If you Google “DIY”, you will find 361,000,000 references for people looking to “do-it-themselves”. 13,200,00 of these references are for “DIY dog training”. How do you know if you should go the DIY route or if you should leave the training to a professional? Like most things in life, you have to weigh the options and do what’s right for you.
DIY dog training – Pros
DIY training is done completely by you through intuition, prior experience, or help from existing media sources. You create the curriculum. This means that you can train the behaviors that are on your “must have” list and ignore those that are not as important to you. Finding enough hours in the day to accomplish everything on your TO DO list is a daunting task for most of us. With DIY, training fits into your schedule. Training is a great way to bond with your dog. And of course, it’s free.
DIY dog training – Cons
The downside is that you can unintentionally train behaviors that you don’t want just as easily as you can train the ones you do. Many owners have a difficult time overcoming the emotional attachment. They don’t want to attempt training because they are afraid their dog will no longer like them. If you are not skilled in dog training you’re likely to accept behavior that is less than ideal. Finally, the time and energy required to train your own dog is frequently more than the owners are able to invest.
Professional dog training – pros
A professional dog trainer is experienced in training the breed of dog to do the behaviors desired by the client (you). Training with a professional trainer offers a variety of solutions. Many professional trainers have your dog come to their training facility to live while they are being trained. This provides the opportunity to train the dog multiple times per day. Frequently these trainers have equipment or locations that would not be available to most people. For example, a professional trainer teaching a retriever to hunt would have many acres of land with ponds or lakes, boats to train from, and specialized equipment to train with.
Another training option offered by many professional trainers is day training. The dog comes to the training facility for the day and receives training. At many facilities, you can drop off your dog on the way to work for training, grooming and other services then pick him up on the way home. It’s about the same as dropping your child off at school for the day. (Yes, sometimes there is homework.)
Private lessons are another option for many dog owners. In a private lesson, training can be tailored specifically to your needs. This may include a choice of training at the facility or in your own home. Private lessons are a great solution if you have multiple dogs, specific training needs, or dogs that don’t focus well in group settings.
By far the most popular option for professional training is a group class. Classes, conducted at a training facility, generally have between 6 and 15 owners and dogs learning in a group environment. The curriculum for group classes is not as flexible as other training options.
In general, a professional trainer can normally train a finished behavior faster and to a higher degree of proficiency in a shorter time than the owners’ are able to do. Professional trainers are consistent so unwanted behaviors are rarely a result of this type of training.
Professional dog training – cons
Professional training may be costly when compared to DIY. You must locate a trainer who is an expert in training the behaviors that you want while maintaining the philosophy that you deem acceptable. For specialized training, your dog may have to live away from home for a period of time.
Whether you choose DIY or a professional trainer, the important thing is to be sure to match the training methods used to your philosophy of life. You and your dog will both be happier.
