Dog Behaviorist Verses Dog Trainer
People have often asked me, what is the difference between a Dog Trainer and a Dog Behaviorist? The main difference is their approach. Perhaps the first myth to dispel is that behaviorists are better than dog trainers. The two are quite different. One is not better than the other. They each have a vital role to play!
Dog trainers look forward and set their goal on a particular behaviour and then implement standard training techniques. The behaviourist wants to understand the behavior itself.
Dog trainers usually have a set program that their clients enrol in. For example, puppy handling classes, obedience, and sometimes scent or guard dog work. The good dog trainer notices the dog that is not thriving in his or her class and intervenes. The more he understands dog behaviour the better his adaptation will be. A behaviourist is much more likely to have a single dog and a problem or goal from which he or she creates an individual plan of behaviour modification.
So the question becomes, knowing the difference between the two, when to use one versus the other. Every dog should have “manners” if not obedience training. A dog is not much of a family pet if it cannot be walked on a lead, jumps on every guest, and runs off if given the opportunity. Most owners should begin training with a good dog trainer.
The owner needs to look for a behaviourist if they are unable to be successful with a dog trainer, or if an unusual problem arises. A basic obedience class which runs several weeks is usually more affordable than an hour with a behaviourist. It is most often more economical for an owner to begin with a basic obedience class.
However, for the dog that is unsuccessful with a basic obedience class, a behaviourist may make the difference between a pet staying in the home, and the dog being returned or sent to a rescue centre. It is common knowledge that the number one reason for dogs being turned over to rescue centes or humane society is behaviour problems.
Obedience training establishes a communication system between you and your dog, teaches the dog to understand and follow commands, and establishes the family members as dominant figures in the social hierarchy of the family. Dog problems like chewing, digging, and of course aggression, may best be corrected by seeing a behaviourist. The behaviourist applies certain behavioural principles or models to the subject animal, which help to determine how the problem behaviour evolved, and what interventions can be made to create the target behaviour. As the behaviour begins to change it may be necessary to revise the approach. Behavioural modification is dynamic, and changes with the dogs behaviour. Educating the owners is key to an effective behaviour modification. Owners learn the basics of positive and negative reinforcement.
An animal behaviourist is an academically trained specialist with additional education and experience in dog training and canine behaviour. They treat phobias, fears, anxiety, aggression, obsessive-compulsive behaviours, to name a few. A dog trainer is not qualified to treat these conditions and can sometimes cause more harm than good.
Many excellent dog trainers and behaviourists are self educated. If you need help with a dog, decide what kind of help it needs. Does it need to learn manners through a basic obedience class, or is there a problem that doesn’t seem suited to a quick fix? You should be very careful whom you employ. Credentials are useful, but most importantly the person should accomplish the stated goal without harming the animal while educating the owners. If it doesn’t feel right, it almost certainly isn’t. And good trainers and behaviourists, like their clients, continue to learn, adapt, and improve.
By Beth a dog loving freelance writer
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