What Do Dog Trainers Do in a Typical Work Day?

Significance

• There is a very high demand for good dog trainers, because so many dog owners are completely in the dark when it comes to understanding the right way to co-exist with a canine. Without proper training, dogs will try to take over the household as the "pack leader." This is when problems can begin with destructive behavior and sometimes even aggression. So the role of the dog trainer is very significant. Owners who cannot control their dogs sometimes choose to simply get rid of them. And that can result in a very sad ending for a dog who is the victim. The dog trainer begins his job first by realizing that he must train the owner, as well as training the canine.

Types

• There are a number of different types of dog training. The list, in fact, can be fairly long. The owner must first decide what type of training she wants. Most dog trainers focus primarily on basic obedience, because this is what the larger part of the population is looking for. But other options include advanced obedience (for competition), protection training, agility, and even Search and Rescue. A well rounded dog trainer should be able to provide all of these types of training to a dog owner. Or, he should be able to refer her to someone who can take on the more advanced phases of training.

Time Frame

• Teaching basic obedience, which is the most common request from owners, is all about repetition. The best dog trainers will insist that the dog be taken away from the owner for a minimum of 7 days, and boarded in the training facility. This way the trainer can see exactly what is going on with the animal, without the distraction from the rest of the family. Sometimes 7 days is not enough, and the trainer must inform the owner that the dog needs to stay longer. The trainer must spend some time consulting with the owner and meeting the dog (at least an hour) so she can see what is going on, and assure the owner that this "boot camp" type of training brings the best results. This is where good communication skills come in for the trainer.

Work Schedule

• The hours and work for the dog trainer are demanding when training at a facility. He is responsible for feeding, basic care and, of course, the obedience training so it is a never ending job until the dog goes home. Usually the first day or so is spent getting to know the dog and "making friends." A trainer cannot accomplish much if he does not gain the animal's trust. Sometimes this can take several days if the dog has trust issues. During this time, the trainer is not trying to teach any commands--he just wants the dog to bond with him. Outside of the basic feeding, walking and play time the trainer is spending quality time with the animal. So this usually calls for four to five "sessions" a day with the dog. Sessions should be between 10 to 20 minutes long. At this point it is about petting, feeding treats and getting close to the dog. This takes patience, but with this kind of repetition, the end result is very positive.

Actual Training

• The time and commitment does not change when the trainer moves on to actual obedience commands. This still involves four to five sessions a day of training, plus the basic care and feeding of the animal.
  
  The best time to start teaching commands is in the morning, before the dog is fed. This way the animal is hungry, and will respond to the treats that are offered for a reward. Any type of treat can be used. But the most highly recommended are hot dogs, sliced to about the width of a nickel. The trainer puts the sliced hot dogs in a zip lock bag, then carries them in a fanny pack around her waist.
  
  The first command is "sit," with calm focused attention. This is done by using the treat to get the dog's nose pointed up towards the trainer, then gently pushing his rear end down. Calm, focused attention means the dog is looking up calmly at the trainer, without moving out of position until he is told. That is done with the release command: "okay!" With this, the trainer uses a very happy voice and puts her arms up in the air.
  This command usually takes a day or so to master, because it is the most natural position for a dog. Once the dog has this down, the trainer moves onto the "down" command, which is the most difficult. She will coax the dog into the down from the sit position with the treat, gently pushing between the dog's shoulder blades. Sometimes this takes two to three days of sessions with this command, because some dogs simply do not like it. That's because it is a submissive position. Again, the dog is taught not to leave the position until the trainer gives him the release: "okay!"
  
  After the dog has mastered the sit with focused attention, and the down command, the trainer moves on to teaching the animal how to walk nicely on the leash without pulling. This is done by using a slip chain or a prong collar, and giving the dog a firm "pop" with the leash when he begins to pull. The verbal command for this is "easy." If the trainer changes direction, so should the dog, without any resistance or pulling. Training high energy dogs to do this can be tedious, and could take a number of sessions and days. The trainer needs to keep herself in good physical condition, because handling the larger dogs that pull puts a strain on the upper body.
  The same technique is used to teach the dog not to jump up on people. This is when the trainer needs to bring in another person. That person will call to the dog, and as he runs and attempts to jump up she gives the collar a firm "pop" and says very firmly: "off!"
  
  All of the above commands should be practiced during every session, every day the dog is in training. The repetition is key to the whole training process.
  During this time, communication with the owner is also very important. Training the owner is more difficult than training the dog! So the discussions with them on a daily basis about their dog's progress, and any problems, will help when it is time to put the pet and the owner back together. The trainer should not allow the owner to visit the dog during this "boot camp" training. That would confuse the animal, and set back the training process for a number of days.

Results

• When the trainer feels that the dog is ready to go home, he should schedule at least an hour long session with the owner to explain the training, and then show what the dog has learned. The key here is to be sure the owner transfers the training back into the dog's home environment. The trainer must be very direct about this, and be certain the owner has a complete understanding of what she needs to do from here. Followups by phone are very important, on a weekly basis, to be sure the dog is settling in at home and still obeying his commands.
  The trainer should also be willing to visit the owner's home, if he is unable to get the dog to "transfer" what it has learned into the home environment. Usually this is the fault of the owner. And the trainer should handle this kindly, but firmly, so the ultimate goal can be achieved: a calm, peaceful and happy existence in the home between human and canine.