The Modern Dog Trainer Blog
3 Ways To Incorporate Your Client’s Children In Training
Involve The Whole Family In Training When working with a family and their dog, the children are always excited to help mom and dad train their dog. Parents often push the kids to the side and get frustrated when they keep interrupting. Instead of continually being...
Private Sessions Or Group Classes?
When new clients contact you, generally the first thing you will be asked about is classes you offer. Most people don't even think about private training. Knowing whether to guide your clients in the direction of classes or private sessions will help your clients...
The Humane Hierarchy Of Behavior Modification Explained
The Humane Hierarchy is a model in which training methods are ranked from leash invasive to most invasive. Dr. Susan Friedman, a well-respected and knowledgeable behavior analyst, coined this term and model. This model has been adapted by the Certification Council of...
5 Places To Hold Group Classes
If you are a dog trainer without your own private training facility, you can sometimes feel relegated to holding only private in-home sessions. However, with some creativity and planning, you can hold group classes in many different places. Public Parks Public parks...
5 Reasons To Encourage Crate Training With Clients
Crate Training Can Seem Peculiar To Clients For those unfamiliar with crate training, it can seem cruel, almost as if the dogs are being caged like zoo animals. However, as a savvy trainer, it is important to be able to explain to your clients a few reasons they...
5 Reasons To Use Rally Obedience Signs In Your Basic Level Training Classes
Rally Obedience Signs Can Be Valuable In Any Dog Training Class No need to reinvent the wheel…there is probably a rally sign for it! Rally obedience signs are not just for Rally-O training and competitions. Rally is a sport designed for handlers and dogs at all...
Preventing Play Induced Aggression At Dog Parks
Research Team Dog parks are a touchy subject for many dog trainers. While the concept of dog parks is wonderful, the implementation and reality of dog parks are challenging. Dog parks, in theory, are a great way to socialize your dog around other dogs and people off...
3 Ways to Use Active Listening with Clients
Active Listening With Clients Can Help Your Clients Go From Confused To Cooperative Being a dog trainer involves more than having a background in dog knowledge, it requires us to utilize our people skills. As much as we’d love to say “it’s all about the dogs”, in...
Do Bad Dogs Exist? Helping Your Clients Look At Their Dog Objectively
In group training classes it is common to touch base with the students on how their week went. Without missing a beat they will inform you of everything that went wrong. The dog stole the cat food, they chased the cat across the yard, or wouldn't leave the turkey poop...
3 Marketing Techniques You Can Do Today
Marketing your business can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Word of mouth is a great way to get more business, but that can take a while to grow. Marketing is the quickest way to build clientele. Most dog trainers lack a background in marketing, and may be...
Things To Consider When Determining Your Prices
Pricing services can be difficult since there are so many factors included in dog training. These factors include: customer interactions, communication skills, location and travel, education, experience, perceived value, and amount of competition in the area. Cost Of...
How To Achieve A Successful Business
So you have decided to run your own dog training business but what steps do you need to take to guarantee a successful outcome? Just like a new puppy it requires time, patience, and commitment to be up and running. 5 Steps to Building Your Dog Training Business Work...
5 Ways To Reduce A Dog’s Stress In Class
As a modern dog trainer, you've studied canine body language. You are confident in your ability to identify when a dog is experiencing stress. But now that you've identified that dog, how do you help it? Increase Distance From Dog's Stressors If space permits,...
Becoming The Best Teacher You Can Be
At the APDT Conference last week we had the pleasure of listening to Sumac Grant-Johnson's speech called Build A Better Trainer. Sumac is a wonderful dog and people trainer. She engaged the audience like few speakers were able to. Everyone was laughing and enjoying...
Things You Should Know Before Taking On Aggression Cases
There is no doubt that dog training is dangerous, but you'd be surprised by how many dog trainers are not taking the right precautions when they work with aggression cases. Michael Shikashio, President of the IAABC and outstanding certified dog trainer, hit the nail...
6 Lessons Learned From Ian Dunbar – Dog-Dog Aggression
Dr. Ian Dunbar is the founder of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). He is known as a leader in the humane training movement and is a national advocate for proper puppy socialization. We attended his talk during the APDT Conference in Hartford and...
5 Benefits to Starting An Open Enrollment Puppy Class
Open enrollment puppy classes gives clients flexibility and puppies a head start. These classes offer many benefits to all involved – the clients, the puppies, and the instructor(s). Why You Should Host An Open Enrollment Puppy Class 1) No Waiting To Start Class...
APDT Conference – Day 1
This week we are attending the APDT Conference in Hartford. As day one comes to a close, we want to share some of our favorite moments. Conference Opening Ceremony Amber Burckhalter from the APDT Board of Trustees gave a beautiful introduction and moment of silence...
5 Reasons You Should Refer A Case To Another Trainer
As a professional who takes pride in your work, it can be difficult to accept that sometimes you are in over your head. Having a network of other trusted trainers you can either consult with or make a referral to makes you a stronger trainer. There are several...
First Annual Pet Professional Guild Convention
The Pet Professional Guild Convention It was recently announced that the Pet Professional Guild, founded by Niki Tudge, will be hosting their first annual convention next year. The PPG was founded to support force-free training techniques and promote education and...
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