Dog training is a career many people are interested in, but not everybody has the skill set to get the worst habits of man's best friend under control. Here are 5 attributes shared by top notch dog trainers.
- Positivity. Good trainers will be able to explain directions and answer their clients questions with kindness and positivity. Changing a dog's behavior takes time, energy, and a lot of hard work. The best trainers will spend as much time as it takes to get things right without getting frustrated with the dog or with the owner.
- Excellent communication skills. Everyone communicates differently, and the best dog trainers will know how to adapt their communication skills to any particular style. They should be able to pace their teaching to the learning speed of you and your dog to ensure you make the positive changes you need.
- Good listener. Any dog trainer worth their kibble will take the time to hear what you have to say. You know your dog best and a good trainer will make sure to understand your perspective on the situation fully.
- New Ideas. Sometimes, standard training won't be enough to eliminate a bad behavior or teach an owner how to effectively communicate with their pooch. Fortunately, there's no one right way to train a dog! Good trainers will have plenty of ideas on what steps to take next if you aren't getting the results you want.
- A love of dogs. Perhaps nothing is more important in a dog trainer than having a deep love of dogs. People who are passionate about what they do will excel compared to those who do it for other reasons. If you find a trainer who loves dogs as much as you love your furry friend, you'll see training results in no time!