How to spot a good dog trainer: Rewards and play, not penalties

A good dog trainer works with positive reinforcement, not by punishing the animal, say experts. Photo: dpa

“Sit!” or “Down!” or “Heel!” are all commands you can teach your dog yourself. But many people who get a dog as a pet like to rope in a professional to help with the training. If you are hunting for a pro, then here’s what you want to see and what you should try and avoid.

Look closely at a potential trainer’s website, says Sarah Ross, a pet expert at a German animal welfare group. Check out what approach they take to training, how they work and how they themselves were trained.