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Dog Obedience Training

There are few things that are more frustrating than having an ill mannered,a ggressive dog around the house. Proper, early training will insure that you will not face what may become serious problems as the dog begins to mature. There is nothing funny about having a dog, big or small, trashing your home. Dog obedience training will help you to have a dog that behaves as it should, the way that you want it to behave. And, more importantly, because most dog problems are caused by owners that haven’t clue, it will train you to be a better doggy parent.

Step One

The first ingredient for effective dog obedience training to be effective is to build a solid and trusting relationship between dog and owner. And, before this can occur, a common language needs to be created. This can only be achieved when the dog obedience training that you are employing opens the way to learning, and provides you with the ability understand your pet and its needs.

Through dog obedience training you make sure that the animal always responds in a positive ways to your commands. The idea is to work with the dog in such a way as to ensure that the animal remains calm and will not develop anti-social behaviors. Exercises will help your pet create the best responses to stimuli and therefore, dog obedience training works for the benefit of both animal and adoptive family. Specific centers meet the requirements of dog owners who seek professional help in training their dogs. Though this is not commonly necessary if the owner understands the needs of the dog, and how to best address them.

Dog Training Methods

There are several types of dog obedience training; let’s have a look at the very basic ones. The most common and easy to put into practice are the reward-based and the leash training types. The latter is considered to belong to the traditional dog obedience training used at first in military facilities. For such practical purposes, the leash dog obedience training has more advantages than the food reward, since it finds better adaptation to the task or mission the animal has to face. The collars bring mild or even hard correction, yet, make sure that you don’t use it ineffectively.

The leash dog obedience training teaches the animal to obey to collar control. You will need to remember that the leash is just the first step into developing the skills to get the dog obey under no matter what circumstances and relying on other tools as well. This type of dog obedience training establishes the hierarchy or the leadership in the dog’s life and the relation you develop with the dog very much depends on this aspect. Now, let’s see how the reward dog obedience training system works. Commands given to the animal and properly executed are rewarded.
Thus, the pet associates a specific positive behavior with certain rewards, caresses, a toy or usually food. Behavior patterns develop along these lines as dog obedience training pursues a mutual understanding between pet and owner. Ridding a dog of wanted behaviors is best accomplished by never letting them happen in the first place if possible, but in the even that isn’t possible, say in the case of an adopted dog, more intense study is required. Some may decide to hire a professional in dog obedience training, but even here you have to be an active part in the process since you are the one to spend most time with the pet. Many find that learning how to do this on their own is much more rewarding.

Germans have a centuries old tradition of breeding dogs. In fact one of the most well-known German dog breeds there are is the German shepherd,otherwise known as Alsatian, and it is famed and loved around the globe.

However, it is not the only German breed there is, it is just the most famous one. In fact, German dog breeds cover a great assortment of dogs.

For example some German dog breeds make very good protector dogs, Doberman is an example. Very loyal, defensive and protective of their owners, these dogs have very strong territorial instincts. Named after Louis Dobermann, who created the breed out of other purebreeds and some mutts these strong and powerful dogs have an imposing figure with swarthy colors, short and elegant coats. They are extremely intelligent and protective, which is why they need a lot of socialization in their early years in order to get them used to humans.

Other German dog breeds are better for sheep-dogs. The most well-known one being the German Shepherd, otherwise known as Alsatian. These breeds were made fairly lately, in 1900 by Max von Stephanitz. This breed was designed for working and herding sheep, but because of its high intelligence, loyalty, and obedience, it has become very useable in other tasks. it is one of the most used breeds in police and military forces because it can recognize and follow commands better than other large breeds.

Some German dog breeds were even developed for pulling sleds. The best example of this breed is the Eurasier. Of course, today, it is not used to pull sleights anymore, but rather as a companionship pet. Because of its disposition, it doesn’t make a good working pet. It makes an excellent family dog because of its loyalty. It also has the advantage of barking very little, which is good if you don’t want to bother your neighbors. They are also very quiet and calm indoors, but active when outdoors.

Another famous breed is the Great Dane, which despite its name is not from Danish origin, but rather it forms part of the German dog breeds. it’s one of the tallest and biggest dog breeds there are. Despite its size, it is an agile dog that can run very fast and needs daily exercise. It also has a very kind and gentle nature. Nevertheless, dog owners might be advised against this breed if they have small children, as the Great Dane has a weight and strength that might be too much for them. It is also not a good choice for people that don’t have much space or aren’t ready for such a big dog.

