If you are the proud owner of a new puppy or dog, there are a few things that you need to know. It is important for dog owners to know that part of the training will fall on them. You are the puppy’s new family so they need to interact and get comfortable with you. Most of all, they need to hear commands given in your voice.

The purpose of a dog trainer is to help supplement what you have done, big or small. Maybe you have only gotten through training your puppy to follow your basic commands: sit, stay, down, hush, go and the like. For many families, potty training is the biggest ordeal. Everything after that doesn’t seem as hard.

Choosing a Trainer

Now on to the professional trainer you want. All dog trainers, like every other thing in the world, are not created equal. It’s going to be important to evaluate your trainers before exposing your dog to them. You don’t want a bad experience to traumatize your newest family member.

• Credentials – Check to see how many dogs they have trained and how long they have been in business. Ask about their training practices and vaccination requirements. You can check the Better Business Bureau to see if any dog owners have lodged complaints.

• Demeanor – Are they friendly to owners and their dogs? A friendly trainer is more likely to be a patient trainer. Dogs require a lot of patience during training. You don’t want someone who will yell at your dog or use unorthodox methods to get them to obey.

• Use a Clear Voice for Instructions – A good trainer can teach you many things. For one, they can show you how to speak your commands to get puppy to comply. Speaking out of anger will only make the situation worse (especially when potty training or crate training). As an owner, you need to be able to understand the instructions they are giving to the dogs so you can mimic it.

• Demonstrations – Dogs are not the only ones who need to be trained. As owners, you will want to visually see and follow what the trainer does so you can get the hang of the exercise. Trainers who demonstrate in class can help you if you have trouble.

You don’t have to handle puppy alone. Hiring a dog trainer can help advance your dog’s training schedule and lower your stress level.