imagine crushing that confidence within the first five minutes.
Sadly, it happens.
Some trainers seem to believe their authority comes from making owners feel inadequate.
Every mistake is highlighted.
Every error becomes a lecture.
Every success somehow becomes, “Well, the dog still isn’t right…”
That’s not teaching.
That’s ego.
Build People Up
The best instructors don’t ignore mistakes.
Far from it.
They simply correct them differently.
Instead of saying:
“You’re doing that wrong.”
They’ll often say:
“Try turning your shoulders slightly here. Watch what happens.”
Instead of criticism…
They offer solutions.
Instead of blame…
They create understanding.
Owners improve because they feel safe enough to make mistakes.
Learning requires mistakes.
Without them, nobody progresses.
The Best Trainers Don’t Need To Win
This one can be uncomfortable.
Some trainers appear to need every session to prove they’re better than everyone else.
They’ll deliberately make exercises difficult.
They’ll move too quickly.
They’ll test rather than teach.
They’ll create situations where the owner is almost guaranteed to fail.
Then they step in.
“See? I told you.”
It looks impressive.
It isn’t.
Anyone can make someone fail.
A real instructor creates opportunities for success.
Set Dogs Up To Win
Dogs learn exactly the same way.
We shouldn’t constantly test them.
We should teach them.
Imagine teaching a child mathematics.
You wouldn’t explain addition once…
Then immediately give them a university entrance exam.
Yet that’s exactly how some dogs are trained.
“Sit.”
Good.
Now let’s try it in the busiest park in Scotland with twenty dogs, six children, squirrels, cyclists and a barbecue.
When the dog struggles…
People blame the dog.
Or the owner.
Instead of recognising the trainer skipped twenty important steps.
Progression matters.
Adapt To The Dog In Front Of You
One phrase I’ve repeated for years is:
Train the dog in front of you.
Not the breed.
Not the textbook.
Not last week’s Labrador.
The individual dog.
Every dog has different genetics.
Different motivations.
Different confidence levels.
Different emotional resilience.
Different life experiences.
The same applies to owners.
Some are naturally confident.
Some are nervous.
Some are analytical.
Some are emotional.
Some simply want a pleasant family pet.
Others want to compete internationally.
Good trainers recognise those differences.
Great trainers embrace them.
Communication Is Everything
Dog training is often portrayed as a battle of dominance.
It isn’t.
It’s communication.
The lead is communication.
Rewards are communication.
Corrections are communication.
Timing is communication.
Silence is communication.
Even your breathing changes the dog.
If communication becomes confusing…
Learning stops.
The cleverest training plan in the world is worthless if nobody understands it.
Humility Is A Superpower
One characteristic I admire in outstanding trainers is humility.
They’re comfortable saying:
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve never encountered that before.”
“Let’s find out.”
“I was wrong.”
That isn’t weakness.
It’s professionalism.
Nobody knows everything about dogs.
The moment someone believes they do…
They stop learning.
And dogs continue evolving one training session at a time.
Beware Of The Guru
Our industry occasionally develops personalities rather than professionals.
Everything revolves around them.
Their methods.
Their equipment.
Their brand.
Their followers.
Their rules.
Healthy discussion disappears.
Questions become criticism.
Alternative viewpoints become heresy.
Dogs deserve better than tribalism.
The best trainers aren’t interested in creating disciples.
They’re interested in creating independent owners who eventually don’t need them.
Ironically, those owners often become lifelong clients anyway.
Experience Isn’t Just Years
“I’ve been training dogs for thirty years.”
Wonderful.
But what have you learned during those thirty years?
There’s a huge difference between thirty years of experience…
And one year repeated thirty times.
The best trainers never stop being students.
They’re reading research.
Attending seminars.
Watching other instructors.
Trying new ideas.
Questioning old assumptions.
Experience isn’t measured by birthdays.
It’s measured by growth.
Good Trainers Leave Their Ego At Home
Dogs don’t care about your social media following.
They don’t care how many certificates are on your office wall.
They don’t care how many followers you have.
They care whether they understand you.
Owners aren’t impressed by arrogance for very long either.
Most simply want someone who listens.
Someone who explains.
Someone who genuinely wants them to succeed.
Every Session Should End Better Than It Began
Sometimes the dog won’t be perfect.
Sometimes progress is tiny.
Sometimes you’ll spend an hour solving one small problem.
That’s perfectly normal.
Success isn’t always measured by obedience.
Sometimes success is an owner smiling again.
Sometimes success is a nervous rescue dog choosing to approach.
Sometimes success is a child finally enjoying walking the family dog.
Sometimes success is simply restoring hope.
Never underestimate that.
What Should Owners Look For?
When choosing a trainer, ask yourself:
* Do they listen before giving advice?
* Can they explain why, not just how?
* Do they adapt exercises to suit my dog?
* Do they encourage questions?
* Do I leave feeling more confident than when I arrived?
* Does my dog appear relaxed and engaged?
* Are mistakes treated as learning opportunities rather than failures?
* Are they still learning themselves?
* Do they speak respectfully about other trainers, even if they disagree?
* Do they genuinely seem to care about both ends of the lead?
If the answer to most of those questions is yes…
You’ve probably found someone worth learning from.
The Legacy Of A Great Trainer
Years from now your clients probably won’t remember every exercise you taught them.
They won’t remember exactly where your hands were.
They won’t remember every technical explanation.
But they’ll remember how you treated them.
They’ll remember whether you believed in them.
They’ll remember whether you gave them confidence.
And they’ll remember whether you helped them build a stronger relationship with the dog lying beside them.
Because in the end, that’s our real job.
Not creating perfect dogs.
Not creating dependence.
Not creating followers.
Creating knowledgeable, confident handlers who understand their dogs, enjoy training together and eventually no longer need us.
If we’ve achieved that…
We’ve done our job well.