Other German dog breeds are there as well, however these are the most representative. In general, German dog breeds are highly intelligent, obedient, protective and loyal. On the other hand, German dog breeds require a lot of space, training and socializing in order to avoid aggressive demeanour.

The Lusitano is an ancient breed of horse native to Portugal that is filled with tradition. It has historical links to the military, to bullfighting and to the classical training methods of the “Haute Йcole”. It is known by many names such as Lusitanian, Betico-lusitano, National Horse, Peninsular Horse, Pura Raza Espaсola (PRE) and Portuguese Horse and has inspired powerful descriptions such as “a horse for a King in days of victory”, but the official Lusitano breed name comes from the word Lusitania, which was name that the ancient Romans gave to the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. The Lusitano has a natural ability for concentration and learning quickly, with a great disposition for High School work. It is courageous and enthusiastic for what are known as the gineta exercises, which include combat, hunting, bullfighting, and working with cattle.

The Lusitano is very similar in conformation to the Andalusian horses of Spain and the two breeds are thought to have originated from a common source, the rare and nearly extinct Sorraia, which is a smaller horse that is characterized by a dun colored coat with primitive markings. In fact, until 1960, Lusitanos and Andalusians were registered together in the Spanish Stud Book of the Associaзгo Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano (APSL), also known as the Portuguese Lusitano Breeders Association. However, selective breeding in the Lusitano resulted in a more convex profile reminiscent of the older Andalusian or Iberian horse whereas the Andalusian has developed a more Oriental head shape. The modern Lusitano is on average a cleaner-moving, braver, and tougher-built horse than the average modern Andalusian. They are now considered to be separate breeds and in the United States they are represented by the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA).

Additionally, the Lusitano’s history is identical to that of the Spanish or Iberian horse. For most of their common history, Portuguese and Spanish horses were bred as if they were one breed. The Iberian horse was called Andalusian, Estremenjo, or Castillian, depending on the region it was bred in, and it was called Lusitanian in Portugal. Today, the breed is known as Lusitano or “Puro Sangue Lusitano” (PSL), meaning pure-blooded Lusitano.

The ancestors of the modern Lusitano were incredible horses. When the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthagians landed on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula, which is now Portugal, they came across riders whose horses were of superior speed and whose fighting ability from horseback was incredible. This perfect union, the connection of horse and rider as one entity, led to the myth of the Centaur, and it was thought that this half-human/half-horse creature, stemmed from the delta of the river Tejo. The tale told to explain the fantastic speed of these horses was that “they conceived their foals by the wind.”

In Portugal, the horses were sought after over the centuries as a war horse and were bred in a continuous effort to produce the best war horse or bullfighting horse. When the Iberian horse was no longer needed as a war mount, mounted bullfighting became the horse’s main use. But when mounted bullfighting was prohibited in Spain by a royal decree for several centuries, the sport lived on in Portugal without interruption. The Lusitano continued to be bred for its bullfighting agility, which happens to be identical to their ability and agility for high school dressage.

The Lusitano has all the courage of the Spanish Horse coupled with remarkable agility, quickness and balance, which makes the Lusitano the perfect horse for mounted bullfighting in Portugal. These bullfighting horses are highly trained to swerve instantly, yet still remain calm when a charging bull approaches, and they also need to possess an extreme dose of “bravura”, agility, and obedience. In Portugal, the bull is not killed in the bullring, but calmly exits the arena after the fight escorted by tame steers, so the horse must obediently remain still. However, these days, the Lusitano has become so expensive that many bull fighters cannot afford a pure Lusitano, and if they can, they will not risk injuring their horse while fighting the bull. This means that cruzados, or mongrels, are being ridden in the bullrings instead, but they are often able to excel nearly as well. A cruzado may be a crossbreed, but it could also be a true Lusitano whose pedigree is incomplete or unregistered.

Today, the Lusitano horse is recognized for its ability to perform well in a plethora of equestrian disciplines. In the attempt to become more competitive with the world-wide sport horses, the European Warmbloods, and targeting events like show jumping and modern dressage in which the warmblood excels, the Lusitano is starting to lose its Iberian type.
Traditionally, the Lusitano is a horse of medium size. At the age of six years, the average height is 15.1 hands for mares and 15.3 hands for stallions, although they may be found over 16.0 hands high now, while also looking more like Northern European warmbloods. They weigh approximately 1100 pounds.

