How to Choose a Dog Trainer and Avoid Costly Mistakes

To choose a good dog trainer, look for someone who uses reward-based methods, can explain exactly how they will teach your dog, holds a credential from an independent body that tests knowledge or skills, keeps learning, and refers on when a problem is beyond them. Because dog training is unregulated in many countries, anyone can call themselves a trainer or “behaviourist”, so the questions you ask matter more than the title on a website.

This guide explains what different credentials actually involve, how trainers differ from behaviour consultants and veterinary behaviourists, the red flags to walk away from, a list of questions to ask before you book, and a simple scoring checklist to compare trainers side by side.

At a glance

• Titles like “trainer”, “behaviourist” and “behaviour consultant” are not protected in many places, including much of the US, UK and Australia.
• Credentials vary: some involve exams, logged hours and hands-on assessment; others are simply paid membership.
• Reward-based methods are the standard recommended by veterinary behaviour organisations. Avoid anyone who uses shock, prong or choke collars, or talks about “dominance”.
• Be wary of guarantees. Behaviour change depends on the dog, the owner and time.
• For aggression, sudden behaviour changes or severe anxiety, start with your vet, who can rule out pain and refer you to a veterinary behaviourist.

Why choosing a trainer takes care

In most countries there is no licence needed to train dogs or give behaviour advice. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) points out that “behaviour consultant” is a general term with no governing body behind it. In the UK, the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) has told Parliament that the animal training and behaviour sector is unregulated and that most practitioners have never had their skills independently assessed. In Australia, PetRescue’s guidance on trainer qualifications describes the industry as largely unregulated.

That does not mean good trainers are rare; many excellent trainers exist. It means you have to check, rather than assume.

Trainer, behaviour consultant or veterinary behaviourist?

Matching the professional to the problem saves time, money and stress for your dog.

Professional	Typically helps with	Can diagnose or prescribe?
Dog trainer or training instructor	Puppy and manners classes, loose-lead walking, recall, house manners, sports	No
Behaviour consultant or behaviourist	Fear, reactivity, separation-related problems, some aggression cases, often alongside your vet	No
Your general vet	Ruling out pain or illness behind a behaviour change; first referral point	Yes, within their scope
Veterinary behaviourist	Serious aggression, severe anxiety, complex or medical-behavioural cases	Yes; a vet with further training in behavioural medicine

Pain and illness can cause or worsen behaviour problems, which is why a vet check comes first when behaviour changes suddenly. How to know when to call the vet covers the warning signs.

Credentials explained (neutrally)

No single credential is recognised worldwide, and the requirements below can change, so check each body’s own website for current details. What matters is whether a credential was earned through testing, or simply bought as membership. Ask which it is.

International and US-based bodies

• Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT): an independent certifying body. Its knowledge-assessed certificate (CPDT-KA) requires 300 logged hours of dog training in the previous three years, a signed attestation from an approved professional such as a vet or existing certificant, and a 200-question exam. A skills-assessed level (CPDT-KSA) adds video-recorded hands-on exercises. Certificants agree to a code of ethics and recertify every three years through continuing education or re-examination.
• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC): an international body serving professionals in more than 70 countries. Its dog credentials include the Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT) and the Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC). Each is assessed by an exam that includes real-world case studies where applicants must explain their decisions.
• Pet Professional Guild (PPG): a membership organisation whose members commit to force-free principles, summarised as no shock, no prong, no choke and no pain. It also runs a separate accreditation route, and has branches including PPG Australia and a British Isles chapter. Membership on its own is a commitment to principles rather than a skills test, so ask whether a trainer is accredited as well as a member.

United Kingdom

• Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC): a registered charity that sets standards of knowledge and practical skills and keeps a national register of assessed animal trainers, training instructors and behaviourists. Practitioners reach the register through member organisations that require them to meet and maintain those standards.
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK (APDT UK): a not-for-profit membership organisation that assesses dog training instructors’ knowledge and skills. Its code of practice bars members from using or recommending coercive or punitive methods and equipment, giving examples such as spray collars, training discs, rattle cans and any handling that causes pain.

Australia

• Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia (APDT Australia): a national association whose code of ethics commits members to force-free training methods. It keeps a trainer directory.
• Delta Institute: a national not-for-profit training provider (its website links to Delta Society Australia’s therapy dog programmes) that delivers a nationally recognised Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training using positive reinforcement methods, and lists accredited Delta trainers in a search tool.
• Pet Professional Guild Australia: the Australian branch of PPG, with a member directory.
• Nationally recognised qualifications: PetRescue’s guidance on trainer qualifications names the Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services as its main recommended qualification for Australian trainers.

Veterinary behaviourists

• United States and Canada: Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB) are vets who completed a residency, a large supervised caseload, published case reports and research, and a board exam, according to AVSAB.
• Europe: the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine trains vets who can become recognised as European Veterinary Specialists in Behavioural Medicine.
• Australia and New Zealand: the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists has a Veterinary Behaviour Chapter, which publishes a list of behaviour vets.

Outside these regions, ask your vet who they refer behaviour cases to.

Red flags: when to walk away

AVSAB’s guidance on selecting a behaviour professional lists several warning signs. Combined with the policies of the force-free bodies above, these are the main ones.

