How To Select A Dog Training School

Before selecting a dog training school, you need to decide what type of training you need. There are generally three different divisions of training, Behavior, Obedience, and Activity training.

Behavior training includes house training, acting properly around other people and dogs, and other basic rules such as not chewing up the furniture.

Obedience training is teaching the dog to obey specific commands such as stay, sit, come, and lying down.

Activity training is training the dog for specific activities such as hunting, herding, Search and Rescue, and fetching.

Next, you need to set your goals. Make a list of every thing you want accomplished and the problems you want solved.

Then you need to decide whether you want full service or self service dog training.

Full service training is typically known as Kennel training. Kennel training is where you drop off your dog and come back in a few weeks.

Self service training is typically known as class training. This is where you participate in your dogs training.

It is important to talk to the trainer who will be training your dog, because trainers teach dogs not training schools. Here is a list of questions to ask the trainer.

Does the dog trainer:

• Have experience breeding dogs?
• Make you feel comfortable when handling your dog?
• Clearly explain all policies and rules?
• Offer any refund policies?
• Require dogs to be up to date on all required vaccinations?
• Inspect all dogs for fleas and other parasites while on premise?
• Provide information on the veterinarian that they use?
• Have experience in dog health care?
• Check the dog for hearing, sight, and other health problems?
• Offer special training for aggressive or hard to train dogs?
• Offer feedback forms to be filled out by each client?
• Give free demos or clinics for the public?
• Possess a business license?
• Provided prompt response to your questions and concerns?
• Belong to a particular organization?
• Provide written documents as to there training methods?
• Possess titles or certifications in handling dogs?
• Require that you buy training equipment?
• Provide any guarantees and include free follow-up support?
• Offer multiple training options such as private, home, or group training?
• Allow you to observe a training class before signing up?

For more information on dog training, please see Dog Books and Dog DVDs on the left side.