There is no discrimination against any solid color. Originally, the Lusitano was grulla or dun, but buckskins, palominos, cremellos, and perlinos can also be found. However, the gray gene has taken over the breed, and most Lusitano horses are various shades of gray, depending on their age. It has become the most appreciated and esteemed color of the breed. Their overall body profile is described in the official breed standard as “sub-convex (with rounded outlines); a silhouette that can be fitted into a square.”

The Lusitano has a well-proportioned noble head of medium length that is narrow and dry, with the cheek inclined to be long. It has a slightly sub-convex profile with a slightly curved forehead narrowing to a finely curved nose. The eyes are elliptical or almond-shaped and are large, alive, expressive and confident. The medium-length ears are fine, narrow and expressive. The neck is of medium length and arched, ending at a narrow junction with the head. The body is short-coupled with powerful shoulders, a deep rib cage and broad powerful loins. The mane and tail are abundant and silky with the tail set rather low on an unobtrusive hip. Even when excited, the tail is not carried very high.

The Lusitano has a trait that is often associated with Iberian horses. It is called “campaneo” in Spain, and it is the action of the front leg that does not show a straight forward movement, but rather swings out laterally to a degree. It appears to be an inherent trait of the Iberian horse. Just as in the Andalusian breed, some Lusitano horses can be found that do a lateral gait.

While the Lusitano was not bred for its gait, but for its agility in the bullring, there are still some individuals that have retained the gait and the action of these Lusitano horses is showy. The cannon bones are comparatively long and lend to the knee action and proud, elevated movements. The hind leg is positioned well underneath the body axis, producing the hock action so suited to collection and impulsion. The movements are agile, sure-footed, elevated forward and uphill, and carry the rider in comfort. It is a gait that there is no clear written description of, and one that must be seen or ridden to be fully appreciated.

Despite what some naysayers are claiming on the internet, the Goldendoodle dog is NOT a fading FAD. The truth is, the Goldendoodle dog happens to be gaining popularity with each and every passing day. Perhaps in the beginning, when breeders in Australia started mixing Poodles with Golden Retrievers, they believed this gorgeous hybrid would not last. But honestly, even I was surprised that those wanting Goldendoodles surpassed those wanting purebred Golden Retrievers. Goldendoodles have become a breed that many enjoy loving. The fact their coat is low shedding and low dander and of course, their lovable cute mug only helps their “AWE” factor. A few naysayers claim that the shelters are filled with Goldendoodles….a “mutt” that is “substandard”. Excuse the heck out of me??? Since I began my Goldendoodle breeding program in 1999, I’ve not heard of very many people being able to find these wonderful dogs inside of shelters.

As a matter of fact, the reality is, many people HAVE to purchase through a breeder because there are so few Goldendoodles available at shelters…and that’s great news! I am very glad that so far, very few Goldendoodles can be located at shelters. This means that those who originally bought them….are keeping them and not dumping them at their local shelter or letting rescue groups have them. The sad fact is, too many “rescue” groups are in it for the money even though they claim they are in it to “help” dogs find homes. On facebook alone, I’ve discovered the fact that there are many bogus groups who are not ligitimate groups at all. Some are hate groups who are out to bash and trash breeders of hybrids and many are claiming to be “rescue” groups when they are really in it for a quick buck. Many breeders, such as myself, have devoted years of unpaid hours to their Goldendoodle breeding program and to their dogs.

I do not get paid for what I do. I think that the prices we ask for our Goldendoodles are beyond reasonable especially given the fact it is very expensive to raise, house and care for animals these days. My expenses always far exceed what I take in. I discovered one Goldendoodle naysayer claiming that Goldendoodles are “high energy” dogs. This is not an accurate statement in its entirety. I’ve written many articles over the years about the Goldendoodle dog. The truth is, SOME Goldendoodles can be high energy dogs…depending upon their lineage and how they are created. NOT ALL GOLDENDOODLES ARE CREATED EQUAL.

