How to Choose a Dog Trainer: Questions to Ask Before You Book

To choose a dog trainer, ask how they teach and what credentials they hold before you book. Then ask to watch a class or a session. A good trainer uses rewards and explains each step before working with your dog. Walk away from anyone who guarantees results. The American Kennel Club calls dog training "an unregulated industry," so these checks are how you protect your dog and your money.

Why you have to check a trainer yourself

Dog trainers don't need a license. The AKC says anyone can start charging for training, no matter their background or experience. VCA Animal Hospitals puts it plainly: "there are no licenses or certifications required" to be called an animal trainer.

Titles don't help much on their own either. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) points out that "behavior consultant" is not a protected term, so anyone can use it. That means the questions you ask before you pay matter more than the title on a business card.

We built our directory from public professional directories and trainers' own websites. Every listing shows where it came from, so you can see whether a trainer appears in a group like the Pet Professional Guild or NADOI. You still need to ask the questions below.

Start with what you need help with

AVSAB's guide for pet owners, How to Choose a Trainer, says to name your goal first. Its examples range from puppy socialization and basic manners to service dog work and behavior problems. A trainer who runs great puppy classes may not take on a dog that bites.

Ask each trainer whether they work with your kind of problem. A guide from Humane World for Animals notes that some trainers don't handle aggression at all, and that good trainers "know what they can and can't handle." The AKC notes that private lessons can take place at a training school or in your home, while group classes add time around other dogs.

If your dog shows fear or aggression, AVSAB says to contact a veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) or a credentialed behavior consultant. A veterinarian with advanced behavior knowledge is another option it lists. We cover that choice in more detail near the end of this guide.

Ask about training methods first

Method is the most important question. In its 2021 position statement on humane dog training, AVSAB recommends that only reward based methods be used for all dog training, and that includes work on behavior problems. The statement says trainers should avoid any tool that involves pain. It names choke chains and prong collars, and it puts electronic shock collars in the same group.

AVSAB bases this on research. Its statement cites studies linking aversive methods to more anxiety and more fear related aggression. Dogs trained with aversive methods also showed higher stress hormone levels than dogs trained with rewards, and aversive training "has been shown to impair dogs' ability to learn new tasks."

Ask direct questions and listen for direct answers. These come from the Pet Professional Guild's list of questions to ask before you hire someone:

• What happens when my dog does what you want?
• What happens when my dog gets it wrong?
• What equipment do you use, and what will you ask me to use?
• How will you know if my dog is stressed during training?

A good answer to the first question names a reward the dog values, such as food or toys. A good answer to the second involves ignoring or redirecting the mistake and teaching the dog what to do instead.

Best Friends Animal Society suggests asking whether the trainer follows LIMA, which stands for "least intrusive, minimally aversive." If a trainer can't answer or dodges the question, Best Friends says to move on. Texas A&M's veterinary college adds one more question worth asking about any technique: why do you recommend it, and what are its drawbacks?

Ask about credentials, then check them

The AKC says certification "isn't mandatory for trainers, but it shows dedication to the profession." It also notes that some good trainers learned through apprenticeships and years of hands on work. So a credential is a plus, and its absence calls for more questions.

Common dog trainer credentials come from these groups:

• CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers): CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA and CBCC-KA
• IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants): Certified and Accredited levels, such as the CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant)
• Karen Pryor Academy: KPA CTP, for graduates of its Dog Trainer Professional program

These take real work. For the CPDT-KA, CCPDT requires 300 hours of dog training in the last three years and a 200 question exam. Certificants recertify every three years with 36 continuing education units or by retaking the exam. Our guide to the training and behavior credentials lists what each group stands for.

AVSAB's owner guide also names schools it sees as modern and humane, including the Karen Pryor Academy and Jean Donaldson's Academy for Dog Trainers. It is careful to say credentials alone don't guarantee quality. Use them as one check among several.

Always confirm a credential on the issuing group's own website. CCPDT runs a directory of its certified trainers and behavior consultants, and IAABC has a consultant locator. A handout on the Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative site adds that trainers should carry insurance, so ask about that too.

What a good first session looks like

A trainer should tell you the plan before they touch your dog. The Merck Veterinary Manual's guidelines for picking a trainer say not to let anyone work with your dog until they explain "exactly what they plan to do." The same guidelines say you can tell a trainer to stop if anything they do makes you uncomfortable.

Expect the trainer to teach you as much as your dog. The AKC says "great trainers understand that their job is to train you to train your dog." The Toronto Humane Society's guide says a trainer should explain what they're teaching and why it matters, then show you how to do it.

