How do you find a dog trainer in your area with Maddie Angevine, trainer, with Gentle Touch

Whether you're potty training a new pup or struggling with positive reinforcement, you might want to consult a qualified dog trainer and/or enroll your pooch in a class.

“A lot of people say ‘I know how to teach a dog to sit. Why would I go to a class?’ And it's so much more than that,” says Lindsay Hamrick, director of shelter outreach and engagement at the Humane Society of the United States and a certified professional dog trainer herself. She advises dog owners to “reach out for help anytime they don't know what to do.” 

Animal behavior websites can vary greatly in quality, Hamrick adds, but dog trainers can too—so here are some tips to get you started! 

Starting the search

Start your search for a dog trainer at the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, which makes locating a qualified dog trainer near you as simple as plugging in your zip code. You might also try searching "canine behaviorist" and "dog behavior consultant."

Making a match

Contact potential dog trainers to see if they’d be a good fit. Trainers’ websites typically describe their expertise, allow you to submit a form explaining the concerns you have about your dog’s behaviors and give you an idea of the cost. It’s also important to determine if they have the bandwidth to work with you.

Good dog trainers “know what they can and can't handle,” Hamrick says. Some don't work with aggression cases, for example, and focus solely on obedience training or non-aggression behavioral challenges.

 

Setting realistic expectations

Remember that dog trainers aren’t miracle workers, and behavior change takes time. “If you are talking to a trainer and they think they can fix your issue in a 30-minute television show … you should find somebody else,” Hamrick says.

However, while a single session may not solve the challenges completely, we know that access to behavioral support can be pricey unless you have a low-cost option in your community. One consultation can still be helpful in identifying the root causes of your dog’s behavior and some initial ways to help them choose new behaviors.