Q&A with Training Experts: A Happier, Safer Dog Starts Here

Training is a crucial aspect of owning a dog. Taking the time to train your good manners, safe behaviours, and smart habits will lead to a happier dog and a healthier bond with each other.

Every dog deserves the chance to thrive, and training plays a huge role in building a happy, safe, and confident life for both dogs and their people.

To help you better understand the modern world of dog training, we invited several certified trainers and behaviour consultants to answer common questions about their approach, methods, and advice for dog owners.

The goal? To offer you a range of expert perspectives so you can make informed, confident decisions for your dog.

Meet the Experts

We’ve gathered insights from a group of incredible trainers and behaviour consultants who share a common goal: helping dogs and their people build stronger, happier relationships. Each expert brings a unique combination of certifications, experience, and personal passion for animal welfare.

Get to know the voices behind this Q&A, their areas of expertise, and where you can follow their work.

Emily da Mata-Wiens | CDBC, CBATI-KA, FFCP, CTDI

Cosmic Companions Dog Training

Emily da Mata-Wiens is a multi-certified trainer and has been training professionally for 4 years. and has recently started her own training company called Cosmic Companions Dog Training in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Emily's certifications currently include: Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant with the IAABC, Fear Free Certified Professional, Certified BAT Instructor (Knowledge-Assessed), and she is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor with DMWYD!.

She is completing a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in psychology and is aiming to enter a Master's program focusing on canine behaviour to continue furthering her education. Her biggest passion is making sure dogs are heard and listened to.

Emily's experience with dogs has included a variety of behaviours, but her focuses are anxiety and reactivity. Her furry companion that faces the logo of her business is Nova. To keep up with Emily's training side, you can follow @cosmiccompanionstraining on Instagram or @thesuperspitzes for fans of Nova.

Christina Chandler | B.A., Psychology, IACP-CDT, CYNX-L

Align Canine Training INC

Christina has been working professionally with dogs for nearly two decades and is the founder of Align Canine Training Inc. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Her experience spans everything from shelter work to advanced K9 training.

Recently, she’s specialized in behaviour modification, blending her psychology degree and dog training experience to help both dogs and humans succeed.

Govind Pillai | CDBC

Naughty Boyz Dog Training Inc.

Govind is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant with 15+ years of experience. Based in Alberta, he runs Naughty Boyz Dog Training Inc., focusing on rehabilitation of complex behavioural issues like fear, resource guarding, and separation anxiety using force-free methods.

Kris Hampton | CTC, CPDT-KA & Rhiannon Van Lidth de Jeude Roemer | KPA-CTP

Raintown Dog Training

Kris Hampton, founder and CEO of Raintown Dog Training, a Vancouver-based dog training company made up of six dedicated and enthusiastic dog experts. Kris is a multi-certified dog trainer and counsellor who proudly graduated with honours from the renowned Academy for Dog Trainers, led by Jean Donaldson.

Rhiannon Van Lidth De Jeude Roemer is a senior trainer at Raintown and a proud graduate of the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy.
 
Raintown’s mission is to build community, improve canine welfare, and debunk common dog myths through education and coaching. Their well-known group classes and private training sessions are consistently ranked among the city's best, so be sure to drop in for a series if you’re in town!

Psst…they’re opening a dog walking branch this fall, so keep your eyes peeled for more news!

Want to reach out to any of these experts for more info? Check out our resources below.

Dog Training Q&A with the Experts

We asked our expert trainers to answer some of the most common questions pet owners have about dog training. From building a personalized training plan to troubleshooting progress, these answers offer real-world guidance based on professional experience.

Every trainer’s approach is a little different, giving you a broad perspective on what compassionate, effective dog training looks like in practice.

Building a Dog Training Plan

Effective training starts with understanding. In this section, trainers explain how they assess both the dog and the human, identify key behavioural concerns, and ensure their methods stay grounded in current scientific knowledge.