• Guarantees: promises of a “fixed” dog, a set number of sessions or results “or your money back”. Behaviour does not work like that.
• “Dominance” or “pack leader” talk: framing your dog as trying to be in charge, an idea veterinary behaviour organisations such as AVSAB reject as an explanation for most behaviour problems.
• Aversive tools: shock or e-collars (sometimes called “remote”, “stim” or “vibration” collars), prong collars, choke chains, spray collars, rattle cans or throw chains.
• Vague answers: “balanced training”, “whatever works” or “I use a bit of everything” without being able to describe what they actually do.
• Discouraging food rewards or saying your dog should work “out of respect”.
• Not letting you watch sessions, or board-and-train programmes that will not show you exactly what happens.
• No referral network: they cannot name the vet or behaviour professional they would send you to if a case is beyond them.
• Your dog seems frightened of the trainer, cowers, freezes or tries to avoid them.

Questions to ask before you book

A good trainer will be glad you asked. Write the answers down so you can compare.

1. How would you teach my dog the behaviour I want? Talk me through a session.
2. What happens when my dog gets it wrong?
3. What equipment do you use and recommend? (Check this matches their website and social media.)
4. What credentials do you hold, and were they assessed by exam or practical test, or are they memberships?
5. What continuing education have you done in the last year or two?
6. Have you worked with dogs like mine, for this specific problem?
7. Who do you refer to when a case is outside your skills or not progressing?
8. Can I watch a class or session before signing up?
9. How many dogs are in a class, and how much space is there between them?
10. What will I need to practise at home, and how much time will it take each day?
11. How do you measure progress, and what would make you change the plan?
12. Do you hold insurance appropriate for your work? (Requirements differ by country.)

A simple scoring checklist

Score each trainer you are considering with a tick for every point. The more ticks, the better the fit.

• Uses reward-based methods and says so clearly.
• Can explain their method in plain language.
• Holds an assessed credential, or a recognised qualification, and continues learning.
• Uses no shock, prong, choke or spray equipment and does not sell it.
• Makes no guarantees.
• Has a referral relationship with vets or veterinary behaviourists.
• Lets you observe before you commit.
• Has experience with your dog’s issue.
• Your dog is relaxed around them and you feel comfortable asking questions.

Choosing for your dog’s specific needs

• A new puppy: a small, well-run puppy class with plenty of space and calm, controlled play. Puppy socialisation explains what good early experiences look like.
• Everyday manners: a group or private trainer for skills such as loose-lead walking and recall.
• Reactivity on walks: private sessions or a small specialist class rather than a busy group. The reactive dog on the lead explains why.
• Fear or a nervous rescue dog: someone experienced with fearful dogs who works at the dog’s pace; see building confidence in a fearful or rescue dog.
• Distress when left alone: a behaviour professional working with your vet; separation anxiety in dogs covers what helps.
• Aggression or bites: your vet first, then a veterinary behaviourist or an experienced, credentialed behaviour consultant.

Common mistakes

• Choosing on price or convenience alone and ending up with methods that harm your dog’s trust.
• Trusting star ratings over methods. Fast results from aversive tools can look impressive in reviews while causing fear.
• Booking a group class for a dog who is overwhelmed by other dogs.
• Skipping the vet check when behaviour changes suddenly.
• Handing your dog over and not practising. Most of the learning happens at home, between sessions. Positive reinforcement dog training explains the basics you can practise.

Sources this guide draws on: the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s guidance on selecting a behaviour consultant; the published requirements of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants; the Pet Professional Guild’s guiding principles; the Animal Behaviour and Training Council’s evidence to the UK Parliament; the APDT UK code of practice; APDT Australia, Delta Institute and PPG Australia; PetRescue’s guidance on recommended trainer qualifications; and the ANZCVS Veterinary Behaviour Chapter.

Frequently asked questions

Do dog trainers need to be certified?

In many countries, including much of the US, UK and Australia, there is no legal requirement. That is why it is worth checking whether a trainer holds an assessed credential or recognised qualification, and asking how they earned it.

What is the best dog trainer certification?

There is no single best one, and the right credential depends on where you live. Look for credentials that involve an exam, logged experience or practical assessment, require ongoing education and commit the trainer to reward-based methods. Memberships alone show a commitment to principles, not tested skill.

What is the difference between a dog trainer and a behaviourist?

Trainers usually teach skills and manners, while behaviour consultants or behaviourists work on problems such as fear, reactivity and separation distress. Neither can diagnose medical problems or prescribe medication; veterinary behaviourists, who are vets, can.

Is “balanced” dog training okay?

“Balanced” usually means mixing rewards with aversive tools or corrections. AVSAB lists vague terms like this as a warning sign and recommends reward-based methods. If a trainer describes themselves this way, ask exactly which tools and corrections they use.

Are board-and-train programmes a good idea?

They can be risky because you cannot see what happens to your dog, and skills learned elsewhere often do not transfer home. If you consider one, ask for full transparency about methods and equipment, the ability to visit, and a plan for teaching you afterwards.

When should I see a veterinary behaviourist?

Consider one for aggression, bites, severe anxiety or phobias, or any behaviour change linked to possible illness. Your vet can refer you and share your dog’s medical history.

The right trainer will explain their methods openly, treat your dog kindly and teach you as much as your dog. Take your time, ask the questions above, and trust your dog’s reaction as much as any certificate.