Dog trainers can be an interesting breed. Over the years, I have come to know many, many gun dog trainers, and among those I’ve met, many have really impressed me. Others have gone about their training in ways I don’t fully agree with but have produced some great dogs and in turn some very happy customers, nonetheless. Sadly, some have also proven to be outright untrustworthy, and as a result, have developed bad reputations that spread quickly in the small landscape that is gun dogs. Rare, however, is the dog trainer who isn’t pretty darn confident in their methodology.

The individual who sets out to find a trainer should consider the process thoughtfully and should do their homework. As a client, especially one who is new to the game, this process can be daunting, made more so by the fact that most trainers out there are of the opinion that their way is the only way. By virtue of the fact that the trainer is the “pro,” and the client is the “amateur,” trainers can easily find themselves in a powerful position, in that they are serving the client and the dog as a teacher. These dynamic demands of the trainer, include the responsibility to assess the client and the dog honestly and steer them thoughtfully through the process of achieving their goals, and communicating when those goals are not realistic.

I want to use this installment of the Flush to give flushing dog owners some tools that will help them pick the right trainer for their needs. As is so often the case, this process requires that a client remain humble, do a good deal of self-reflection about what they in fact want from their dog, and remain willing to opt against using a trainer, no matter how celebrated, who simply doesn’t meet their needs or wants. I can’t emphasize this last point enough: As a client, if your gut tells you the trainer you are considering is just not a match, go with that instinct and look elsewhere.

Finding a Reputable Professional Dog Trainer

In this age of social media and technology, it is easy for nearly anyone to present themselves as a seasoned dog trainer. With the right skills and means, beautiful websites can be built, and inspiring social media platforms can be leveraged to create a marketing platform for trainers that was simply unheard of in days gone by. The problem is that a trainer may be exceptional at self-promotion, but inexperienced or simply unskilled at the actual process of training dogs. My first point, and I can’t emphasize this enough, is to get a sense of a trainer's reputation. Talk to folks who know the trainer, who have worked with him or her, who have seen dogs trained by that trainer in action. Suss out a trainer’s reputation using as many diverse sources as possible. Consider the source of the feedback. There has always been a contingent of trainers out there that are “all hat and no cattle.” Sadly, in the current age of democratized communication, this is truer than ever. Beware of the trainer who shows up all over the airwaves, but who has few dogs that anyone has ever seen actually work.

Find a Dog Trainer Who is Transparent

It is a pet peeve of mine, and a significant red flag, when trainers will not be as transparent as possible in communicating what they do and how. There are very few secrets in dog training. Therefore, any trainer worth his or her salt should be willing to let a prospective client see them at work. They should provide references. They should let a client look behind the scenes of their kennel to assess the condition of dogs, kennels, runs, etc. I have seen some great trainers who have very humble kennels, but those kennels are clean, and the dogs are not dirty, and all in attendance seem enthusiastic. A kennel filled with dirty, cowering dogs, or a trainer who is decidedly closed about sharing what they know and what they have, is suspect in my opinion. Remember, a trainer should be proud of his or her facility and should be proud of what they are producing. If they are hesitant to showcase either of these assets, I am always skeptical, wondering what they may be hiding.

One caveat to the above is that new gun dog folks may tour a kennel and see dogs that are old and infirmed, or potentially thinner than they are used to seeing. A gun dog is an athlete, and some simply struggle to keep on weight if they are hard charging. They can be skinnier than most house dogs, and that is ok, provided they are not listless or apparently ill. Moreover, aging gun dogs who are living out their later years in a kennel are often well cared for and honored by the trainer, but the years of work can sometimes show. Ask about these dogs if you are concerned. Most trainers will be delighted to tell of their greatness and the wonderful accomplishments they had afield.

When Choosing a Trainer, Know What You Want

As is so often the case, a client has to be self-aware enough to know what he wants from his dog. When communicating with a trainer, be as honest as possible about what you want the dog to do. Do you want an elite field trialer? Do you want a dog that will be worked daily through a preserve season? Do you want a dog that will be an occasional weekend warrior and mainly a house dog? The more information a trainer has, the more likely he or she can craft a training plan that will meet the end result that you, the client, are actually after.

Another thought: When researching trainers or looking for leads, consider the reference. If you only ask field trial folks for recommendations, but you are looking for a sometime hunting dog, you may be steered off course. Find recommendations from folks who have dogs who do what you want your dog to do and get your recommendations from that source. There are many great and hallowed trainers who simply aren’t focused on producing dogs that excel in all disciplines, and this is ok.

Ask to See Other Dogs They’ve Trained

Likely the best way to establish whether a trainer is producing dogs that will work for you is to see some of that trainer's dogs doing their thing. Again, ask for references and try to connect with a few owners whose dogs have been trained by said trainer, and who are willing to let you follow them in the field or in a trial. Most dog owners are inordinately proud and will gladly showcase their dog’s skills. There is no better way to get a sense of what sort of training will be put into your dog than by seeing one who has already undergone the training offered. The more dogs you can see in action, the better.

Who Will Be Doing the Hands-on Training?

There are several trainers who have reached a degree of acclaim substantial enough that they are able to bring in assistant trainers or interns who will do a good deal of the actual handling. This can be fine, provided the head trainer has keen oversight, and does a good job of training his or her staff. That said, if I were paying a premium to have my dog at a famous trainer’s kennel, I’d want to know who is putting hands on my dog. That stuff matters, and the head trainer should be willing to communicate how the training is getting done. You will want to be able to refer to or ask questions of the individual who is building the relationship with your dog, and see what your dog is doing day to day.

Learn From Your Trainer

This is the fundamental tip that I have to share, and likely the most important. A trainer’s job is to train your dog, certainly, but also to train you, the client. Whatever work is done with the dog, and whatever behaviors are implemented, reinforced, and drilled, must be replicated in exacting detail by you, the client. For that reason, you must be willing to assess what sort of rapport you will have with the trainer who will, at some point, be your trainer too.

This becomes an exercise in human behavior. You as a client will want to go into the training relationship putting real and deserved trust into your trainer. If you see reasons why you cannot, look elsewhere. Simultaneously, recognize that even if you have had a few gun dogs, and have hunted for years, a good trainer has likely worked more dogs in a season than you will work in a lifetime. Humble yourself. Let yourself be taught, steered, and corrected. If your trainer builds a recall command in your dog of “here” and you take the dog home and demand he recall on “come,” things won’t work well. This will not be the trainer’s fault, but yours.

In this way, picking a trainer is ultimately a leap of faith. You will be developing a relationship with a person to whom you entrust something precious, and you should not enter that relationship lightly. Take your time, do the research, and ask as many questions as you can. In the end, the ongoing success of the trainer relies on the satisfaction of the clients and the perceived success of the dogs. They want the relationship to work, and they want both client and dog to succeed.

In my experience, most reputable trainers will do fine by the dogs, and will do fine by the owners, provided everyone is honest, upfront, and willing to do the work that is asked of them.