Proficiency Error: Do Your Research When Choosing a Professional

As anyone who follows my writing on any venue knows, I strive to see regulation in the field of dog behavior professionals in my lifetime. Not only with the goal of seeing the use of modern science supported methods being the gold standard requirement for all professionals, but to also require a minimum level of dog behavior knowledge in those offering their services to the unsuspecting public. Until then, we self regulate. Sometimes badly, because not everyone believes that we professionals should stick within our own knowledge perimeters. Even beyond that, some people go into this business seemingly with the belief that as long as they are using modern dog friendly methods, then they can help a situation be made better even if they don’t possess the knowledge at the level that is needed for the situation. This is a dangerous thought process, at best. It behooves those of who are entrusted with the care of someone’s beloved family member’s behavior issues to make sure that we possess the knowledge needed to help instead of cause further harm. It not only hurts those who we want to help if we proceed without that as a moral base, it also harms the field of positive training as a whole. A failure of someone’s individual knowledge is not a failure of the method itself, but that is how it often appears to others outside of the situation. If you are a dog training/behavior professional, I implore you to stay within your knowledge lane. Certainly please do strive to always learn more on the subjects that you want to be within your knowledge base. But until then, it’s not a failure to refer to another more knowledgeable professional when you are unsure of how to approach a serious multiple dog household conflict (or any behavior issue for that matter). It is a moral success. You can learn but you should not learn at someone else’s expense.

I recently observed someone already working as a behavior professional ask a question in an aggression group for trainers, how to fix an issue in a multiple dog household. Not a question about *part* of the protocol but a question asking for an *entire* protocol for that issue. The issue was a common one in a multiple dog household so needless to say, I was very concerned for the multiple dog household in question. This is a prime example of someone who should have referred this case to another professional who was more qualified to help the client. Not only is this household in more peril than they were before they hired someone but the entire profession of modern methodology dog behavior professionals is at risk when something like this happens. Please do everyone a favor and refer to a more experienced colleague if you have no idea of what even your first steps would be, when presented with an issue. This also applies to single dog homes but it’s an even more dangerous for everyone proposition when someone unqualified takes on aggression issues of any kind in a multiple dog household. There are obviously more individuals to be placed in harms way in this scenario.

Multiple dog household issues are often complicated, with each dog having a behavior or two that needs addressed. Rarely are they exactly as described in the intake prior to meeting with a client. I have more often than not been told that “Fluffy” is the cause of the conflict, only to arrive and see that “Spot” has been quietly been calling “Fluffy” on and no one had seen it. They just saw “Fluffy” finally say enough. Keen observation skills are a necessity along with a seriously stellar knowledge of dog body language and micro facial expressions. Furthermore, anyone trying to solve multiple dog household conflicts with “obedience” cues is someone you should pass on. This is about behavior modification, not “obedience” (oh, how I hate that word anyway!). The dogs in question need to learn how to make better choices in most cases and for the humans to provide safety, both emotional and physical. It is NEVER going to be about “obedience” or what I prefer to call manners. Teaching certain manners as a baseline offering often plays a part in a solution. But it is a minor part in most cases. The bigger issue is understanding who is saying what to whom when that communication is a silent one to most humans. In addition to  teaching the humans how to effectively moderate different personalities within the household, of course.

The moral of this story is that you should ask many questions of anyone who you are considering hiring for your multiple dog household issue. Ask about methodology first and once you determine that said person uses modern methods, find out what certifications they possess as well as what experience they have with both aggression and multiple dog households. If you are not comfortable with what you are being told or if you are having trouble finding someone in your area, email me with your zip code and your primary issues and I will scour the listings and my professional groups for someone I am comfortable referring to. I know what to look for. Even then I may email/message them to ask my own questions. Only then will I refer you to them. Please don’t settle for positive but unskilled. You and your dogs deserve positive AND skilled. Your dogs deserve the best help that you can find for them.

For a basic understanding of what to look for in trainers, read here.