There are so many options to choose from when getting professional training for your dog. Not only are there a lot of trainers, but there are also a lot of ways to get your dog trained. Every trainer has their own unique way of training and educating but the framework in which they lay that on is pretty standard across the board.
Let’s take a look at some common services dog trainers offer, weigh the pros and cons, and see what is right for you!
Group Classes
This is what most people think of when they think of a dog training class. You usually meet once a week at a facility or public location. There is a general curriculum that typically builds on the skills taught in the previous lesson and you are expected to practice at home between lessons.
Socialization is the biggest benefit of group classes. Not only for dogs but for humans too. making friends with the other pet parents in the group can help motivate you to keep up on training homework. It’s a lot easier to stay motivated when you are working with a community that is working towards the same goals.
When it comes to socialization for your dog, they will be exposed to a different environment and a variety of people and other dogs. This gives you more opportunity to practice your training in situations that are hard to recreate at home.
Because groups are so distracting, they can be really difficult for an anxious dog to cope with. The trainer usually can’t spend a ton of 1:1 time with you and your dog to help them settle into the environment or address complex behavior issues. Because of that, group classes are most appropriate for puppy kindergarten and for already social dogs who are ready to train in more challenging environments.
Private Training
Private training is the best way to get an education for you and your dog. Private training can take place at a facility, public location, your home, or virtually. The biggest benefit is that it’s all about you and your dog! Training can be tailored specifically to how you and your dog learn best and you can go at your own pace.
You will be expected to do homework between your private sessions and follow the trainer’s plan as best as you possibly can to get the results you’re looking for. The more you deviate from the plan, the less likely it is that your dog will learn what you want them to learn.
Because of the individualized attention, private training is better suited for behavior modification and advanced training.
Board & Train
This is where you send your dog off to go stay with a trainer for an extended period of time. They can range anywhere from two weeks up to a few months. Now, board & trains get a bad rep. And not without good reason, very few positive reinforcement trainers offer this service and there are some scary stories out there.
However, if you can find a good one, board & train can be super beneficial. Spending 1:1 time with a trainer can really jump-start your training and get your dog into a place where they are much easier for you to work with at home. This can be an excellent option for pet parents who have really busy lives but still want to make the effort to train their dog.
IT IS NOT A QUICK FIX. I can’t say that enough times. You are absolutely going to have to follow up with private training at home to maintain these newly learned behaviors. If you can’t follow through at home, it’s likely these new behaviors will deteriorate over time. Training is not effective unless both the human and the dog are trained.
Online Courses
2020 changed the way dog training was delivered and a whole host of online courses popped up on the market. The cool thing is, distance is no longer an issue. You can choose your favorite trainer from anywhere in the world to work with. You’re no longer limited to just the trainers in your area.
Most of these courses are self-paced but a few of them come with live coaching as well. These are awesome for the DIY-ers who don’t want to spend time trying to sift through the good and bad information found on the internet (it’s so confusing). These courses package up the information into what is actually relevant to getting the results you want.
What's Right For You?
As I said, all trainers have their own style of teaching humans and dogs. This is just a general idea of what these programs can look like. No matter what your program looks like, the most important thing is to find a trainer who you vibe well with. You want to like this person and feel comfortable sharing your struggles and questions with them. A great trainer can train you reguardless of what the program format is
