Who is the best dog trainer?
Is it Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer?
Or do you think it is Victoria Stilwell from It’s Me of the Dog?
Or do you prefer Tamara Geller? Ian Dunbar? Patricia McConnell? or someone else entirely?
Nah, it is not any one of these people.
Is it ShibaShake?
Certainly not!
So who is the best dog trainer?
The best dog trainer for your dog is — [drum roll] — YOU.
I know, I know, this is a bit cheesy, like that person of the year TIME article; however, it is also true.
![The best dog trainer for your dog is -- [drum roll] -- YOU.](http://dog.shibashake.com/files/2010/03/IMG_2176-280x210.jpg)
- We get to spend the most time with our dogs. We get to observe them 24/7 and we should know them best.
- We love them more than anybody else, so we should be most willing to put in the effort to make them happy and balanced.
This does not mean that we automatically become best dog trainer. No, no, this is a prestigious title that requires a whole lot of work.
- We must do a lot of research online so that we understand the good and bad of different dog training methods.
- We must research the different types of dog equipment and dog products available to us so that we only pick the ones that are safe and healthy for our dogs.
- We must keep our dog healthy, fulfill their need for exercise, and not do anything that will inadvertently cause them physical or mental harm.
And the work is never done.
We must always keep an open mind and be receptive to new dog information, dog studies, and dog training techniques.
The reward of being the best dog trainer though – is priceless.
A happy, well-balanced dog who trusts you, and is not afraid of you.
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lol kb – Once I get my own t.v. show I’ll get back to you on that
When I first started out, I believed most of what the dog trainers said. After all they are the ones with the certifications and experience … but that really turned out to be a mistake. Nowadays I listen but I always do more of my own research and get opinions from other dog owners.
I think you figured all this out a lot quicker than I did
Are you SURE isn’t not you, shibashake?
A very good article, and so true. The ‘famous’ trainers have the theory, the methods, the experience, and the personality, but like you said, only each dog’s owners/handlers know the dog inside and out, his quirks, his tendencies, and his personality.