Judging the Merit of Dog Advice

One thing that strikes me time and time again, is the broad range of opinions regarding how dogs learn, think, behave, etc. I believe this is because dogs DO have a language different than our own, and anyone is free to offer their interpretation of that language. This leads to a tremendous diversity of "dog advice", often offered in very polarized ways. With such a growing mountain of conflicting information about dogs, how can the average pet owner find best advice?

During my years as a dog trainer, I find truths tend to float above the fray. While my "truths" may not be the same as another person's "truths", here are a few thoughts I would offer for consideration . . .

1) Good trainers are busy! Because I think public education is important, I (along with many other trainers) do take time to author regular articles. However, busy trainers don't have time to argue or entertain lengthy debates online. If information is from persons that post or comment everywhere, visit forums or social sites daily, or seem to be online a great deal - how much time can they spend actually working with dogs? Opinions are fine, but experience matters.

2) Good trainers see more dogs in a week than most owners will live with in a lifetime. If you're reading information online regarding dogs, consider this! Many owners offer comments and advice based on their limited experience with a handful of dogs during their lifetime. Some trainers see small numbers of dogs. Those working with hundreds of dogs annually can offer a much broader and informed perspective. What depth of experience does the person giving advice actually have?

3) Good trainers have diverse methods. No single approach, tool, or method, will work for every dog and in every case. If someone is an extremist regarding a particular tool or method (and there are a lot of folks who are), what does that say about their open-mindedness? Student first, then teacher! Zealots are poor students, and they're worse teachers.

4) Good trainers respect the limits of their knowledge and experience. I'll be the first to admit that there are some dogs I can't help, or some owners for which my services are not a good match. I'm personally very cautious around anyone who believes they have a lock on knowledge. The older I get, the more I appreciate how much there is to learn. Knowledge, experience, balance - these things come with time and perspective.

5) Good trainers are realists. I would never presume to offer advice about fixing an internal combustion engine, even though I've taken a few apart over the years. Why are there so many offering advice about dog training that really don't do much of it? There is a huge chasm between theory and practice in my experience. While many things may seem logical to humans talking in a room, things don't always play out as expected when it's time to get to work. Training a dog is a skill set for an owner, and obedience is a skill set for a dog. Developing those skills involves hands-on work, not theory.

Have a happy dog day!