1. When you first meet a new dog and their owner, what factors do you consider when creating a training plan?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

When I first meet a new dog and their owner, there are a ton of factors to consider when creating a training plan. Generally, I always look for what the primary concern is from the owner. Is the dog anxious in the home, barking at dogs on walks, counter-surfing?

I always try to identify what the human’s concern is, and that helps guide my next steps. From there, I will look for any underlying health or pain concerns that could be contributing to the behaviour, and then analyze the behaviour to identify what is currently reinforcing it and what the function of the behaviour is.

Christina Chandler:

Meeting a new client typically involves a conversation with an informal questionnaire that includes past history (medical, behavioural, previous living situations, etc.), any training that the current home has already attempted with the dog, and a detailed description of everything that they want to work on.

I encourage my clients to prioritize the things that they are struggling with the most; I ask them, "If I had a magic wand and could instantly resolve one or two things, what would you get me to fix?". This answer does not have to be the same for everyone in the family, and it's both a good gauge of the issues they're struggling with, as well as how cohesively the entire family is regarding the perceived challenges they're facing.

Behaviour modification cases are evaluated for potential medical issues; I watch for indications of potential neurological problems, evaluate the dog's gait and movement, and have the owners apply light pressure along the dog's spine and over their hips to see if there are any reactions from the dog that may indicate sensitive areas.

I explain that I am not a vet, but that we want to be fair to the dog and, in order to do that, we need to rule out physiological issues as much as possible before proceeding with training applications. If there is anything that stands out, I recommend that the clients try a "pain trial" (typically a short-term course of anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by their veterinarian) before we go any further.

If a dog shows obvious indications of illness, I might also ask for a bloodwork panel before proceeding with the modification.

Govind Pillai:

Prior to engaging with a family, it is important to gather information about the family unit, their dog, and the experiences they’re having together. Sometimes further investigation can be done via phone consultation, intake forms, and/or during the first session.

There are a myriad of factors to consider for any behaviour case, but the humans and the dogs are top priority. The needs and desires of the humans are equally as important as the needs and desires of the dog.

Once we understand the holistic goals of the family, the assessment begins. Information gathered from the family is a crucial part of the overall picture, along with our professional assessment of the situation through an objective lens.

The assessment can be robust and aims to better understand the dog’s emotional response in a variety of situations. It’s easy to focus solely on individual behaviours of the dog, but our work starts at an emotional level. Understanding a dog’s emotional response in a variety of situations gives a better understanding of their experience of life and ultimately leads to the actual source of the problem, rather than a symptom of the problem.

Rhiannon Van Lidth de Jeude Roemer:

During an initial consultation, it is our job as trainers to assess the client’s capacity for training as well as the risk factors involved in the case. A retired dog enthusiast looking to teach her puppy new tricks may be thrilled to receive a detailed training plan, while a busy couple whose dog won’t stop barking may do better with management strategies and simple routine changes.

A stranger-aggression case should be handled with much more caution and slower-paced training progression than a leash-pulling case. As trainers, we always meet the clients (both canine and human!) where they are at, and assess the situation before jumping in to begin working.

Summary

The commonality here is that it's important for trainers to take a highly individualized approach, beginning with a thorough assessment of the dog’s behaviour, health, and environment, as well as the owner's goals and capacity. Each expert stressed the importance of meeting both the dog and human where they are, ensuring the plan is realistic and safe.

2. How do you ensure your training methods are informed by current science?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

My certifications require that I complete a certain number of CEUs (Continuing Education Units) in order to renew my certification. The certifying bodies also verify that any content is eligible to receive CEUs, so I have to take courses and webinars every year in order to renew. I am constantly having to stay up to date!

This is also a process that careers like nursing, teaching, and social work have to do, so CEUs aren’t limited to the dog training world. I also listen to the position statements of major bodies that work with animals, such as the IAABC and AVSAB.