Expect homework too. Humane World for Animals says "a consistent approach is necessary" for your dog to use new skills at home. For a behavior problem, be ready to answer detailed questions. The Merck Veterinary Manual says a veterinarian's behavioral history covers things like the dog's age when the problem started and how often it happens. The same source says video of the behavior can help a veterinarian make an accurate diagnosis, so take some before your appointment if you can do it safely.

Watch your dog during the session. AVSAB says to look for stressed or fearful body language. The Pet Professional Guild lists signs such as whale eye (the whites of the eyes showing) and lip licking. Panting when your dog isn't hot is another sign on its list. If you don't feel heard, AVSAB says to speak up or choose a different trainer.

For group classes, VCA says reputable trainers have vaccination policies and keep classes small enough for one on one help. Check that your veterinarian is comfortable with the vaccine rules, especially for puppy classes.

Watch a class before you sign up

Ask to sit in on a class without your dog. The Merck guidelines are firm about this: if a trainer won't let you watch, don't enroll. VCA suggests that if watching isn't possible, you should ask why and ask for past client references.

While you watch, notice how people speak to their dogs. VCA asks whether owners are yelling or using a calm, upbeat voice. Texas A&M suggests checking whether the dogs look relaxed with tails up and wagging. Talk to a few students after class and ask whether they enjoy it and think their dogs are learning.

Why a guarantee is a warning sign

A promise of guaranteed results should make you cautious. The Merck guidelines say to avoid trainers who offer guarantees, because they "are either ignoring or do not understand the complexities of animal behavior." The Pet Professional Guild says a force free trainer "will not guarantee their training results," since results depend on things the trainer can't control, such as how closely you follow the training plan.

There's a difference between a promise about the outcome and a promise about the service. AVSAB's guide to selecting a behavior consultant says professionals "can guarantee their service but should not guarantee a specific outcome." VCA and the Toronto Humane Society agree. Neither says training comes with guarantees, but both say a good trainer should make sure you're satisfied with the service.

Fast fixes belong in the same category. Humane World for Animals says that if a trainer thinks they can fix your dog's issue in one short session, "you should find somebody else."

How to read a trainer's website

A trainer's website tells you a lot before you ever call. The AKC adds that you should still speak with the trainer, since a website only shows so much. Look for these warning signs:

• Dominance language. AVSAB lists words like "alpha" and "pack leader" as red flags.
• Pain based tools. Photos or product pages showing prong collars or shock collars. AVSAB lists both as red flags.
• Guaranteed results or quick fixes. See the section above.
• Vague method descriptions. AVSAB's behavior consultant guide flags answers like "whatever works for your pet" as a stop sign.
• Medication advice from someone who isn't a vet. The Toronto Humane Society says a trainer who isn't a veterinarian "does not have the medical background to recommend specific medications."

Look for these good signs:

• A clear description of reward based methods, such as treats and praise.
• Credential letters you can look up on the issuing group's directory. If none are listed, the Ohio State handout says to ask.
• A note about working with your veterinarian on behavior problems. The Toronto Humane Society says a good trainer will feel comfortable doing this.
• Names of the professionals they refer cases to. AVSAB counts a trainer who can't name anyone as a stop sign.

Questions to ask before you book

Copy this list and take it with you when you call trainers:

1. What training methods do you use? Do you follow LIMA?
2. What happens when my dog gets something right, and what happens when my dog gets it wrong?
3. What equipment will you use or ask me to buy?
4. What credentials do you hold, and where can I check them?
5. Do you carry insurance for your training business?
6. Have you worked with dogs who have this exact problem?
7. Can I watch a class or session first?
8. What will the first session include, and will I get homework?
9. Do you guarantee results? (The answer you want is no.)
10. Who do you refer to when a case is outside your experience?

When your dog needs more than a trainer

Some problems need a veterinarian before they need a trainer. AVSAB's position statement says dogs with serious behavior problems "should always be evaluated by a veterinarian" so medical causes can be ruled out. The AKC says sudden changes, like growling when touched, can signal pain or another health problem.

CCPDT's LIMA policy puts health first on its list of steps for changing behavior. It says possible health problems must be "addressed by a licensed veterinarian." So if your dog's behavior changed suddenly, see your vet before you book anyone.

For fear or aggression, you may need someone with more behavior training than a typical trainer. Our resources page explains the board certified veterinary behaviorist credential, and it also covers the CAAB credential.

Find a dog trainer in our directory

Our dog trainer listings cover the US and Canada, and you can browse by state, for example dog trainers in Texas. Featured listings appear first and are always labeled as paid placement. Our page on how results are sorted explains the order. Use the questions in this guide on every trainer you contact, Featured or not.

If you're a trainer and see your own listing, you can claim your profile for free.