As anybody can run a dog training class – Do you know if your dog trainer is qualified?
Are they registered with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or similar?
The APDT, UK are proud of the fact that they assess all members according to a strict criteria which ensures they have appropriate skills to teach dog training. They are required to keep their education up to date, and adhere to a Code of Practice. If any member is found to be in contravention of this Code then their membership is withdrawn.
http://www.apdt.co.uk/
I use the facilities of a so called "centre of excellence" to train my dogs myself. However I think that it is vital to socialise my dogs, consequently I have also taken them to classes throughout their lives.
The centre that I use has a limited amount of experienced trainers, they need other people to take up the slack. To enable them to do this, their kennel and office staff go to one day and on-line courses to gain qualifications and then they take classes.
When inexperienced owners have a new puppy, it is difficult to establish which classes that they should attend. My advice is that they should sit in on several classes before they decide.
Although the Asker says that trainers should be registered with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or similar, I have always opted for trainers that have a wealth of experience and with a proven track record. Nevertheless if they are registered this is a bonus.
I have no qualifications, however I take pupils FOC. At the outset, the pupils are told that I have no qualifications. Unfortunately I failed with one of them, she could not decide which end of the dog to lure or treat. Afterwards she hired a hall and now charges to train dogs.
Beware anyone can run a training class.
EDIT. I think that this Asker was warning new and inexperienced dog owners. Any idiot can run a training class, however if they go to a qualified trainer who has a vast experience of training, it helps.
7 Responses
2010 Jun 30
The last thing I care about is if they are with that association.
My main trainer has been teaching Obedience for 40 years. She trained with William Koehler for a long time. She is one of the most respected judges in the United States, and has shown numerous dogs to AKC Obedience titles as have her students.
My other trainer is a Top agility instructor. She has numerous MACHS on her own dogs, and of course has students who have done the same. She also teaches Obedience and has had 45 Students with their Novice A dogs go on to get their U.D. That is very impressive indeed.
With their instruction I have gone on and titled my dogs.
I have no doubt they are qualified.
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2010 Jun 30
You can usually tell if your trainer is qualified by their facilities, program outlines, specific guidelines for the owner (how to treat the dog outside of class), etc.
I usually train my dogs myself, however, for more advanced training and sometimes for more excellence training, I take the dog someplace like Petsmart where they have professional trainers that operate on-site with more than adequate facilities.
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4 dogs (German Shepard, yellow lab, black lab, rottweiler/beagle mix)
2010 Jun 30
qualifications are fine, but I prefer to go to people who have experience and results in their chosen canine competitions.
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2010 Jun 30
My trainer was a State Police Dog Trainer for over 20 years so I can assume he knew what he was doing.
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2010 Jun 30
Just being a member of APDT, does not make one qualified to be a trainer.; APDT all you do is pay to become a member and to be listed thru them as an APDT trainer.
None of the instructors I use are "certified" or I guess, according to you, "qualified". What makes the instructors I use "qualified", is that they have earned many titles in obedience &/or agility, they eared UD & OTCH’s in obedience on multiple dogs, multiple breeds of dogs, not just goldens, tervs etc. Same with agility, I want an instructor who is successful in agility with multiple breeds and have earned a MACH or it’s equivelent in USDAA.
edit: I’m in the U.S. and there is an organization with the same initials called Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). You pay a fee in order to be associated with APDT and to have your name on a list of APDT approved trainers. Been there, done that.
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2010 Jun 30
Yes they are. I didn’t know that when I first went there 10 yrs ago, but I liked the way the classes were run.
WyrDachs, don’t know what country you are in, but members of the APDT in the UK are assessed by written, oral and practical tests.
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2010 Jun 30
I use the facilities of a so called "centre of excellence" to train my dogs myself. However I think that it is vital to socialise my dogs, consequently I have also taken them to classes throughout their lives.
The centre that I use has a limited amount of experienced trainers, they need other people to take up the slack. To enable them to do this, their kennel and office staff go to one day and on-line courses to gain qualifications and then they take classes.
When inexperienced owners have a new puppy, it is difficult to establish which classes that they should attend. My advice is that they should sit in on several classes before they decide.
Although the Asker says that trainers should be registered with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or similar, I have always opted for trainers that have a wealth of experience and with a proven track record. Nevertheless if they are registered this is a bonus.
I have no qualifications, however I take pupils FOC. At the outset, the pupils are told that I have no qualifications. Unfortunately I failed with one of them, she could not decide which end of the dog to lure or treat. Afterwards she hired a hall and now charges to train dogs.
Beware anyone can run a training class.
EDIT. I think that this Asker was warning new and inexperienced dog owners. Any idiot can run a training class, however if they go to a qualified trainer who has a vast experience of training, it helps.
References :
Dorothy S