Why the right dog trainer certification can make or break your approach towards improving dog behavior.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about dog training and dog behavior out there and this space is not very regulated. There are hundreds and thousands of Facebook and Reddit groups where dog parents give out sometimes false information on how to deal with a certain dog behavior or train up a dog to do basic tricks. And it’s not their fault! They might follow dog trainers on social media who use the wrong dog training methods, but have very successful marketing strategies as a means of convincing dog parents that their approach is the best approach.

This is why we created an app that connects dog parents with vetted, professional dog trainers who can help them with dog training basics and dog behavior issues. Dog trainers on Pawsitive app go through a rigorous vetting process. In this article, we share a little bit of information on how we vet trainers who are excited to join our app.

The right certification for dog training is crucial to success. Look for trainers who are KPA certified, CPDT certified and/or Fear Free certified to start.

Trainers with these certifications have completed knowledge assessments and sometimes even practical assessments to prove that they understand the effectiveness of different types of training methods and can correctly apply these methods when training your doggo. Most importantly, these certified dog trainers are able to help you learn how to train your dog. They will typically not advocate for board and train services because it’s up to the dog parent to build the right bond with their dog to get them trained. Dog training is an activity where the participation of the dog parents are crucial to dog training success!

These trainers effectively apply positive reinforcement methods.

This means that they reinforce behaviors they want to see again by rewarding your dog. They give the dog something that the dog wants so that certain behavior patterns are repeated. For example, giving them a small treat or some pets when the dog repeatedly fetches a ball.

These trainers effectively apply negative punishment methods.

This means they take away something that the dog wants so that the dog avoids repeating a certain behavior pattern. For example, when training a dog not to jump on people when they first enter the house, the dog trainer will avoid giving the dog any attention when they first step into the house. The dog does not get the attention that they crave. They then use positive reinforcement to reward the dog when it behaves calmly. If this pattern is repeated, the dog will stop jumping on people who enter the house because they are not getting any attention.

These trainers avoid using negative reinforcement and positive punishment methods.

Negative reinforcement methods involve removing something the dog dislikes to achieve a desired behavior pattern. For example, a dog trainer using this method might pinch a dog’s ear until they yelp and then place a ball in their mouth as an indicator to fetch the ball. They indicate to the dog that picking up the ball in its mouth is what will remove the pain.

Positive punishment methods can involve adding something the dog dislikes so that they stop certain behavior patterns. For example, a dog trainer using this method could apply a shock from a shock collar anytime that the dog does something ‘wrong’.

The wrong dog training methods or approach can increase the likelihood of fear-based and aggression-based responses in your dog.

Remember that the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ behaviors for a dog are just social constructs! A dog does not immediately know that something they are doing is perceived as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ to their dog parent. Dogs can feel anxious or confused when negative reinforcement or positive punishment methods are applied to their behavior patterns. This often leads to more intense feelings of fear, which could result in aggressive or destructive behavior patterns in the long run.

Want to learn more about dog care and dog nutrition?

Check out Pawsitive app to actually put theory into practice and start applying all this knowledge. The Pawsitive app helps dog parents raise happy, healthy dogs by providing community and professional support. We connect you to other dog parents and professionals. We are building a supportive dog parent community and we are better than dog social media! Stay accountable for completing wellness milestones with your dog and other dog parents, dog moms, and dog dads.