Since my post-secondary education has a large focus on research, I am also very well-versed in finding and reading peer-reviewed articles. I like to stay up to date on any new research that pops up, even once my CEUs for the year are all done.

Christina Chandler:

I have an educational background in psychology, and keep up on current research studies, including ensuring the determination of a study's financial supporters and potential conflicts of interest inherent in the studies. My academic history is particularly useful in weeding out studies wherein the results have been displayed in such a way so as to present a biased conclusion.

For example, one more recent study on the use of prong and e-collars admitted in the "fine print" that they had no idea what level of behavioural challenges the dogs in the "aversive" category were experiencing prior to the study and that results may have been skewed by significant variation between the study groups.

I also work hard to ensure that my review of such materials is not informed by emotional reactions to perceived situations, instead choosing to focus on how a dog would perceive something rather than the way that a human would, and remind myself frequently that correlation does not equal causation.

Govind Pillai:

I keep up to date by attending conferences, reading, watching seminars/webinars, collaborating with colleagues, and participating in workshops with trusted positive reinforcement trainers. Further, to maintain my certification through my professional body, I meet and exceed the minimum number of continuing education credits.

Kris Hampton, CTC, CPDT-KA:

At Raintown, we hold some of the world’s leading dog training certifications backed by science-based practitioners, and we stay current by taking courses, watching webinars, reading the latest research and books, and regularly collaborating with other experts in the field.

Summary

It's clear that continuing education, keeping up to date with research, and connecting with industry colleagues and leaders is a shared goal for all the trainers. While their methods for staying up-to-date vary, they share a commitment to critical thinking, ethical standards, and an evidence-based foundation.

Supporting The Dog Training Journey

Training isn’t just for dogs—it’s just as much about the humans involved. This section explores how trainers coach pet owners, build partnerships, and offer encouragement when progress feels overwhelming.

3. How do you approach the balance between training the dog and coaching the human?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

Most of my training is actually training the human, not the dog. I need the owners to feel confident that they can follow through for the training plan to be most effective, so while I might demonstrate skills as needed so they can see what it looks like, my goal is really for an owner to be able to do it themselves.

I do focus a lot on encouraging my human clients to start to become very fluent in reading dog body language, since it’s such a key aspect of being an effective partner for your dog. From there, a lot of training is just a matter of mechanics. Once an owner is practicing on their own, having them send me videos is helpful so I can point out where a reward marker might have been effective or body language signs that suggest we should’ve moved away sooner, for example.

Effective partnership requires effective communication going both ways, but it does not require compulsion or robotic obedience. As humans, we hold all the power. I really encourage my clients to let their dogs say no, make choices, and have some say in the training they participate in.

Being an effective partner to a dog means relinquishing some power, which can be scary and overwhelming, but it is absolutely necessary in order to become an effective partner to your dog... and no, it does not mean an ineffective training plan or a dog that "runs the roost"!

Christina Chandler:

I don't train dogs at this point in my career so much as I train people, so to speak. I've been doing this job for ~18 years, and what I've discovered is that the training is much more likely to stick if I help the people to understand the "why" behind everything we're doing, instead of doing it myself and then giving them "homework".

I would say that 95% of my work is with the humans, who then work with their dogs. The other 5% is me demonstrating some of the concepts so that the human aspect feels more comfortable and confident applying the knowledge.

Govind Pillai:

Typically, when families contact us, they have already tried different strategies and are still struggling with challenging behaviours. We help put the pieces together and help families better understand their dog and their dog’s experience. Once our families understand why the behaviour is happening, we quickly move to showing them exactly how to resolve the issue.

Families are also encouraged to ask questions and record our sessions. We are proud of the effective force free technique we teach and feel comfortable being recorded and promoting transparency in this industry. When training, we narrate what we are doing and why. It is common to hear our families say, “That makes complete sense, why didn’t I think of that?” We partner with families and simplify complex techniques to make training effective, easy, and fun.

