If you’re looking for a professional dog trainer, my biggest piece of advice is don’t choose someone based on price alone.

You’re not just paying someone to teach your dog to sit or stay. You’re choosing someone who may be helping you with the relationship you have with your dog for years to come.

So take your time and do some homework.

See Their Work

One of the first things I’d recommend is seeing the trainer actually work with a dog whenever possible.

Don’t just look at a website or read a list of credentials.

Watch what happens when the trainer interacts with the dog.

Is the dog engaged?

Is the dog responsive?

Does the dog seem comfortable and willing to participate?

Does the trainer know how to get the dog’s attention?

Does the dog appear to understand what is being asked?

And perhaps most importantly, does the dog look like it wants to work with that person?

There’s a big difference between a dog that is simply complying because it has to and a dog that is engaged and motivated to participate.

That’s something I pay very close attention to.

Ask About Their Philosophy

I’d also ask a trainer to explain how they train.

What methods and techniques do they use?

How do they motivate a dog?

What happens when the dog doesn’t understand something?

How do they deal with fear, anxiety, aggression, or reactivity?

Do they have one system they use with every dog, or do they adjust their approach based on the individual dog?

I’ve always believed that every dog is different.

What motivates one dog may not motivate another.

For one dog, it might be food.

For another, a ball or toy.

For another, praise or physical interaction.

Sometimes you have to experiment and take the time to figure out what makes that particular dog want to participate.

That’s where experience becomes extremely important.

Look for Experience—Real Experience

There are a lot of people who call themselves dog trainers.

But I would ask:

How long have you actually been training dogs?

How many dogs have you personally trained?

What kinds of problems have you dealt with?

Have you worked with older dogs? Puppies? Aggressive dogs? Fearful dogs? Reactive dogs? Dogs with serious behavioral problems?

My own experience is one of the things that gives me a very broad perspective.

I’ve personally trained well over 20,000 dogs throughout my career. I’ve worked with virtually every breed, age, temperament, and type of behavioral problem.

I’ve learned from trainers in different disciplines—sport-dog trainers, service-dog trainers, protection and working-dog trainers—and I’ve spent decades putting that knowledge into practice.

I’ve worked with puppies and older dogs. I’ve worked with dogs that simply needed basic obedience and dogs with serious aggression, fear, anxiety, and reactivity.

That kind of experience gives you a much larger reference point.

When I meet a dog, I’m not looking at it in isolation.

I’m drawing from thousands of previous experiences and asking myself:

What am I seeing? What’s causing it? What motivates this dog? What approach is going to get this particular dog to buy into the training?

That’s very different from simply following a training formula.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

A good trainer should be willing to answer your questions.

Ask them what they think is going on with your dog.

Ask what they recommend.

Ask what they expect from you as the owner.

Ask what happens after the dog completes training.

And ask how they will teach you to maintain the results.

Because ultimately, you have to live with the dog.

A trainer can accomplish a tremendous amount with your dog, but if you don’t understand how to reinforce the training when the dog comes home, you’re missing an important part of the process.

Look for a Problem Solver

I would also look for someone who can solve problems, not just teach commands.

Teaching a dog to sit isn’t particularly complicated.

But what happens when the dog won’t come when called?

What happens when your dog sees another dog and starts lunging?

What happens when your dog is afraid of people?

What happens when your puppy won’t settle down?

What happens when your older dog has developed years of bad habits?

That’s where experience really starts to matter.

You want someone who can look at the individual dog, understand what’s happening, and adjust the approach until they find what works.

Look for a Good Communicator

And don’t overlook the trainer’s ability to communicate with you.

A great dog trainer who can’t explain things to an owner isn’t necessarily going to be a great fit.

You need someone who can tell you:

“Here’s what your dog is doing.”

“Here’s why I think it’s happening.”

“Here’s what we’re going to do about it.”

“And here’s what you need to do when you get home.”

The trainer should be able to explain things in a way that makes sense to you.

Because ultimately, you’re the one who has to continue the training.

Don’t Shop for Price First

Price is obviously a consideration. But I wouldn’t make it your first consideration.

I’d look at value.

A cheaper trainer isn’t necessarily saving you money if they can’t solve the problem.

You could spend less and end up needing another trainer six months later.

On the other hand, paying more doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting better training either.

That’s why I would look at the whole picture:

Experience.

Results.

Methods.

Communication.

Problem-solving ability.

How the trainer interacts with dogs.

How they work with owners.

And whether you feel confident that this is someone who actually understands your particular dog.

Ultimately, Trust Your Gut

After you’ve done your homework, pay attention to how you feel about the trainer.

Do they listen to you?

Do they ask questions about your dog?

Do they seem genuinely interested in solving your problem?

Are they willing to tell you things you may not want to hear?

Do they seem knowledgeable without making unrealistic promises?

And do they have a plan for teaching you, not just your dog?

Those things matter.

I’ve always believed that a good trainer should be able to train the dog, educate the owner, and solve problems.

That’s what I would look for if I were choosing a trainer for my own dog.

Because at the end of the day, you’re not really hiring someone to teach your dog a few commands.

You’re hiring someone to help you build a better relationship with your dog.

And that’s worth looking beyond the price tag.