The Pros and Cons of Hiring Dog Trainers

By Kristi Patrice Carter

Either for reasons such as learning agility training, whether for fun or competition, or for simply helping an out of control dog to learn how to behave better or perform simple commands, more pet owners are considering hiring a professional dog trainer instead of attempting to train their dogs themselves.

Here are a few pros and cons to consider before hiring a professional dog trainer:

The Pros of Hiring Dog Trainers

1. Professional knowledge of how dogs think, feel, and act is the first perk of hiring a dog trainer, either for teaching your dog the basic commands, or for turning them into an extremely well trained pet, or even a prize winning show animal.

2. Besides the peace of mind that your beloved pet is being properly trained, hiring a trainer is a great alternative if you are unable to offer the consistency or the level of physical activity needed for successfully training your dog.

3. Using a dog trainer gives you the option of hiring one who does private visits in the home, which is helpful for dogs who may not have been socialized properly, or who don't appreciate being around other animals. Alternately, many trainers have group sessions or classes and allow owners to participate and learn as well.

The Cons of Hiring Dog Trainers

1. The first negative of hiring a dog trainer to consider is the cost involved. Although many trainers offer very reasonable rates and services, there are also those who are quite expensive, but will provide excellent results nonetheless.

2. The second con for hiring dog trainers would be simply finding the available time to make the appointments. Some trainers will come into the home, while others will expect you to travel to them, and while most usually have flexible hours to accommodate those who work or who have hectic schedules, many still find it hard to find the free time necessary that professional dog training will require.

3. In some cases, a dog just doesn't respond well to be trained by anyone other than their trusted owners. In this instance, instead of "forcing" the dog to participate in training sessions, or be distressed, it's best to try to tackle the issues yourself, albeit with the guidance of a trained professional. There are many dog trainers who provide advice and helpful training tips for a fee, but without actually being with the animal. Also, the internet, library, humane society, or local animal shelter should all have useful information about the various methods and aspects of dog training.

Regardless if you've decided on training your dog yourself, or if you've opted for hiring a professional dog trainer, the most important part to remember is how the dog is responding to being trained. Do they seem to enjoy it, or do they seem agitated and out of sorts? Are they able to perform the tasks expected of them in training sessions, or do they seem intimidated and fearful?

Training should always be a positive experience for your dog, giving them a physical outlet to keep them fit and healthy, but also giving them mental stimulation as well.

For additional information on agility training and how to effective train your agility prone dog, please visit http://www.dogagilitytraining.net, your number one resource for dog agility training information for serious dog owners and their beloved agility dogs.