Kris Hampton:

Recognize that both the dog and the human require guidance—if the human doesn’t learn how to apply the appropriate training skills and how to manage their dog’s environment,  nothing will stick!

Make sure you tailor your coaching styles to match the parents’ learning preference (visual, hands-on, or verbal), and help them build routines at home to develop consistency in daily life. Empower the owners! The dog parent is the lifelong teacher, and they should be equipped with tools for independent problem-solving.

Break down your training concepts into simple and achievable steps for the pet owner to understand and apply, model your training techniques with the dog and then coach the owner through the same process, and remember to celebrate the owner’s progress just as you reward the dog’s progress; positive reinforcement works on all animals.

Summary

Trainers agree that empowering pet owners is essential. Their strategies include teaching observation skills, breaking concepts into achievable steps, adapting to the owner’s learning style, and making the owner an active participant in the process.

4. What’s your best advice for someone who feels overwhelmed or like they’re failing?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

My advice is that effective animal training is HARD and takes time to learn! For human behaviour modification, you will spend close to a decade, if not more, of post-secondary education before you can start working on cases.

Ask your trainer if they can break up the steps to make it more digestible, or see if they can modify the plan to help it be less overwhelming. Putting too many steps on your plate at once is a quick way to feeling overwhelmed, so it is okay to pick your priorities and save some things for later.

Everyone has felt like they’re failing at training their dog at some point. It’s natural to feel that way, but that’s also why I love to track behaviour. It is very encouraging to look back and see proof that you ARE making progress. Small steps are still steps, and every dog’s journey is going to be different!

If it's in the budget, working with a professional is a great way to feel support and get some feedback on where you're going right, or where you might be able to improve.

Christina Chandler:

You're not. You're not failing. This is not something that we inherently know how to do; it takes time and effort and skill, which are all things that need to be acquired and can't really be rushed.

So many dog owners are set up to fail or experience major difficulties by the breeder/rescue/shelter/friend that they got their dog from, and it can be incredibly helpful to explain to people that their dog has inherent genetic traits and requirements that they should have been - but were not - adequately prepared for.

It is NOT "all in how you raise" a dog; you can't alter genetics with training. Many of the problems that people are facing have more to do with a dog placed in a household with people who were unprepared for the reality of their pet's needs, rather than a genuine failure to properly train a dog.

In these situations, I encourage people to research their dog's historical purpose and try to ensure that they're meeting the needs that have been bred into their dog for decades (if not centuries). 

Govind Pillai:

There is hope. After a decade and a half of working with dogs, I can tell you there is always hope. I have yet to meet a family where things couldn’t be improved at a minimum and resolved in the best-case scenario. Usually, we just need to get started.

Rhiannon Van Lidth de Jeude Roemer:

Reach out for help! A trainer can help you to create a plan to reach your goals and prioritize so you’re not working on everything all at once. Having a single, professional source of information and support can make a world of difference.

Summary

Feeling unsuccessful in your dog training can be very discouraging, but our trainers were pretty aligned in the fact that lack of progress is not the same thing as failing. Working with professional trainers, following proven methods, and staying consistent and positive will lead to a better-trained pooch.

How to Measure Success

What does progress really look like? Here, trainers share how they track success, identify setbacks, and adjust the training process to keep both dogs and owners moving forward.

5. What are the key signs you look for that tell you a training plan is truly working?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

I encourage my clients to track behaviour to be able to see proof in data that the training plan is working, but I make sure to set expectations very realistically for clients and give examples of what small steps they should be looking for to indicate progress in the right direction.

Progress is never linear–just like humans, dogs have good and bad days– but there should be a general trend in the direction we want to go. Usually, I’m looking for feedback from the owner! Do they see those changes in their dog? Do they feel happy with how things are going? If not, we look at how we can make adjustments.

Christina Chandler:

The most important thing to me when reviewing my clients' success is the real-world effects that result from applying our training plans.

