“Good trainers How to identify one and why this is important to your practice of veterinary medicine”
The proceeding quote was the title for an article published in a peer-reviewed journal (JVB, 2006, 1, 47-52) in 2006, I wonder how many veterinarians, with practices centered on treating medical problems read the article. My point here is not to disparage veterinarians who practice medicine, but rather I am concerned that very few veterinarians understand a dog’s behavioral health is as important as their physical wellness.
However, the purpose for this paper is to clarify some of the glaring differences between dog trainers and those who specialize in behavior. For example, there are behaviorists who belong to the Animal Behavior Society, and similar organizations, and board certified veterinary behaviorists who are not only veterinarians but have additional credentials in behavioral studies. Then we have certified specialists in behavior, like me who belong to the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants www.iaabc.org certified through the organization. We are required to meet five core areas of expertise put together by committee, with input and participation by a board certified veterinary member. IAABC is devoted to providing outstanding specialists, who can fill in the gaps since so few of these more credentialed individuals are not available in many regions and communities.
The article referenced above outlined recommended criteria for veterinarians to look for when referring clients from their practice to dog trainers, however in most if not all instances, the referral is for behavior problems, not training. Dog trainers are often not skilled in treating an actual behavior problem. Behavior problems are complex, i.e. a jumping dog does not necessarily indicate a lack of training; it could indicate other more complex issues. Therefore, it is important for veterinarians, and the public to recognize there are differences, this will not only reflect on their practice, but dogs may not get the right help they really need.
Dog trainers have traditionally been just that, running classes, teaching owners, and their dog basic and/or advanced obedience. The most basic trained skills often mean teaching dogs to sit, down, stay, wait, look at me, and recall training. In some instances, dog trainers are especially skilled in certain dog sports like agility, fly ball, hunting, SAR, therapy and service work. A few years ago, Rally classes were introduced; offering a more relaxed training process, and more recently the AKC is allowing mutts to participate in obedience but not with the purebreds!
For those of you who fit this next category, there is some dog trainers, I will refer to as cross-trained, or perhaps for a better use of words they are further educated in behavior, in addition to having dog training skills. I am emphasizing this point because problem solving requires a completely different skill set and base of knowledge, than just training dogs. I guarantee the dog trainer you would encounter at a retail dog store teaching lessons will likely not possess these same skill sets.
There are also two schools of thought within the behavioral sciences and sometimes they are interconnected. The traditional behaviorist uses a more mechanistic approach to problem solving, and those schooled more in ethology look for underlying causes for behavior. I actually utilize both approaches but with an emphasis more on ethology, I want to identify the source of the dogs problem, as defined by the owner, and identify any anxiety and deal with that first, then we move on to how we can change the dog’s environment, so we remove the stress.
Referring back to the original published article on how to identify a good dog trainer, the first thing scientists suggest is look for is what type of continuing education (CEU’s) does the trainer engage in and how often does he or she do so? This can be tricky because the industry is not regulated, and just about, anyone can print up business cards and call themselves a dog trainer. However, if veterinarians and dog owners ask to see certificates (CEU’s) of completion, and took the time to look them over, that is a starting point in your qualification process. If a person cannot provide proof of continuing education, then you should be wary to engage in hiring that individual, and continue to look for and/or ask for a referral from a trusted source. You want to know that the trainer, you are considering hiring is actually educated even as a dog trainer!
Some dog trainers belong to organizations like the APDT www.apdt.com , but with thousands of members, lacking strict accountability, you will need to do your homework in finding the right dog trainer. The organization does emphasize using positive reinforcement, but with a mixed bag of training philosophies and methods, experience and knowledge, you need to be careful in evaluating anyone recommended by this organization. There are other organizations i.e. NADOI and big box pet stores e.g. Pets Mart that offer in-house dog training programs but these programs are designed for the beginning dog trainer. That is where I got started nine years ago. Wow how time flies, but this limits the reliability for behavioral advice and training you and your dog receive. This could be an instance; you get what you pay for!
If you carefully screen dog trainers under consideration, you will likely find one that does not use punishment-training methods, and excludes the use of shock collars (e-stimulus devices – very limited effective use), choke collars, and prong collars, according to research studies these tools actually “increase fear and anxiety.”
What often occurs, owners may interrupt, and/or it may appear, they are extinguishing an undesirable behavior. However, the dog may turn to a completely new behavior, sometimes referred to as displacement or appeasement behavior in its place and/or you will notice signs of stress, when you are around your pet. Unless, you are skilled in recognizing stress related behavior you may think your dog has now developed a new problem.
This is WHY it is so important to identify the source/motivation for the undesirable behavior, and then you need to change the environment, relieving any stress associated with the problem behavior. Read Why consider the use of Shock Collars (E-Stimulus Devices) carefully for a more in-depth explanation before you make the mistake of using these devices in the wrong context/environment and for the wrong reason.
The difference between a certified dog behavior consultant and professional dog trainer, and member of IAABC www.iaabc.org , is we are required to maintain 30 CEU’s every two years, the courses must be preapproved, and the amount of credited CEU’s is based on the level of material covered. The courses approved, could be those required to fulfill an application for certification and/or continuing education for certified members, in a specialty field. For example, I recently attended a two-day seminar, taught by Dr. Myrna Milani, MS, DVM www.mmilani.com covering ethology and received 13 CEU’s.
Keep in mind these suggested guidelines are suggestions; however, I do agree with the outlined criteria, for identifying a good trainer, but think not enough is being done to delineate the differences between dog trainers and those specializing in behavior.
Source and produced by the Advanced Behavior Course at the North American Veterinary Conference, Post Graduate Institute (NAVC PGI), 2004¹.
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