Referrals and Resources
there’s help available for you and your dog.
Canine behavior can be difficult to understand, upsetting, distressing for carers and dogs, and even dangerous.
If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior, or are looking for another service that I do not offer, this page is for you!
This page contains links to help you find a qualified, competent trainer or service that will meet your needs.
Sorry, I have to give you some bad news first.
Dog training and dog behavior consulting is an unregulated industry in the United States. There are no educational requirements to become a dog trainer or behavior consultant. That means that literally anyone can put up a website, call themselves a dog behavior expert, and take money from the public for their services. This state of affairs means that trainers and behavior consultants can use methods that rely upon the use of force, pain or discomfort, electric shock, or the suppression of behavior through fear or intimidation. It also means that trainers and behavior consultants can use methods that are not based in the science of behavior change. Currently, this is all perfectly legal.
Sadly, this state of affairs can result in training that can make problem behaviors worse, including producing or worsening aggression or fear.
It’s up to you to protect your dog and ask careful questions of anyone you may consider hiring to provide care or behavioral support for your dog.
“How to Choose a Dog Trainer” by Zazie Todd of Companion Animal Psychology may be a useful resource for you.
About the links below
I am not responsible for the accuracy, usefulness, or completeness of content on other sites. While I’m doing my very best to point you in the right direction, please do your own homework when hiring a trainer or behavior consultant.
The following organizations maintain directories of trainers and behavior consultants. These organizations attempt to hold members accountable, in one way or another, for competency and ethics in humane evidence-based training and behavior consulting.
If I were looking for a trainer for my own dog, I’d start here.