What qualifies a dog behaviorist or dog trainer?
What do you think qualifies someone to call themselves a dog behaviorist or dog trainer?
If you were looking for a behaviorist or trainer for your dog, what qualifications would you expect them to have?
Just looking at the APDT website provided, and found this statement: “Membership in the APDT does not necessarily ensure all members employ similar training methods, *nor does the Association set standards of skill or competence*” [emphasis mine]. If no standard for skill or competence is set, how useful is this organization?
http://www.apdt.com/about/who.aspx
I wouldnt look for “qualifications” such as letters after their name etc. That only proves me to me they are capable of taking a test in theory – not actually putting it in practice.
Proof is in the Pudding, as my nan used to say. How are their own dogs? How long have they been “in the biz” for? Sucess stories? Failures? I have no problems at all telling people my failures – I know exactly where I went wrong, or who I referred people to if I knew there was no way I could help. I dont believe even the most knowledgeable person on this earth can “cure” every problem. If someone is honest enough with me to tell me their failings, I believe they truely know what they are talking about. Someone who claims to suceed in all cases, I will doubt all their “experience” from that moment on.
Experience and Knowledge – Is it breed specific, one particular area (such as resource guarding, fear-biting etc) or spread across the board? Do they attend seminars, talks, courses and keep up to date or are they training by the one textbook they read 40 years ago? What do they do/compete in with their dogs and how far have they got?
Anyone can call themselves a “behaviourist/trainer” – I’d go by what I see as to whether I’d call them that.
If I were looking for a behaviourist/trainer for MY dog, I’d look for someone who understands Terriers at least 80%. All too often, they are labelled as Stubborn, Disobedient and “Hyper” – without their instincts and what they were bred for actually considered. Truth be told, Id find someone like Unrepentent/Stalkers/Facts – to the point, honest and knows her terriers. But I doubt she’d give me the time of day….!!
Sessions with Cesar: Identifying bad dog behavior
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