Did you see any or were shown any certificates
of training, first aid, etc.
Do you know why the consultant wants to deal
with aggressive dogs?
Did the consultant take the dog’s breed
into account? Certain breeds have characteristics
that may be modified but certainly can’t
be removed.
Did the consultant take your personality and
your dog’s personality into account? This
is an important factor in your relationship, and
could affect your dog depending on the nature
its aggression.
Did the consultant ask questions about the dog’s
past? He/she should ask about the type of aggression
exhibited; about his early days and surroundings
such as the pound or the breeder’s house,
etc.. If there were early socialization issues,
this will make a huge impact on the dog’s
behavior. A consultant should also be interested
in how you have handled the dog in the past, and
how you have responded to problems.
Did he/she discuss different kinds of aggression
with you: A dog that bites because it is frightened
requires a different treatment program than a
dog that bites because it is dominant or territorial.
Did the consultant take medical history into
account? Did the consultant volunteer that certain
medical problems such as: under-active thyroid,
brain tumor, age, arthritis, drugs the dog may
be on – (see health
issues), etc. can cause aggression problems?
Did he/she suggest the dog undergo a checkup
with a vet to rule out anything that could be
causing his aggression?
When talking to the consultant, did you get
a sense that profits come before ethics? Did the
consultant show a genuine love and respect for
dogs?
Did he/she name drop, whether talking about
television shows he/she’s been on or names
of stars whose dogs he’s worked with? While
there is nothing wrong with this, note if it is
front and center on his/her site, or within his
conversation. You are considering using the consultant
as a dog consultant, not as someone who has rubbed
shoulders with the rich and famous.
Did the consultant talk about how important
your role is in the training and what it includes?
Did he/she give you a realistic view of the
kind of work that you will need to do?
Did the consultant have books or videos available?
Are the books or videos centered around the
training or the consultant? Beware of being “entertained”.
You don’t want to be “sold” and
sidetracked from the purpose of training.
Did the consultant discuss his/her own problems
with his clients? This again indicates a lot about
the kind of person the consultant is. While there
are many owners who will not follow the program
suggested, or create more problems for their dogs,
it also indicates as much about the kind of conflict
the consultant gets into. While bringing up personal
problems once in a while is okay, hearing about
them over and over is unprofessional.
How did the consultant talk about other people
such as owners, dog consultants and veterinarians?
You should get an idea of the consultant’s
character by your personal interactions with the
consultant, and by observing his behavior in his
or her Internet group. Someone who needs to build
the his or herself up by knocking others down
is probably insecure about his or her own methods
and should be avoided.
If you take your dog with you to the initial
consultation, observe his/her reactions. Is he
leery of the consultant? Did he/she act differently
towards the consultant in comparison to other
people he has met? Dogs are very perceptive and
this should be taken into account when deciding
whether or not you want to leave your pet with
the consultant. Note: dogs will often appear to
be better behaved in the presence of the consultant.
This is often because there is no known history
and the dog is uncertain of what he can get away
with. Don’t let this be a factor. It does
not mean the consultant is particularly equipped
or talented.
Look into the kinds of methods the trainer or
consultant claims to use. Do other expert have
problems with their methods? Beaware of anyone
who claims to use unique methods. Research their
ideas on learning theories, their thoughts on
aggression (why and how it develops), how they
assess your dog, etc.
Did the consultant have a place on the Internet,
such as an egroup where he and his clients can
chat? If so, ask to be placed on the list so you
can not only talk to people who have had their
dogs trained by this person, but you can also
look at the archived messages. Don’t be afraid
to ask questions both in public and privately.
A legitimate consultant will welcome questions.
If you become part of his/her Internet group,
does he/she talk about him or herself more than
dogs / training?
After you have asked the consultant which cities
he’s trained in, contact the local humane
societies to see if there are any complaints about
the consultant/school on record. Check with:
the Better
Business Bureau – be sure to look
up the registered business name as well. Some
people use other names that are not registered.
However the BBB
only keeps records for three years. It is
possible that the business you are dealing
with operates under a different name which
the BBB
may have no record of. Keep in mind that you
are also depending on people complaining to
the BBB
as well. Unfortunately many people feel too
embarrassed or humiliated to follow up action.
The police if it’s a board & train
facility.
Other industry people (such as vets, obedience
consultants, kennels, etc.) who may know of
the person.
Other dog training egroups – invite
people to contact you privately
Find out how well they know the person, and
what they know of their methods.
Any association the consultant may have
claimed to be a member of, and then research
what the ethics and standards are to become
a member
Check out the credentials the consultant provides.
Do any of the organizations he/she mentioned
know the consultant?
Will they provide any information about
the consultant?
K9aggression.com is committed
to making a positive difference in the
lives of aggressive dogs, their owners
and those around them. By providing education,
inspiration and support through online
communication we hope to promote responsibility,
action, and understanding.
