The American Humane Association and Suzanne Hetts, PhD offer the following recommendations and precautions for owners to take in choosing a dog trainer.

1.  Get a referral from your veterinarian.  Don't randomly sign up for just any training class.  (Ask for references from past students.  Check the mission statements of any training organizations where the trainer belongs.)

Many local veterinarians, rescue organizations and pet professions recommend Canine College West. Contact us for a list of referrals.

2.  Observe a class. Visit the class without bringing your pet. Are the dogs and people having fun? Talk to some of the participants after class.  If the trainer won't let you visit, don't enroll.

Please - stop by and visit a class at any time. Click on our monthly calender and you will see all of our class dates, times and locations. We would LOVE to see you!

3.  Stick together. Avoid trainers who want to train your dog without you.  You and your dog are both essential in developing a well-trained companion.  During a session, don't allow a trainer to work with your dog unless he or she tells you exactly what's going to happen.

We are your course instructor - YOU are your dogs trainer. We want your dog to listen and respond to YOU! Our job is to train you how to train your dog.

4.  Look for treats.  Avoid trainers who won't use food as a training reward.  Food is a powerful positive training tool that works with most dogs.  It also makes training and learning fun.

Our classes use treats for encouragement, reward and guiding the dog into the desired behavior. However, as the class progresses, we also teach you to wean your dog OFF treats!

5.  Think positive.  A trainer should use other positive rewards, such as play, for good behavior. Clicker training is an approach that's gaining popularity; it involves pairing the sound of a hand clicker with something the dog loves.

All of our training classes use positive reinforcement methods. These methods include treats, play, toys, petting and gentle guidance.

6.  Avoid guarantees.  They're a sign that a trainer doesn't understand the complexities of a dog's behavior and individual needs.

Although we can't guarantee the outcome of any training program, we can guarantee that our trainers will do everything within their power to make sure you and your dog learn and enjoy or instruction.

7.  Shun cruel collars.  Stay away from trainers who insist you use a choke chain or prong collar.  There are now many humane alternatives such as head halters.  Shock collars should be avoided.  If, during training, you have any doubts about the way your pet is being treated, tell the trainer to stop.

All of our training is done on your dog's regular leather or nylon buckle or snap collar. We believe that you should never strike a dog with any object for any reason at any time. To do so is to risk ejection from the class, termination, and to be reported to the Humane Society for animal cruelty. We take our love of dogs past our own and onto yours.