Certifications - What Do They Mean?

Many conscientious owners looking for help with their dog are a bit perplexed by "certifications" held by many canine professionals. It's easy to see why.

Working with dogs in terms of training or behavior is mostly an unregulated industry. While many groups have been working very hard in recent years to develop better validated certifications, they do not carry any authority to mandate standardization. For this reason, you'll find "certified professionals" with widely varying backgrounds in education, experience and philosophy. It's not like hiring an electrician that you know passed a standardized test and received a license.

This doesn't mean things are bleak. It simply means that a conscientious owner will need to do a little homework before hiring someone to work with their dog. They should ask not only whether they hold any certificates, but what those certificates mean and who certified them. Find out exactly what they needed to do to get their papers. Ask about their approaches to working with dogs, and ask to see their own dog. Any reputable professional will be eager to give you straight answers and demonstrate their abilities.

Once you find someone you're comfortable working with, expect results! A good professional will meet your goals in a reasonable period of time. I always tell my clients they should see improvements right away, and that they choose the goals to pursue for their dog.