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Updated: May 12th, 2008 - 02:58:12 |
About the time their dog shoots out the front door and leads them on a 45-minute chase in their bathrobes through the rain, most people decide to find a trainer. Many of those people will look to the phone book to find one, skimming ads that say things like “guaranteed,” “results in hours,” “vet-recommended” or “humane.” But just what do these ads really tell you about their training methods? Not much.
“Guaranteed” usually means that you can repeat the class or consultation if you aren’t happy with the results. It’s a nice thing to offer, but if their methods don’t work after a few repeated attempts (or if the methods aren’t appropriate for you to follow), you’re likely to realize that no trainer, no matter how adept, can “guarantee” every dog’s training. Dogs are individuals, and like humans they have varying personalities, backgrounds, traumas, or health problems that can change behavior or cause oversensitivity or anxiety and depression. And yes, though it’s rare, dogs can even have mental illnesses that don’t respond to training but only to psychiatric drugs. A “guarantee” is no guarantee.
“Results in Hours” isn’t a lie, it just depends on what results you are looking for. It’s easy for any trainer to teach a dog to sit in less than 10 minutes, but the real work is in teaching the dog to reliably sit on command every time you ask for the rest of his or her life. Vague promises are easy to fulfill, but building a relationship with your dog and teaching him to make the right choices in novel situations is a whole lot harder.
“Vet-recommended” and “humane” could very well be the hardest advertising phrases to interpret. These two statements are incredibly subjective. Closely read, they mean little more than the fact that the proprietors are operating within the law. Beyond that, it’s really quite hazy. Veterinarian opinions on training methods vary widely. One may insist upon gentle, communication-based methods, while another may consider more heavy-handed alpha training entirely necessary to keep a dog obedient. The vet in question may have never studied dog training or visited more than one trainer to make a comparison, or he may be an expert trainer. You just don’t know which recommended the trainer who placed the ad.
Then there’s the “humane” label. Humane laws are often very lax, allowing practices with which most dog lovers would feel uncomfortable. Consider that according to the law, puppy mills are legal and thus “humane.” Keeping dogs on short chains day in and out is also legally “humane” in most parts of the U.S. And although the two methods have fallen out of favor in most states, hanging (holding a dog off the ground by the throat until he passes out) and helicoptering (swinging the dog by the neck) are methods allowed by the law and hence are legally “humane.” The term is simply too vague to know what you are getting into.
No matter what training methods you feel comfortable with, it’s important to look far beyond the ads when choosing a trainer. Talk with your own trusted vet, groomer and friends to collect their recommendations. Call the training center and ask which trainer you will actually be working with, and then visit a class. Even within a training company, each trainer has his or her own style so be sure you are able to meet the one you will be working under before signing up for classes. Often, your money is non-refundable once the class starts so don’t wait until you take a couple of lessons to find out if the trainer is someone you feel good about. This may sound like a lot of work to do before the classes even begin, but a good trainer will help create a foundation of trust and communication that will last a lifetime. Consider the work an investment in your dog’s future and your own continued happiness. Why trust something so important to a few sentences in an ad?
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