FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
In order to stay current and to maintain my certification I complete at least 36 hours of continuing education. This year alone I have attended four days of behavior lectures at the Midwest Veterinary Conference, three days of Chicken Camp where we learn to train chickens in order to increase our training skills and team work (The FBI and Homeland Security send their dog trainers/handlers to chicken camp too!), and later today will be sitting in on a webinar about the Pitfalls of using Negative Reinforcement in training dogs. All of this and it is not even June!
- What types of customers have you worked with?
The most common training clients I have deal with dogs that jump on people, dash through doors, go crazy when the doorbell rings, pull on the leash, lunge and bark on lead at strange dogs, bikes, strollers and people, have potty training problems, are fear aggressive or anxious when their families leave.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
There are no regulations for dog trainers. Unfortunately many are now training with little or no education. Make sure that any trainer you hire does continuing education through seminars and vet conferences.