Did you or someone you know just get a new puppy? Did you know that the first 8 to 16 weeks of a puppies life are the most crucial stage in their development? Did you know that puppies go through fear phases as well?
Finding a certified trainer is crucial in your puppies development as this will ensure that you have someone to literally hold your hand through the process of training into adulthood. This will also ensure that bad behaviors don't start in the first place.
Have you always dreamed of having an off leash dog? One that you can take everywhere? Do you want to take your dog hiking and to the beach? These are all things that are great and achievable. However, if you don't start early, you'll have a more difficult time later extinguishing bad habits, proofing, generalizing with your dog, and possible reactivity issues, if not addressed in puppyhood.
When a dog has ample time to develop bad habits, it becomes such an embedded behavior, as they practice their bad behavior over and over again for a long period of time. This creates resistance in training and what some pup parents might call "being stubborn". The truth is, that your dog is not being stubborn at all. They just haven't had the right training, right tools, and right structure in their life for so long, that everything is new to them when it comes to being a well behaved pup.
Imagine being able to do whatever you want for a year or so, and then all of a sudden you're no longer allowed to do something or act a certain way. It may take you a bit to process this new required behavior from yourself. You might catch yourself going back to the bad habit by accident too! Remember, dogs are NOT robots. They also do not process things similarly to us in the same way. It's your responsibility to understand this as a pet parent.
Stop asking your dog to behave and get rid of a bad habit and expecting it to happen overnight. Instead-start thinking in terms of motivation and what you can teach your dog to do instead of the bad behavior. You need to be your dogs coach. Similar to a gym membership getting a trainer to help you and keep you accountable too is crucial. A trainer will help guide you on how to extinguish bad behavior for good, and teach your dog new behaviors that are desirable.
Linking up with a trainer in the early of stages of dog ownership is important, especially at a young age, to make sure bad behaviors don't develop in the first place.
If you're thinking it's too late for training because your dog is older then 8-16 weeks, think again. We as trainers can still help guide you in the right direction, it just takes more patience, repetitions, and consistency on your part, to achieve that goal with an adult dog.
Stop expecting trainers to do the hard work for you too! Just like the gym, if YOU don't do the workout, all the motivation in the world from a trainer won't be able to help you. You need to be dedicated to your dog and their training to see the changes that you want from them.
Remember a dog trainer does not have a magic wand. It truly takes commitment on your part to train your dog properly. If you are committed though, you will see changes in your dog with the help of a good trainer.
Not all trainers are created equal unfortunately. You could spend thousands of dollars on the wrong trainer if you're not careful. A good trainer is confident in their approach and their abilities. A good trainer evaluates your dog as a whole and adjusts their curriculum accordingly to fit you and your dogs needs. You'll start to see results from a good trainer too right away, as long as you're doing your homework at home.
Don't get stuck with a trainer who doesn't motivate you and hold your hand through the process. Get a trainer who keeps you accountable for your training. Get a certified, professional, and or a knowledgeable trainer. Don't fall for the posts from random people online that say they're a "trainer" either.
The dog training industry is highly unregulated. There is no official licensing or training to be a trainer. Joe Shmoe can wake up tomorrow and decide he's a trainer now. That's really scary in our opinion. It's scary because you don't know what you're getting yourself into, you could lose thousands, and create more problems if not careful. Imagine calling a plumber and deciding you'll hire Joe Shmoe to fix it. This can go south very quickly. Sure, you might get some of the problem fixed or it might be fixed temporarily. However if you don't do it right, it can be disastrous. Leave the training to professionals.
Choose someone who has experience, references, reviews, and someone who values their time. Good trainers are not cheap. Think in the mindset of you get what you pay for. Visit their facility, speak to friends and family and ask if they're ever heard of them. Better yet- look on CCPDT for a certified trainer in your area.
Again, the industry is not regulated so this is more of a guide to help you choose. Not all trainers will be registered though, however a good trainer will know and follow methods usually based on this organization for example. They will know what it is and may have already taken the test to get certified at some point in their career. https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/certified-dog-trainer-directory/
Today, ask yourself this question; Am I seeing value in the training itself when looking over different programs, and am I willing to commit to the training, and the issues I'm facing with my dog?
If you're not seeing value, or are "price shopping" you're in the wrong mindset. Think of hiring a trainer like a good plumber. They might cost a little more, but they'll get the job done. They'll do a GREAT job, they'll get it done in a timely fashion, professional manner, and leave you satisfied.
Start your training journey today and give us a call, you won't regret it. Check out our reviews, our social media, and our website. We would love to help you out with your training needs if we can!
We here at TASK strive to keep you satisfied and happy. If you're not happy, we're not happy. If you're on the fence about training, let us help guide you in the right direction at the very least with a FREE phone consultation. Even if you don't go with us, we will still help guide you to someone who can help you. Let us help you meet your training goals today!