If a client can take their dog to public places without feeling embarrassed or ashamed; if the dog is confident and happy in situations that may previously have been difficult to experience; if the clients are able to genuinely enjoy living with their dog(s), then I'm doing my job. In situations where we're working more on skill building rather than behavioural applications, I want to know whether or not the clients are happy with their progress, regardless of whether or not it might be the same level that a "perfect" dog would have achieved.

Perfection is irrelevant in dog training; what matters most is whether or not the clients are happy with their pup(s).

Govind Pillai:

Smiles. Stress reduction. True joy. If you take the time to develop a relationship with your families, they will not only share how things are going, but they will be excited to give you updates.

The key is ensuring families are aware that adjustments will be made along the way to account for their unique needs, and open communication will allow us to continuously improve the behaviour plan. I love hearing my families tell me that they have noticed their dog is much happier or they report less shoulder pain (lol).

Families might report feeling more connected to their dog, that they can now participate in more activities, that they are enjoying their walks, or have seen a reduction in challenging behaviours.

Rhiannon Van Lidth de Jeude Roemer:

The best way to track progress is to document it! Pet parents and even us as trainers will frequently have moments of worry or feel like things are not moving ahead. Keeping notes and videos of each training session allows us to look back and see just how far the dog has come.

Summary

Progress looks different for every family, but trainers look for increased confidence, improved communication, reduced stress, and a better quality of life for both dogs and humans. Small wins and real-world improvements are key indicators of success.

6. When progress stalls, how do you assess what needs to change?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

When progress stalls, we have to go back to the drawing board a bit. Did we miss something in our pain and health assessments, or maybe did something new pop up that changed things? Has the dog’s environment changed? Has anything in the human’s life changed?

We always go back to what the external factors are because they have a huge impact, and then maybe we go to mechanics. Sometimes, a change could be as simple as changing the way you provide a reward or changing the timing of your reward marker. Sometimes it’s changing the environment to make it easier for the dog and human. It’s all very dependent on the case.

Christina Chandler:

In my approach, stalled progress means that I need to determine WHY something isn't working the way it was intended, or why it has become less effective.

Has the dog figured out a "work around"? Are the owners having a hard time staying on board with the agreed-upon approach? Has something significantly changed in the dog's day-to-day life, such as a new work schedule, a move, or a member of the family leaving for college? Are there new medical problems to consider?

Sometimes, a change can stem from something as simple as a dietary change, and it's my job to be able to figure these things out and then adjust or reapply as needed. The single most significant aspect of this tends to be the human factor; are the owners committed, confident, and capable of doing what was outlined in the plan? If not, then we need to change something so that they are.

Govind Pillai:

If progress stalls, we reassess the family’s experience of the original plan, modify areas that might be challenging, and provide further clarification on what is happening and why. Collaborating with families to create plans that work for their unique circumstances is a process, and we invite continued discussion.

One benefit of working with a team of force free trainers is the ability to discuss difficult cases to ensure we provide comprehensive solutions to behaviour challenges.

Kris Hampton:

We use a ‘CED’ check—Compliance, Execution, Diagnosis—to troubleshoot training progress. First, we assess whether the client is following through with their homework consistently.

Next, we evaluate how well they’re executing the training plan: Are their mechanics solid? Is their timing effective? If both compliance and execution are on track, we revisit the original diagnosis to identify any gaps or overlooked factors.

Summary

Progress looks different for every family, but trainers look for increased confidence, improved communication, reduced stress, and a better quality of life for both dogs and humans. Small wins and real-world improvements are key indicators of success.

Industry Insights

From misunderstood behaviours to professional disagreements, this section takes a closer look at what dog owners often get wrong and where most trainers actually agree.

7. What’s one common behavioural issue you see misunderstood by dog owners?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

I think one of the biggest behavioural concerns I see misunderstood by dog owners is reactive-type behaviours. Commonly, a reactivity label is applied when people see a dog lunging, barking, growling, etc., at other dogs on walks, but reactivity is really any “abnormal” response to a stimulus in dog training.

