How to Choose a Trainer & Basic Training Information

The APDT's Trainer Search allows you to search for trainers in your area based on city, zip code, services offered and last name of trainer. However, there's much more involved in finding a good trainer than just simply who's in your area. The APDT has put together a whole section for pet owners on how to interview and find the right trainer and how to understand basic training information such as methodology, equipment used, certifications and more. We ask that everyone view this section prior to using the Trainer Search feature.

Veterinarians and veterinary clinic staff are often asked for referrals to trainers by the clinic's clients. Likewise many trainers visit veterinary clinics in order to introduce themselves and ask that they have clients referred to them. In addition to the information provided on the pet owner section, we have the following additional suggested questions for veterinarians and their staff. We recommend using open-ended questions so that trainers can explain their philosophy to you in depth.

• What method of training do you use?
• What is your educational background in the area of dog training (and behavior if applicable)?
• What is some recent continuing education that you have attended?
• What equipment do you use?
• What kind of follow-up do you provide to our clinic on your work with our clients?
• Can you provide a list of clients we can contact for references?
• Do you belong to any professional associations, and if not, why not?
• What are your credentials and do you have any certifications?
• What sort of services do you provide for pet owners? Do you provide specialized services? (i.e. therapy dog training, competitive dog sports training, service dog training)

To assist you with interviewing potential trainers, we have provided a PDF of the above questions for easier access and interviewing.

In order to reach the specific topics for the pet owner How to Choose a Trainer and Basic Training Information Section, you can use the links below.

How to Choose a Dog Trainer Main Section Home Page

• Understanding Training Methods
• Why do Trainers Use Food When Training?
• What Do All Those Letters After Everyone's Names Mean?
• An Explanation of APDT Membership Levels
• What are Some of the Common Myths About Dog Training?
• Can I Train My Dog Just Like They Do On TV?
• How to Use the APDT Trainer Search Directory
• What to Expect When Working with a Trainer or Attending a Group Class
• Understanding Training Equipment Options - Collars, Leashes and Crates
• Dominance and Dog Training
• Dominance Myths and Dog Training Realities
  

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