How to choose a cynologist

You have become the proud owner of a puppy or an adult dog, but you are not sure that you will be able to properly raise and train a pet. The solution, which seems logical and correct, is to contact a specialist. However, starting to be interested in this issue, you will surely come across a lot of very different proposals and approaches, sometimes mutually exclusive. How to choose a cinematographer?

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8 tips for choosing a cynologist

There are recommendations, following which, it will be easier for you to navigate and choose a cynologist for your dog.

1. It is important that your views on the upbringing and training of dogs coincided. There are many training methods, but it is best to choose a dog handler who does not use chokes, electric collars, beating and jerking, but treats, praise, games and toys. This approach is based on the principle that reinforced behaviors become more frequent and unreinforced behaviors fade away. At the same time, methods based on violence make the dog passive, intimidated and form in him an aversion to activities and fear of the owner – do you need such an effect?
2. Be careful. Now many trainers write about themselves as specialists using “only humane methods”, but at the same time, in practice, they do not hesitate to advise owners, for example, to deprive the dog of water and food, lock it in a cage for the whole day “for educational purposes”, or use other methods. physical and psychological abuse. And if the cynologist talks about the fact that the dog is trying to “dominate”, this is definitely a reason to cross him off the list – the theory of dominance has long and hopelessly become outdated and was recognized as having nothing to do with reality at the end of the last century.
3. Take an interest in the education of a specialist. A good cynologist does not just “love dogs” and “communicate with them all his life.” He also understands the psychology of dogs, body language, can offer several ways to solve problems that arise and knows how to motivate a dog so that he does not have to be forced. And a good dog handler never stops learning.
4. Look what the dog handler posts and writes on the Internet, including on social networks.
5. If a dog handler talks about how some dog breeds are “not trainable”, it is better to look for another specialist.
6. A good dog handler can explain what and why he is doing. Feel free to ask questions. In the end, the dog is yours and the final decision on how to work with it is yours.
7. The task of the cynologist is not to teach the dog, but to teach you how to interact with the dog. Yes, a specialist can show you how to properly teach a dog a skill, but for most of the session, it is you who work with your dog under the guidance of a specialist. If a dog handler takes your dog from you and works with it himself, he may be able to teach him to obey… himself, but you may face difficulties and frustration later.
8. Finally, you must be nice to work with a specific person. We all like different types of people, and no matter how professional the cynologist is, if he is unsympathetic to you as a person, you should not torture yourself – it will still be difficult for you to trust this person.

Photo: maxipel

It is important to find a specialist with whom both you and your dog will feel good and enjoy training. This is not the only, but a very important component of successful training.