 While a rose is a rose is a rose….the Goldendoodle is not a Goldendoodle is a Goldendoodle. If a breeder does not pay attention to the pedigree of their Poodles and Golden Retrievers, then by all means, of course it is possible for the dog to be “substandard”. Goldendoodle dogs, like any breed, can not be lumped into one single group. I personally spent 2 years researching the pedigree history and lineage of both my Poodles and Golden Retrievers. My own Goldendoodles have a very impressive lineage of champion ancestors that date back to the early 1930s. Because their lineage is very heavy with companion dogs, our Goldendoodles make the most wonderful family companion anyone could ask for. Because their lineage does have quite a few Master Hunters and Utility dogs (champion working class dogs) our Goldendoodles can, sometimes, be stubborn when they want to be; they absolutely are attracted to water and water sports; they love to explore outdoors and they are highly intelligent dogs. Being highly intelligent is a double edged sword.

On the one hand, our Goldendoodles can easily learn new tricks and commands….but they can also learn destructive habits just as easily and such habits must be nipped in the bud by their owner immediately. If not properly trained and supervised, yes…very intelligent Goldendoodles will easily find themselves getting into trouble. But that is the owner’s fault. It is not the fault of the dog. Bad dogs are not born. Bad dogs are created by human owners. My days revolve around my dogs. Nearly every hour as a matter of fact. If I am not with them, I am writing about them. If I am not writing about them, I am talking about them. If I am not talking about them, I am running errands for them. If I am not running errands for them, I am with them. My day doesn’t end at 5pm. There are times I am awakened in the wee early morning hours…while everyone else is snuggled into bed….finding out what is going on due to the ruckus or barking of my dogs. Some naysayers will tell you, “Don’t buy your Goldendoodle from a breeder”. Well…why not? What makes these naysayers believe that a shelter dog is any better?

What can a shelter possibly tell you about the dog you are adopting? About its history? Where it came from? What its lineage is? What it likes and doesn’t like? How are they able to provide you with an accurate birth date? The truth is….they can’t. The truth is….not all shelter dogs end up at shelters or rescue groups because the owner was a bad owner. There are bad breeders out there just as there are bad dog owners. If a breeder isn’t particular about how they are creating their Goldendoodle dogs, then yes….a buyer will have a mess on their hands. If the buyer is inexperienced and has never owned a dog before, that mess then becomes a shelter dog because the buyer will dump it there. Naysayers will have you believe that breeders are the reason for the population explosion at shelters and ligitimate rescues. That isn’t accurate nor is it right that these naysayers blame every damned thing that happens, on the breeder. The truth is, there are entirely more purebred dogs filling up shelters and rescue agencies because it’s a money maker. If you believe that rescue groups and shelters do not earn a living off the backs of dogs and cats or other animals, then you live in an enclosed bubble. Animal control or Humane Societies earn a living by confiscating and bringing in the animals that they take in. HSUS has been closely scrutinized for many years because of the fact their founders and excecutives have earned millions of dollars off the backs of animals and very few of dollars has gone back into the caring of those animals.

Many “rescue” people and groups have actually had the animals they claimed they were “rescuing” confiscated because of neglect and abuse at their hands. All is not what it seems with many of these agencies and groups. Let’s look at the reality that shelters, animal control and Humane Societies get paid by their state. They are state funded. The employees have their vehicles paid for; their fuel paid for; they often have a 401K; they are paid by the hour or even earn a bonus and they receive benefits. They make a living off the backs of animals. But I am getting off topic here. When I think about all the negative comments or articles or blogs written by these type of naysayers, it does get my blood boiled. As someone who is very involved with my dogs, it makes me angry to read absurd comments and content that is written by people who aren’t breeders…who are not Goldendoodle owners and who has never owned a Golden Retriever or a Poodle before. Their content serves one purpose and one purpose only and that is to rile up Goldendoodle fans and to stir up trouble.

There has been a battle of words going on for many years between breeders, rescue agencies and animal rights advocates. I personally have spent since 1999 writing about the Goldendoodle dog because I didn’t like the fact there was very little information about this wonderful hybrid and what I did find, was inaccurate. Much content that I’ve seen on the internet is even inappropriate. There are many articles written by fly by night writers who pretty much just take bits and pieces of content from all over the internet and they jumble it all together just to put an article out there. They don’t really know anything at all about the Goldendoodle dog. They simply wanted an article put out there with their name attached to it. Since 1999, I’ve been pretty much caught up with the Goldendoodle dog. It’s been my personal mission to put out accurate and factual information so that those who have fallen in love with them, can learn and understand the truth about this breed. Hybrids are not a fad. They are dogs that are going to be around forever. AKC (The American Kennel Club) realized that the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle dog was NOT a fad. Which is why they began to allow these hybrids to become registered with their kennel club. Make no mistake about it, folks! AKC laughs itself all the way to the bank.

