Why train your dog?

Teaching your dog some basic cues such as ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘come’, is part of responsible dog ownership and will help make life more enjoyable for you both. Training is a great way to spend time with your dog - it provides him/her with important mental stimulation and helps you to build a good relationship with each other. A well-trained dog that returns to his/her owner when called can be let off the lead safely (where appropriate), allowing him/her more freedom to run around and play on walks.

Training classes can help you understand how your dog learns so that you can teach him/her the basic skills you will need for daily life. They may also provide opportunities for your dog to play with, and develop social skills with other suitable dog companions.

How to find a dog trainer

It's important to find a dog trainer who has the right knowledge, skills and experience to teach you how to train your dog fairly and effectively. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer but many do not possess up-to-date knowledge or skills. Inappropriate or outdated advice or methods may be harmful to your dog and may even lead to the development of behaviour problems.

Training should be fun - using rewards such as food and toys is the best way to motivate and teach your dog. All dogs, regardless of breed, size, or age can benefit from reward-based training. Basic skills can be taught in puppyhood, but training should continue throughout your dog’s life.

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, UK (APDT) is one example of an organisation which accredits pet dog trainers who possess the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience. The APDT code of practice promotes the use of evidence-based, kind, fair and effective training methods and rejects the use of invasive, coercive or punitive equipment or methods which can cause mental and physical harm to dogs.

What to look for in a good training class

A good instructor will be confident with the quality of the service they are offering so should be happy to allow you to watch their class without your dog before signing up. This will give you the chance to observe the type of training being used, see if you feel comfortable with the instructor and assistants and would be happy to bring your dog.

Some of the things you should look for when observing a class:

• Watch the behaviour of the dogs – on the first day of a course some dogs may be anxious. Observe whether the instructor and/or assistants help the anxious dog and their owner and how they do this. In later classes the dogs should be relaxed and interested in their surroundings. Be wary of classes where lots of dogs are cowering, have their tail between their legs, or do not make eye contact with their owner or trainer.
• Only reward-based training methods should be used. Do not join the class if instructors/assistants are recommending techniques which rely on inducing fear or pain, such as choke chains, shouting at dogs, or hitting them with hands, feet or the lead. Such techniques are unnecessary to train dogs - they compromise welfare by causing anxiety, fear and pain and can upset the relationship between dog and owner. Instead, dogs should be motivated to show the desired behaviours using rewards such as food or toys.
• There should be an appropriate level of supervision for the number of dogs and owners. The APDT (UK) recommends no more than 8 puppies in a class with an instructor and 1 assistant. Too many dogs can create problems and make it difficult for the instructor to see what is happening and be available to help all owners.
• The class should be calm and quiet – classes where owners or instructors are shouting and dogs are barking indicate that both people and dogs are finding the situation stressful.
• The instructor should recognise that each dog is an individual and may be motivated by different things (e.g. food, play or toys) and progress at different rates. Dogs should not be forced to participate in activities before they are relaxed and ready to take part.
• Instructors should not give advice (e.g. about medical issues or serious behaviour problems such as aggression) beyond their level of knowledge or qualification. Instead, owners should be advised to speak to their vet or a clinical animal behaviourist.

This webpage is based on information from the Welfare In Dog Training website.