What are some red flags to look out for when hiring a dog trainer for off-leash training?
5 Red flags:
🚩 They say they can provide you with a specific goal after x amount of time, especially before meeting or working with your dog. Dogs are individuals and much like us, they learn at different paces, especially if they’ve already had past experiences, good or bad.
🚩 They say you need a specific tool, especially if they’re the ones selling it. When it comes to recall, really the only main tool you need is an amazing and wonderful bond with your dog. No other tool will make your dog ACTUALLY want to come to you. Even treats, unless they are being used AFTER the dog has come to you, then they are being used as a lure/bribe, making it so if you’re without treats you risk having your dog not be able to come to you. Use treats, but don’t forget that YOU are the best treat too.
🚩 They say you need to start in a specific place or location without knowing your dog. Recall with dogs begins indoors, in your home. Unless you already have perfect recall there, you’re likely not yet ready to practice it elsewhere unless you have also begun practicing it with the door slightly open, with the door fully open, with the door open and people right outside, with dogs outside etc.
🚩 They try to provide you with reasons based on your dog’s breed or age, to justify why your dog’s struggling. Usually, dogs will struggle with recall due to the environment they’re not ready for/difficult expectations and/or a lack of a strong enough bond with their pet parent.
🚩 They ask you little to no information about how your dog does not only when it comes to recall but other behaviours as well, what they get to do for enrichment and your relationship with your dog as a whole.