 They are nothing more than a registrant service for purebred dogs. They do have a nice data bank for dog owners if they desire to dig into the lineage and history of their dogs. Sure, AKC puts on some pretty elaborate dog shows for breeders who rake in thousands of dollars from their puppy sales. Go to an AKC dog show sometime and take a look at the vehicles and toys sported by those dog owners. You will see expensive Rvs, Motor homes and even semi trucks owned by those showing their dogs. Why? Because they sold their puppies for up to $25,000 a peice! Their purebred puppies fetched that wonderful price because the parents gained a few ribbons. If you do not think that the animal world is a money making machine, then I am not sure what planet you live on. Private hobby breeders never live off of their puppies and dogs. They are not a commercial enterprise. Show breeders, commercial dog breeders, vets, animal suppliers, website owners that charge breeders and animal businesses to advertise upon their site……businesses that sell dog supplies, clothing and other essentials….these are the enterprises that are making where animals are concerned.

The pet industry is a billion dollar a year generator for many. This is not so for the private, hobby breeder. Naysayers should stop putting down the Goldendoodle dog simply because they want others to believe that hybrid breeders are causing this, that and the other. I personally help minimize the amount of owners surrendering their Goldendoodles by having a strict purchase policy in place. It is because our buyers are required to spay and neuter and purchase under a contract agreement, that we have had very few of our buyers surrender the doodles they’ve added to their families. Breeders who operate with a code of ethics requiring their buyers to purchase under a spay/neuter agreement and who have incorporated a purchase contract/agreement help ensure their puppies are going to proper homes. If shelters have any Goldendoodles whatsoever, it is either because the dogs were confiscated by the shelter itself (so they can bring in revenue for their shelter) or it is because the owner was inexperienced with dogs and failed to return the dog to its breeder. It was more convenient for the owner to dump the dog at the shelter than to return the dog to its breeder.

Then of course, the economy collapsed and many lost their homes. Those who fell into this category had to relinquish their pets and I am sure they were very heartbroken about it. Circumstances where an owner has died or had to go into a nursing facility or long term hospital care facility, these situations are unavoidable if there is no one to help the dog owner prevent their dogs from making its way into a shelter or rescue situation. The reality is, some buyers do not honor the breeder’s purchase contract. We discovered this reality a few years after becoming a breeder in 1996. This is why we incorporated our spay/neuter policy and required our dogs to be spayed or neutered BEFORE leaving our premises with its new owner if the dog was five months of age or older. We realized that some of our dogs purchased, were now our competition because the owner bred it instead of honoring our spay/neuter requirements. This has happened with quite a few other breeders as well. Many dog buyers start out with the best intentions, but then somehow get caught up in the doodle mania not realizing how expensive it is to breed and maintain litters of puppies. Rescue groups and shelters who do have good intentions, will contact the breeder to get the dog back to the breeder.

 Since 1996, we have actually only been contacted by two seperate shelters regarding dogs we sold to families who didn’t honor our contractual purchase agreement. My husband drove all the way to Virginia to collect one dog. The other shelter contacted us, and we agreed to go get the dog, but the owner got the dog back a few hours after the dog found its way there. One other instance I can recall is a buyer who purchased one of our Goldendoodles for his very young daughter. When the novelty wore off, the daughter refused to take care of the dog. Because we were not able to take the dog back, we did find a new home for the dog and the owner sent the dog to the person we found for the dog. Thankfully, he has found a FURever home and for several years now, he’s enjoyed a much better and much deserved loving home than its first buyer offered. Who better to take the responsibility for their dogs than the breeder? Many shelters do not have a spay/neuter agreement and they adopt their animals out to the first applicant that comes along. I was very fortunate when I first made the decision to become a breeder, back in late 1996. I had two mentors. One was a successful show breeder and the other was a vet. I learned as much as I could from both. I learned about their successes and I learned about their failures. I didn’t want to repeat their failures. Instead, I focused on what made each one of them successful.