Misunderstandings I hear often are that reactive dogs are dominant, stubborn, disobedient, etc. One of my favourite sayings has always been “Your dog is not giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time”, and that’s a mantra I repeat often.

I reframe reactivity not as a problem with the dog being too dominant or aggressive or disobedient – oftentimes, that’s actually a dog that’s scared or too frustrated, and they don’t know how else to say it. They can’t just say “Hey, I’m scared” or “Hey, I’m overwhelmed”, but what they can do is bark and lunge and growl, or even get small and tiny and hide. My reframing of reactivity is not to have a dog that is more obedient, but to have a dog that is able to cope and feel safe around triggers. 

Christina Chandler:

Anxiety. I have a very large number of clients who have been told that their dogs are suffering from physiological instances of anxiety that require medical intervention, when the reality is that the dogs are not being supported appropriately in the development of their confidence and ability to deal with the world.

When owners are not provided with the skills and understanding required in order to fully support their dogs' mental and emotional development, the resulting behaviours often mimic anxiety when they aren't anything of the sort. Most of these dogs benefit massively from structured lifestyles, species and breed-appropriate mental and physical stimulation/outlets, and a more canine-centric way of thinking, rather than anthropomorphic applications that are causing the problems in the first place.

Instead of telling clients that their dogs are "anxious", it has been helpful to explain that their dogs are unfulfilled and are experiencing a lack of safety, which can be provided by making some relatively simple (although not always "easy") changes to the dog's daily routines.  

Govind Pillai:

Often, my families initially focus on the outward behaviour of the dog and skips the emotional state preceding the behaviour. If a dog is leash reactive, or resource guarding, or has separation anxiety or is fearful of men, it is not the growling, lunging, or vocalization that is the problem.

These behaviours are communicating the true issue, which is that the dog does not feel comfortable in any of these scenarios, and it is my job to help my families understand the experience of the dog so we know how to support everyone through it.

Kris Hampton:

One we hear often (and it always gets a chuckle) is: “I think my dog is getting revenge by pooping on the carpet while I’m out.”

We promise—they’re not plotting! They likely just needed to go, and the carpet felt like a soft, grass-like option. It could be a sign they’re not fully house-trained yet, or there might be a medical issue.

Whatever the cause, avoid punishing accidents. Doing so can make your dog more secretive about going, which sets training back. Instead, work with a trainer to build a solid, positive housetraining plan, and consider talking to a vet if these accidents reflect a sudden change in behaviour.

Summary

Trainers often see behaviour misinterpreted as stubbornness, dominance, or revenge, when in reality it stems from fear, confusion, or unmet needs. They work to reframe behaviours like reactivity, anxiety, or accidents in a more compassionate and functional light.

8. Despite the range of training methods out there, where do you think most professionals agree?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

This is a difficult question as I do think there is a lot of disagreement, but I will answer this by saying I think most dog trainers labelling themselves as professionals would agree that the outcome is a change in behaviour. I would not say that I agree that that comes with the same type of assessment or priorities in training.

Where I might see a dog that is experiencing anxiety, another trainer might see the same dog and label the dog as disobedient, which might completely change the point of view and training plan -- however, both of our outcomes would aim to be a change in behaviour. 

Christina Chandler:

There is a "joke" in the dog training world that the only thing two dog trainers can agree on is that the third trainer is wrong. Canine training is an incredibly difficult profession when it comes to finding cohesiveness between methods and individuals.

That being said, I do think that most professionals would agree that the mental/emotional health of the dog needs to be a top priority when working with dogs, even if they don't agree on what that might actually look like.

Govind Pillai:

I believe most force free professionals can agree about the value of hiring a reputable dog trainer during the early stages of dog guardianship. A good trainer can not only support the family in achieving their goals but also, and more importantly, aim to prevent fear-based behaviours from developing in the future.

