| All content and images are © 2008-2012 Kritterkare and Dancing Cavy Productions. Any errors should be reported to the webmaster. |
Selecting a Good Dog Trainer
1. Ask to watch a class
Do you like the type of training offered? Would this type of training work for you and your dog? Talk to other
people in the class. Do they like the classes? Are instructions easy to follow? Would they recommend these
classes to friends or family?
2. Ask for the instructor's qualifications
Are they a certified trainer with a CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, CDTI, CTC, CTP or ABCDT recognized certification?
Is their certification "indenpendent board certified" or just in-house? Are they required to do "Continuing
Education (CEUs)" to keep up their certification? Do they have a background in animal behavior as well as
training, are they certified as a Dog/Animal Behaviorist with the ABS, ACVB, IAABC or ACABC? How long have
they been training? Do they show or exhibit their own dogs currently? Do they use their own dogs as demos
in the classes, watch to see if their own dogs are trained or ask to watch them work with their own dogs in a
public setting. Are they a member of any local or national clubs? Are they members of any national
training/behavior organizations, (APDT, AABP, KPA, SFSPCA, CCPDT, ACABC, IAABC, ACVB or ABS)? Do
they work with local veterinarians, animal shelters, humane societies etc.? You can check with all clubs or
organizations to confirm their membership!
1. Ask to watch a class
Do you like the type of training offered? Would this type of training work for you and your dog? Talk to other
people in the class. Do they like the classes? Are instructions easy to follow? Would they recommend these
classes to friends or family?
2. Ask for the instructor's qualifications
Are they a certified trainer with a CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, CDTI, CTC, CTP or ABCDT recognized certification?
Is their certification "indenpendent board certified" or just in-house? Are they required to do "Continuing
Education (CEUs)" to keep up their certification? Do they have a background in animal behavior as well as
training, are they certified as a Dog/Animal Behaviorist with the ABS, ACVB, IAABC or ACABC? How long have
they been training? Do they show or exhibit their own dogs currently? Do they use their own dogs as demos
in the classes, watch to see if their own dogs are trained or ask to watch them work with their own dogs in a
public setting. Are they a member of any local or national clubs? Are they members of any national
training/behavior organizations, (APDT, AABP, KPA, SFSPCA, CCPDT, ACABC, IAABC, ACVB or ABS)? Do
they work with local veterinarians, animal shelters, humane societies etc.? You can check with all clubs or
organizations to confirm their membership!
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
3. Is the training run as a business following basic
business rules?
Is the training business licensed with the city, county and/or
state? If so, are the licenses current (you can ask to see these
documents if they are not displayed)? You can also check with
the Better Business Bureau or City Business Organization to see
if any problems or complaints have been filed.
4. Does the Training Business carry insurance and Is
it up to date?
Is the coverage for just liability or is medical included (you can
ask to see a copy of the basic coverage)? Does the training
business rent or own their building? If renting, check with the
proprietor to see if the business is up to date on rent and if there
have been any problems. If the business owns the building, you
can check with the city or county to see if any problems have
been reported and if taxes are current.
business rules?
Is the training business licensed with the city, county and/or
state? If so, are the licenses current (you can ask to see these
documents if they are not displayed)? You can also check with
the Better Business Bureau or City Business Organization to see
if any problems or complaints have been filed.
4. Does the Training Business carry insurance and Is
it up to date?
Is the coverage for just liability or is medical included (you can
ask to see a copy of the basic coverage)? Does the training
business rent or own their building? If renting, check with the
proprietor to see if the business is up to date on rent and if there
have been any problems. If the business owns the building, you
can check with the city or county to see if any problems have
been reported and if taxes are current.
5. What do you get for your money?
Do you sign a contract stating the cost of classes, the lenght of time for classes, what you will recieve during
the classes? Do you receive a receipt showing that you have paid and ways to get reimbursements should
you need to drop out? Are work sheets provided throughtout the classes, is a training manual provided? Are
you expected to purchases additional supplies, above the class price, from only the training business? Are
additional classes offered for advancement?
Protect yourself and your dog. Ask the above questions. A good trainer will be happy to give you
answers and references that you can check. If you don't get sufficient answers to any of the questions you
might want to check out other trainings.
Training should be provided for both you and your dog
to be safe, have fun and succeed!
Do you sign a contract stating the cost of classes, the lenght of time for classes, what you will recieve during
the classes? Do you receive a receipt showing that you have paid and ways to get reimbursements should
you need to drop out? Are work sheets provided throughtout the classes, is a training manual provided? Are
you expected to purchases additional supplies, above the class price, from only the training business? Are
additional classes offered for advancement?
Protect yourself and your dog. Ask the above questions. A good trainer will be happy to give you
answers and references that you can check. If you don't get sufficient answers to any of the questions you
might want to check out other trainings.
Training should be provided for both you and your dog
to be safe, have fun and succeed!