Being prior military and having been taught hard core values, this helped me shield myself from the naysayers so that I could not be ran off by the sword of their words. Having over ten years of regional manager skills, this allowed me to bring to the breeder’s table entirely more than what many had to offer. When I create my Goldendoodles, I ask myself, “in what way will this pair of breeding dogs benefit the Goldendoodle?” . “What is my goal?” “What is it in the Goldendoodle structure, am I aiming for?”. Unless a breeder has a clear cut goal….they are simply creating a mess. I do not create messes. I do not create fads. My Goldendoodles, Poodles and Golden Retrievers are the backbone to many doodles that reside in the United States. As a breeder, it is important that I gain as much scientific knowledge about breeding as possible. It is important for the breeder who wants longevity for their Goldendoodles to obtain the best breeding stock possible and to know the history and the pedigree of those dogs. Know what characteristics you are creating and your Goldendoodle will never become a “Fad”.

 *About the author: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World has been writing about the Goldendoodle dog since 1999. She is one of the original founders for the Goldendoodle dog for the entire southern region of the United States. Dee Gerrish is a Goldendoodle expert who has spent many unpaid hours learning about the dogs she writes about. To learn more about Goldendoodle World, visit http://www.goldendoodleworld.com

Many people don’t have the patience, energy and/or time to dedicate to training their dog. There are not many other activities that require as much as all this, if the end result is to have a safe, well-adjusted dog and be a happy human. For those people, the answer is to hand the reins of training your dog over to the efforts of a professional trainer.

As in any other profession, price and quality will vary. And, like many professions – particularly those involving human-animal interactions – training philosophies differ considerably. So, you already have some constraints to guide your selection of a trainer for your dog.

Assess your budget and your needs. Depending on where you live, dog training can range anywhere from free – sometimes supplied on a weekly basis by volunteers at parks or shelters – to $100 or more per session. What determines a reasonable fee will differ depending on geography, trainer experience, length of program and the goals for your dog.

Take a look at your schedule. Training programs can be weekly while others are more often. Sometimes, you will be required to leave your dog and pick it up later or, more likely, you may prefer a program where the training involves you directly. Many will advise that you spend some time training the dog each and every day consistently, whether at home or at the trainer’s facility.

Think about your commitment. Dogs, especially at the beginning of training, require regular, large blocks of time and attention in order to learn. An hour a day is not all that unusual.

In certain cases, ‘boot camp’ training programs are preferred. The dog goes away to a special facility for a predetermined length of time usually up to several weeks. The training is consistent, long and rigorous. Don’t worry about your dog. They love the intense training! At the end of the training period, you will probably be required to participate in order to ‘transfer’ the obedience from trainer to you.

But the results can very often be amazing. Dogs, who ‘graduate’ even when not special service dogs, are disciplined and ready to follow instructions. Yet, the irony is, these dogs show no signs of being repressed. They’re happy and play with much enthusiasm.

Examine your goals. You may want a dog that can be entered in shows, or you may just want them not to chew on the furniture or dig up the yard. In either case, regular training is necessary. How much and what kind will vary with breed and individual temperament.

Some dogs are fearful, either through being mistreated formerly or from a natural tendency toward submission. Some are too assertive, again through abuse or natural striving for alpha (pack leader) status. Whatever type of training you select will be dependant on how you want to influence them and what attributes they have you want to shape.

Whatever your goals, budget or commitment you want a trainer who exhibits enormous patience and boundless energy, of course, along with a deep love for dogs. Most have these characteristics in spades and then some.

Other than these basics, you’ll want a trainer whose philosophy makes sense to you and consistent with your goals. Some insist that dog training is more about training the owner than the dog – and there’s some truth to that in some cases. Some are relaxed and friendly, leaning toward the ‘touchy-feely’ style. Others tend more toward police or military style training. And the others lie between these two extremes.

It’s doubtful that there is one training style that will suit everyone, but neither is it entirely subjective. Even where there are disputes there are common principles that most will agree on. Patience, persistence, consistency and the requirement for the human to lead are only some of these.

Request recommendations from those you trust and don’t hesitate to shop around. Don’t be afraid to change trainers once or twice to find one suitable for your needs. Be careful, though, not to change on a whim. Dogs need consistency and a regular environment in order to take in what’s being taught.

Good luck and good hunting for your dog trainer!