Trust me, I’m a dog trainer

To work with, train, and modify behavior in dogs (and humans) requires a certain amount of skill. Yet, the dog training field requires zero education to qualify yourself as a ‘dog trainer’. Anybody can wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll be a dog trainer/behaviorist”, start charging people money for their advice, create a tv show, and become a celebrity “dog whisperer”. Because of this, there is an enormous amount of conflicting dog training advice plastered across the internet, television, and literature. Dog moms and dog dads are fed with information and advice that may or may not be from an educated professional in the field, and it may or may not be advice that causes harm to your relationship with your dog.

     There are quite a few certifying organizations and schools for dog trainers and behavior professionals: Karen Pryor Academy, CATCH Canine Academy, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and many more. I didn’t choose any of these routes when I began training professionally…..but I should have. I began with Petsmart receiving a basic training certificate through them and gaining an abundance of experience working with rescue dogs along with my own dogs. Though these things did not (and should not) replace the education, the understanding of the fundamentals, and the science behind dog training and behavior modification. During the start of my business, I took on any cases that were thrown my way (even when they were a bit outside of my realm of knowledge). This forced me to expand my education but in a backward learning-as-you-go kind of way. I knew that dog training was an unregulated field, and the more I trained professionally the more my eyes were open to the many “dog trainers” using corrective tools and outdated harmful methods with dogs. I wanted to make a difference in the field for the dogs and families in my area. My fear was if I wasn’t the trainer to help this dog in front of me the owners would seek out another trainer, and that the “other trainer” had a high possibility of utilizing more aversive methods. Ironically, by taking on cases I wasn’t properly prepared for I risked driving those clients to the “other trainers”, and that quickly became a risk I was unwilling to take. 

     As my business grew, I knew I needed to handle things differently. I wanted to be the very best that I could be, for the sake of the dogs. I wanted to set an example of higher standards in this profession. In these last few years, I’ve engulfed myself in conferences, workshops, books, and seminars. I received my license as a Family Paws Parent Educator to expand my behavioral expertise working with families with dogs. I secured my title as a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). This is the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession. In order to be considered for this certification, you must complete a minimum of 200 hours of behavior modification-related training, receive an attestation statement from a certified professional or veterinarian, and finally with taking a very lengthy examination. Not only that but in order to maintain this title, you are required to continue your education and receive a number of credits in accordance with this. So it is not to brag or anything, but I now have the fancy letters attached to my name and title: Tiffany Baker, CBCC-KA (I’m kind of a big deal lol). While this is an accomplishment I’m extremely proud of, it is also something I know I should have taken steps to complete sooner….not to prove anything, but for this reason, I believe our dogs deserve better. Our dogs deserve our training and behavior professionals to be held to the highest standard. 

     My hope for the future is that we will begin to provide the dog training field with regulation. At the very least, when you’re in search of a dog trainer, I hope that you’ll do your research on the education your dog trainer has received. Experience does not equal an up-to-date education of the science that is dog training. We’re past the “be the alpha” “pack leader” “dictator” training methodology. Those “techniques” of pinning your dog into submission, poking them with your fingers, kicking them in the hind end to correct them, or choking them out with their lead are simply outdated (and harmful). Science has shown us more appropriate and effective ways of training that empower our dogs to learn rather than limiting their choices and suppressing their reactions. Opinions and egos aside, my promise to my human and dog clientele is that I, and Boss Babe Dog Training, will always stand by what has been proven as the most effective and minimally aversive methodology. It’s science. The future is force-free and I am so freaking grateful to be on this journey with all of you.