Dog Training Professionals

By: Heather Mohan-Gibbons

What Do All Those Initials Mean?

Did you know that anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, without needing any credentials, even you?  There are no licensing requirements, which mean there is no governing body to ensure your dog is receiving appropriate ethical care. So, please use caution when finding a professional!

There are a wide variety of training professionals to choose from in the Milwaukee area. For basic training, you have a diverse group of dog trainers to choose from. For behavior problems, you should consult an animal behaviorist or someone with additional training to design an effective behavior modification program that uses humane techniques. There are a variety of certifications available, and these are the most common in the Milwaukee area.

CAAB. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (Animal Behavior Society):
Education: a B.S. in either biology or psychology and a M.S. or Ph.D. in Animal Behavior
Experience: Two to five years of applied animal behavior and research experience
Certification:  Submission of case reports, publications, references, proof of liability insurance, and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. http://www.certifiedanimalbehaviorist.com/

CPDT: Certified Professional Dog Trainer (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers):
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Experience: Complete 300 hours of hands-on teaching and training
Certification: Must pass a standardized national exam, submit references, and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. http://www.ccpdt.org/

ABCDT: Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer:
Education:  None. You need to be 18 years old and complete four months of their online training program.
Experience: From 7-21 weeks of hands-on experience
Certification: Passing the Animal Behavior College on-line exam.  http://animalbehaviorcollege.com

When choosing a professional, choose someone that uses reward-based training.  This means using methods that allow the animal to work for what motivates them, rather than avoiding something that causes fear, force, or pain for behavior change. Current research has led us down a path that is far more humane and has created a higher ethical standard for our companions.  You are the consumer and have many choices on who you hire. You should be comfortable with all techniques being used, otherwise find someone else. The trainer should be able to modify every exercise to meet your needs. Having respect for your experience and your knowledge is key to creating a plan that will work for everyone.  Additionally, your professional should want to work with your veterinarian or other professionals. Behavior change is often one of the first signs that there is an underlying medical problem.
 
Ever hear of the saying “Never feed a dog from the table or you will get begging.” That is only true if you are feeding when the dog is at the table. One of my clients had done just that, and now her beloved Jack Russell was jumping onto the table and stealing food off her plate!  They had tried other professionals and an array of punishment techniques and it only made the dog more agitated.

By identifying what the dog was already working for (food), we taught a different behavior that brought the same outcome. By tossing a small food reward away from the table, we quickly shaped the dog to lie on a bed when they sat down for dinner.  Then we weaned off using the food. Now they proclaim as their dog is falling asleep on the dog bed during dinner “Oh there he goes, begging again!” Just an example of using what the dog is already working for in order to teach a behavior that you like better.  Happy training!