Fearful behaviours are the number one reason we are contacted by families for support, and the vast majority of these situations can be prevented with the proper early education. As for trainers who intentionally ignore science and ethics, and continue to use methods involving pain, intimidation, bullying and force to train dogs, we can usually only agree to disagree.

Rhiannon Van Lidth de Jeude Roemer:

Though the field of dog training has a huge range of information, one thing most trainers will agree on is that consistency is extremely important for success. When we maintain consistent rules for our dogs, it becomes much clearer to them what they can and cannot do.

Summary

While philosophies differ, trainers generally agree on prioritizing the dog’s mental and emotional well-being. Consistency, ethical practice, and the goal of positive behaviour change emerged as common values among the diverse approaches.

Resources & Accessibility

9. Professional training isn’t accessible for every pet owner. What are some free or low-cost resources for owners on a budget?

Emily da Mata-Wiens:

Accessibility is definitely a concern, and a valid one in this economy! I would first recommend looking for trainers who offer sliding-scale payment options. There are many who offer online sessions so they’re accessible worldwide, and there are some that have no-questions-asked sliding scales to make professional training more accessible!

Some trainers also offer online, at-your-own-pace courses, which are often low-cost relative to private training sessions and can be a good option to get started! Some Facebook groups can be good sources of information, too, depending on who is allowed to provide advice. I like the group “Positive Force Free R+ Dog Training Library” – sometimes they will have trainers available to help.

Christina Chandler:

There are some really great online learning opportunities available to pet owners that would like to acquire more skills or tackle some of the less complex issues that they might be experiencing with their dogs.

Depending on what kind of help they're looking for, or what their goals are, I am usually happy to refer people to some of the more useful/helpful platforms that I'm aware of, and I have vetted programs for people in the past as well, when they didn't feel that they knew enough to determine a good course from a bad one.

Govind Pillai:

I generally advise caution when consulting online resources, given the plethora of mis/disinformation in dog training. Although for very general force-free guidance, more recent work by JW Dog Training, Zack George, and Kikopup is a start.

The challenge is that effective behaviour change takes an individualized approach, so general guidance found online doesn’t always help. I think reaching out to the training company you are interested in working with and communicating your financial circumstances can often lead to a reduction in rates, and is worth an email.

Families can also consider signing up for a phone consultation with a trusted trainer to ask for some guidance on what sources to consider based on their situation.

Kris Hampton:

• YouTube Channels: Free tutorials from certified trainers offering step-by-step guidance.
• Local Libraries: Access to books on positive reinforcement training at no cost.
• Online Courses by Certified R+ Trainers: Affordable or free courses designed by professionals—(Raintown is currently developing one, so keep your eyes peeled!).
  

Summary

Though private sessions may not be a good fit for every budget, that doesn't mean that there aren't low-cost or even free resources available. Consider connecting with a trainer to discuss budget options, and look into online resources from reputable sources like:

• YouTube Channels: Kikopup, Zack George, JW Dog Training
• Online Courses: Look for free or low-cost options to bolster your at-home training strategy.

Conclusion

This Q&A highlights just how many elements go into building a healthy training relationship. There’s no single perfect training strategy that will work for every dog and owner, just compassionate, consistent effort based on each dog’s individual needs.

At Homes Alive Pets, we believe in positive training practices and empowering pet owners to seek ongoing education, professional advice, and trust-based training relationships.

Dog training is a marathon with many hurdles, not a 100-meter sprint. Working with a professional dog trainer and following advice and best practices from reputable resources can help you create an achievable dog training plan that will improve your bond with your furry pal.

Connect with a Trainer

If you are considering professional dog training or if you are not sure what the next steps are in your dog training journey, it's time to reach out.

Here are links to each of the trainers who participated in this post and some helpful tools and resources recommended by them.

• Cosmic Companions Dog Training

• Align Canine Training Inc.

• Naughty Boyz Dog Training Inc.

• Raintown Dog Training