As a dog breeder, I am often asked questions about dog training.

How should we train our puppy? Is it a good or bad idea to use treats as motivation for training? Should we use special collars? How about punishment and rewards?

The principle behind my response isn't too far from how I teach my kids in our homeschool, to be honest. Humor me for a moment while I make this point with this illustration. A common misconception about homeschooling is that a parent is not qualified to teach a child. In the sense that a parent likely does not have the degrees or certifications of a government funded classroom teacher, that may be true. This is true in my case. I do have a Master of Arts in English, but I don't have any degrees in Education or any formal certifications (yes, I get this question a lot, mainly from my ninety-plus-year-old grandmother, who seems to always forget my credentials, or lack thereof, ha). My response to this concern is always the same, and it goes back to my philosophy of education (which I didn't create, by the way, but rather learned from Charlotte Mason. But I'll stop there, lest I lose my audience by another rabbit trail - hang with me!).

Yes, I could obtain all the degrees and try to become the experts on all the subjects. One could, I suppose, develop expertise in countless areas and be able to answer all questions confidently and accurately. But what does that do as far as education of the individual being educated? My goal for my children is not to be the expert in everything and call that teaching them.

My goal, and likely the goal of most great teachers in any educational system, is to teach my children how to learn, how to find the experts, the individuals who not only know all about a subject, but who are passionate about it and therefore communicate the information in an engaging way. My goal is to help them learn and love the journey of learning.

Now, back to the questions about dog training. I am certainly not a dog trainer. I'm a dog breeder. I could research and develop an opinion and answer all of these questions, but the goal is not for me, as a dog breeder, to be the expert.

Similarly, the goal for a dog trainer is not for them to be and remain an expert, in the sense that the expertise begins and ends with the trainer. There are plenty of trainers that can get dogs to do incredible things. Dogs can and will respond to commands, perform tricks, and accomplish pretty amazing feats for trainers. However, unless the dog is considered working line for a purpose beyond companionship, what is the benefit to a dog performing for a trainer but then being unable to recall for its owner's attempts to summon it from a dangerous situation?

The goal for the average pet owner, I believe, is to find a trainer that teaches the pet owner how to train the dog. That's what I recommend our clients look for and consider in a trainer. Look for videos and examples of what a trainer does and provides. Is he or she the only one handling the dog, or is he/she teaching the pet owner what to do? How does that training translate into real life situations?

The truth about most (if not all) dogs is that their ability to listen and respond will depend primarily on how their owner handles them, not on the dog. Almost any dog can be trained if the owner takes the time and effort to do so. Some breeds and pedigree history may produce more intelligent dogs with better temperaments (of course I have an opinion about the best, ha), but ultimately almost any dog's trainability has less to do with the dog, less to do with a professional trainer, and more to do with what the owner does on a daily basis with the dog.

So how do you choose a trainer? My simple advice is to find a trainer that trains you, as the owner, and not the dog. Their priority should not be to impress you by their handling of a dog, but to equip you as the dog's owner to responsibly and intentionally train your dog for everyday life situations.

Check out the local trainer we recommend who does exactly that, right here.