Train Your Dog The Right Way!

A well-behaved dog is welcome almost anywhere. Dogs who pull, jump, twirl, and chew things they shouldn't generally aren't invited to many parties.

There are many dog training schools and classes available in the Atlanta area. Some people who are experiencing behavioral issues with their dogs want quick fixes. They want to send their dog away to "boot camp" for two weeks, and have a different dog come back. They watch "training" television shows and try to implement what they see on television, often with ineffective, and sometimes disastrous, results. They don't want to hear what many trainers and animal welfare professionals now know - those old, aggressive, dominant methods of training don't work, and actually cause a dog to have more behavioral issues than he or she started with.

Several researchers have concluded that among "dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, ... most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified." In other words, aggression in, aggression out.  So what counts as aggression? Those old-school methods of jerking, hanging and shocking should easily come to mind as aggression. But what else should be classified as aggressive training? Isn't that alpha roll a good technique? NO! Bullying a dog in any form is considered aggressive, and will make your aggressive dog meaner and your shy dog shyer. The most effective and long-lasting training methods take time, patience and positive reinforcement.
 
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers encourages dog owners to spend time research local trainers and training methods before signing up for a class. First and foremost, be sure the trainer is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), the most extensive and widely recognized certification in the United States for dog trainers. If your trainer isn't certified, he or she might not be familiar with the most up-to-date dog behavior research and training methods. Always ask for references from former clients, and read online reviews of both the individual trainer and the training facility. Check out the APDT recommendations for selecting a trainer on their website.

You owe it to your dog to learn the most up-to-date training methods, and find a trainer who can teach them to you. You wouldn't try to do surgery on yourself after watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy, right? So, why try to train your dog after watching someone playing a trainer on television.

** AARF Pet Central offers training classes in conjunction with Paws-a-tive Results Dog Training at their community pet center in Stone Mountain. All classes are taught by a certified trainer using only proven, positive methods. For a class schedule and enrollment information, visit the AARF Pet Central website.

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