This week on "What goes on in the dog trainer's head..."
Who Cares About Titles?
Do you care if your dog has any 'dog sport' titles?
Obedience? Rally? Conformation? Lure Coursing? Agility? Scent Tracking? Dock Diving? Barn Hunting? Field Trials? Herding? Earthdog?
How about an AKC Canine Good Citizen title? (Which, by the way, is now available for training and testing for at Front Range K9, with trainer Meg Poinsett.)
In spite of all the possible dog sports and titles available to both mixed breed & purebred dogs, I've found that most dog owners have little interest in titling their dogs.
And you know what? That is OK!
While we're always happy to help our clients who are interested in taking their dog ownership to the next level, we also know that the time and money (sometimes lots of time & money!) it takes to travel to dog shows and other events are not everyone's cup of tea.
But What About Trainers with Titles on Their Dogs?
Ok, so maybe you don't care if your own dog wins any ribbons or trophies or titles...but do you care if your Dog Trainer has titles on his or her dogs?
You should.
Why? Well, for several reasons:
1. Trainers who title their dogs have shown an ability to train a dog to a certain level of proficiency.
Did you know? There is no single certifying or governing body over the dog training industry. Anyone can hang out a sign, and call themselves a professional dog trainer.
Because of this lack of industry metrics, its impossible to know if your trainer can train to a non-subjective, measurable standard.
Unless...
They can take their dogs through the necessary training to compete for - and earn - titles.
Titles say that a trainer has put in the necessary hours, research, training time, and effort to reach a definable objective with their dog.
Titles say they have set a goal and reached it.
Wouldn't you want that person on your side in your dog training experience?
2. Titles say your dog trainer really IS 'the crazy dog lady' or 'crazy dog guy'.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record - titling a dog in most sports takes a lot of time. And effort. And often a lot money - in the form of entry fees, travel expenses, and even training resources - like classes with other trainers and experts in various fields of canine behavior.
All of this time and effort and money adds up to one thing: Dedication.
People who compete in dog sports are used to getting up at the crack of dawn, schlepping crates and leashes and bowls and other equipment many miles to their destinations...spending hours waiting for their 30 seconds to 10 minutes or so of actual competition time, and then schlepping home - hopefully with a few ribbons and points earned towards their next goal.
They meet others who are just as dog-crazy as they are along the way, and develop friendships and relationships that span decades - often working with each other to hone specific training skills, or problem-solve through issues to get over hurdles on their own dogs' training journeys.
They spend countless hours in continuing education seminars, talking to other trainers online and in person, always seeking a better way to train - a way to better, happier, more balanced dogs.
Again, I ask: Wouldn't you want THIS trainer on your side for your own dog training journey?
So, even if you're not necessarily into the whole 'competition' thing for your own pooch, I believe it is wise to consider carefully whether the trainer(s) you work with have some sort of titles to back up their own body of work with dogs.
All that 'alphabet soup' of letters before and after a dog's name actually means something!
Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director of Front Range K9 Academy. She can be reached at k9counselor.com
