Making of a trainer?? - Page 1

Would  you guys  care to expound upon the things that makes a good trainer?  I ask is there a certain school or educational course work a trainer goes through? An  apprenticeship program or school of hard knocks! what does a person who is interested in training have to do to become a qualified  dog sport trainer  and then what are the things or traits that make him or her a good to great trainer! thanks  and please be serious !

To become a qualified sport dog trainer I would say you have to walk the walk, many many many times with many different dogs training under as many trainers as possible. Titling other's dogs ( for free) while they learn what to do and not to do. Experience is only gained by doing.

I would say the same with any other training venue. Walk the walk. Join the SAR team, PSA, Sch, KNPV, etc... club and keep your mind and ears open.

The things that make a trainer great are the ability to read a dog, bring the best out of the dog and instruct the many different people from all walks of life who own the dogs.

Kind of a round about answer but all very true.

PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.02

Melissa

I saw a kennel that had a trainer training program, its 3 months long and very hands on, just cannot remember which kennel.

Have to have a brain capable of understanding and observation
Have to be open minded
Have to know how to read a dog
Have to admit when you don't know what you think you know.....

Cant make up excuses for yourself or the dog or act like the dog is a human

I will refer to all trainers here, not just sport trainers.

What makes a good trainer, to me, is the experience of successes in your field of expertise. Whether you are training in schutzhund, agility, competitve obedience, or behavior modifcation, what defines succes is the ability not only to reach these goals with a dog yourself, but to also have the ability to coach others to do the same.

A good trainer is a dog's teacher, an educator of their human counterparts, a mediator, and often times, a psychologist- for the dog AND the person! A good dog trainer should possess people skills as well, or their accomplishments can go no further than the dogs themselves.

A good dog trainer can handle a problem. He/she can take a dog that is imperfect, or a handler that is imperfect, and find away to work around the teams' weaknesses so they can still attain all reasonable goals.  A good trainer does not see bloodline, or color, or breed. A good trainer sees the opportunity to learn and better themselves with every dog and owner they work with, whether that dog is their personal taste or not.

A good trainer never, EVER gives up until all humane and reasonable options have been exhausted.

It is like an athlete ................. you must have the natural ability to understand and put it into the training ........... there are "so" called trainers out there that advertise and know no more now than they did when they started many years ago ..... I have had the ability to train and work under many good handlers over the years since the mid 1980's and have benefited from it. At training I am not always talking about how my breakfast was when I have the opportunity to watch someone and learn .... if YOU want to learn at least watch and listen with your back not being turned to whoever is working a dog. In closing a good trainer listens to all suggestions whether they are from new people or dog people whom are mentors. This is a reason why I feel I have succeeded over the years and still learning in a humble way. Regards ,    Greg

A good trainer trains the person to understand how to train their dog.  A good trainer encourages questions, and takes time to give complete answers in different ways until it's fully understood.   A good trainer is willing to take the time needed to get to the next step, no matter if that takes an hour, a week, or a month, or....  A good trainer is supportive, not yelling or over powering.  A good trainer does not need to make it to the podium, but does need to be willing and capable to help the person and dog team get there.  A good trainer feels confident enough to let the person ask questions and work with others to get different ideas and points of view.  To me, that is a good trainer.....

There are many, many schools out there. I know of one, here in MO, near St. Louis, called Tom Rose Training Academy. He has a good reputation in the area. I do not know how his school compares to any others. However, I agree with the other posters and the characteristics they mention. In other words, just as any school or educational course can produce good and mediocre to bad graduates, so can dog training schools. It has a lot to do with people kills, character, and integrity. Renee

Triple Crown Training Academy in Hutto Texas has an Accredited training coarse. That means you can qualify for grants and school loans plus, the program is absolutely fantastic. The facility ia well equipped and if you don't take your own dogs they will have Plenty available. In the end when you finish, you get a piece of paper that is worth something because of how professional and extensive the program is. Good luck! And if all else fails join a club and learn as much as you can. W