Pet tips

Our staff behaviorist was recently interviewed about "choosing a dog trainer.” Used to be people didn’t mind a disobedient dog as much; dogs who were mostly in the yard didn’t need to know "stay” or "leave it.” Today, more dogs have become part of the family, sharing their owners’ homes, cars, even beds! Problematic behaviors are, well, more problematic and there’s no shortage of people offering private lessons. The business of private dog training is largely unregulated. Someone can apply for a business license without needing to demonstrate any knowledge of dog breeds, dog-handling skills, pet first-aid, etc. Unfortunately, PHS/SPCA can’t make it easy and simply give you a few names and numbers. To provide that kind of humane society stamp of approval would mean we would have to fully evaluate all the trainers out there. And with limited resources and lots of stray dogs here who need our help, we must focus on our mission. But, we can offer tips. Don’t judge a trainer by his or her Web site. A Web site can tell you if they can write and design, two skills your dog won’t need. If you’re considering a trainer, ask about their philosophy. Do they use positive-reinforcement or are they fans of shock collars? Ask where they received training and ask for references. Do they make unrealistic-sounding guarantees over the phone without ever meeting your dog? Are they insured? Have they been certified by a recognized group or association? Ask people at your dog park who they’ve used. Check out sites like Yelp.com which allow people to post reviews. Lastly, don’t rule out group classes, like those offered indoors at PHS/SPCA. Your dog will need to respond to you when faced with distractions. A group class presents plenty and is lots of fun.