Dog Training Puerto Rico – How to Find and Hire a Competent Dog Trainer

Are you searching for a dog trainer? For dog training Puerto Rico, Terrie Hayward (PAW-Positive Animal Wellness, LLC) is currently the only trainer on island that has the industry recognized credentials and qualifications of CPDT-KA, IAABC,  KPA-CTP, and CSAT.

For your dog training here in Puerto Rico, you can be confident that Terrie has had to pass rigorous practical and knowledge based testing demonstrating her capabilities and is highly credible.

Unfortunately, dog training in Puerto Rico and the United States is currently an unregulated field. As such, for the best outcomes, you want to be certain to make an informed decision about who makes an effective dog-training candidate for your pup and household.

Specifically, you want to ensure that you work with a professional who uses positive reinforcement and is educated in training methods that are based in science. When choosing a dog trainer in Puerto Rico it is important to do your research to avoid being misled by the latest buzzwords or fancy sounding terminology.

Your pet training specialist should be professional and proficient at working with animals as well as people in a considerate and compassionate manner. Sadly, sometimes people view dog training as an afterthought and overlook the importance of it for the health and well being of the pet.

Dog Training Puerto Rico – Identifying a Trainer

As mentioned above, dog training in Puerto Rico and elsewhere is a largely unregulated field. Finding the right trainer to partner with for the wellbeing and happiness of your dog is an extremely important decision.

A couple of the most well-known and respected dog training programs are The Academy of Dog Trainers and the Karen Pryor Academy. You should ask your potential trainer about their professional background and determine if they have certifications demonstrating that they have passed both the knowledge based and practical standards.

Moreover, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers is a professional organization and independent certification body. For a dog trainer in Puerto Rico or the States to be certified by them they must pass a rigorous evaluation exam. Typically, trainers with who have met the requirements will use the designation: Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).

The requirements for CPDT-KA include upwards of 300 hours of dog training experiences as a lead teacher, passing a 250 question exam covering instructor skills, ethology, husbandry, learning theory, and training equipment, and re-certification every three years via a re-test or 36 qualifying continuing educational credits.

Dog trainers in Puerto Rico with the type of accreditation mentioned above, will welcome your questions. Specifically, you want to ask any potential trainer you work with what type of training they would employ. Reward based trainers may have several positive approaches and/or suggestions to modify a behavior, however will always seek to reinforce behaviors that they like while ignoring those that they don’t wish to see continue.

Professional trainers will look to instruct dog families on alternative or incompatible behaviors with those that they don’t wish to see continue and will use treats, play, affection, and attention to reinforce behavior that they want dogs to repeat.

Your trainer should recognize that relationships for both people and animals are built upon trust and as such should utilize modern, scientific methods to train and interact.

Locate reward-based trainers who use positive reinforcement. For the health and benefit of your dog stay clear of people who may be “balanced” or correction based. The “pack leader” mentality and use of force is outdated and not based in science. Your dog trainer should be proactive vs. reactive, utilizing positive reinforcement, and working to teach and educate animals and their caregivers.

Lastly, any dog trainer here in Puerto Rico that you are interested in hiring should welcome your request to observe an individual training session or class. You want to watch and ensure that the trainer is interacting professionally and positively with both their canine and human clients.

Be sure that the trainer is a good communicator with the dogs and the people they are working with and that they are available for questions and individual assistance as needed. The dog-training instructor should be supportive and encouraging and have a genuine interest in what they are doing.

Overall, teaming up with a professional dog trainer here in Puerto Rico is a great way to get started on the right “paw!”

For further information contact Terrie Hayward at PAW positiveanimalwellness.com today!

Checkout this awesome video of Jax (deaf dog) being trained…