The right dog professional can change your life. The wrong one can change your dog’s life.
Training and care choices can shape your dog’s behavior for years, sometimes for their lifetime. Here is the hard part: dog training is an unregulated industry. That means anyone can call themselves a trainer, a “behaviorist”, or a “board and train” expert, even if their methods are outdated, unsafe, or fear-based.
At Beezy’s Rescue, we see the downstream effects all the time: shutdown dogs, newly fearful dogs, escalated reactivity, broken trust, and families told their dog is “dominant” when the dog is actually overwhelmed, under-supported, or in pain.
This guide is designed to make vetting easier. It includes:
- questions to ask a trainer, walker, daycare, or boarding facility
- what good answers sound like
- red flags that should make you walk away
- certifications and professional associations that can help you find ethical, education-driven pros
The standard we care about: humane, effective, evidence-based
Before we get into checklists, here is the benchmark: good professionals prioritize welfare, safety, and learning. They avoid fear, pain, and force, and can explain how they keep dogs under threshold and set them up to succeed.
Veterinary behavior organizations take a clear stance that humane, reward-based approaches should be the foundation and that punishment-based methods carry risks, including increased fear and aggression. (AVSAB) Research reviews and controlled studies have also found associations between aversive training methods and poorer welfare outcomes. (sciencedirect.com)
If a professional cannot clearly explain how they teach skills without intimidation or pain, do not hand them your dog.
Part 1: Choosing a dog trainer
Questions to ask
- What training equipment do you recommend?
- What happens when you don’t like my dog’s response?
- How do you ensure my dog is not inadvertently being punished?
- How would you stop an unwanted behavior?
- How do you know what is reinforcing to my dog?
- How will you know if my dog is anxious, stressed, or fearful?
- What do you do to ensure your client’s success?
- What associations are you a member of? Do you hold certifications?
- What is your continuing education like?
- Do you consult with a veterinary behaviorist? Do you work with my vet and/or dog walker?
- Can I observe a class or session before committing?
- How do you handle aggression, fear, or separation-related distress? When do you refer out?
- What does progress tracking look like (notes, homework, measurable goals)?
- What is your policy on guarantees (spoiler: a good trainer does not promise “results in 2 weeks”)?
What good answers sound like
A competent trainer does not talk about “stopping” behavior through correction. They talk about teaching alternative skills, changing the environment, and using management so the dog is not rehearsing the unwanted behavior.
They should also describe how they spot stress and adjust in real time, including taking breaks and lowering difficulty.
Listen for language like:
- “We will teach what to do instead.”
- “We will change the setup so your dog can succeed.”
- “We reinforce behaviors we want, and we prevent rehearsal of behaviors we don’t.”
- “If a dog is fearful or escalating, we lower intensity and build safety.”
Green flags: credentials and professional standards
No single credential is perfect, but reputable third-party certifications and ethics codes raise the odds you are hiring someone who invests in education.
Examples to look for:
- CCPDT certifications (CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA) and adherence to published standards and ethics (CCPDT)
- IAABC credentials (dog training and behavior consulting pathways) (IAABC)
- Fear Free training pathways (helpful when your dog struggles with handling, vet visits, grooming, or anxiety) (Fear Free)
- Force-free professional organizations with clear best-practice commitments (Pet Professional Guild)
A strong trainer can also tell you who they learn from and how they keep learning (conferences, mentorship, case consults).
Red flags (do not rationalize these)
Walk away if you hear:
- “Balanced training is the only way” paired with heavy reliance on pain or fear tools (prongs, shock collars) as a default
- “Your dog is trying to dominate you,” “be the alpha,” “you need to correct harder”
- “We guarantee results” or “we fix aggression fast”
- “We don’t use food” (food is not the only reinforcer, but refusing it as a tool often signals outdated ideology)
- refusal to let you observe sessions
- blaming your dog for “being stubborn” instead of adjusting the plan
Veterinary behavior guidance warns that punishment-based approaches can create fallout like increased fear, anxiety, and aggression, especially when used early or as a primary strategy. (San Francisco Animal Care and Control)
Part 2: Choosing a dog walker (or pet sitter)
Many walkers love dogs. Many are also handling more dogs than they should, without formal standards or training in group management.
Your priorities here are simple: safety, skill, and transparency.
Questions to ask
- What activities do the dogs do? On-leash, off-leash, or supervised playgroup?
- How long is exercise time excluding car time?
- Do you include obedience, and how?
- What happens if my dog won’t come, won’t sit, won’t get into the vehicle?
- What do you do if my dog jumps, growls at a dog, or growls at a person?
- What punishments or reinforcements do you use?
- What is the max number of dogs you walk? Do you separate by size, age, activity?
- Are you insured and bonded? Do you have a written contract?
- Do you use GPS tracking, safety straps, or double-leash setups for flight risks?
- What is your emergency plan (vet authorization, nearest ER, heat protocols)?
- Do you have pet first aid/CPR training (or are you willing to)? (Pet Tech)
What good answers sound like
A competent walker prioritizes safety for your dog, other dogs, and the public. They avoid fear, pain, and force, and they adjust groups based on stress signals, energy levels, and compatibility.
They should also describe how they reinforce desired behavior and prevent chaos, including coming when called (if off-leash is ever involved).
Red flags
- off-leash pack walks without clear criteria, recalls, and safety boundaries
- minimizing growling (“dogs have to work it out”)
- no plan for fearful dogs, traffic, kids, other dogs, or emergencies
- punishment language as the main tool (“I’ll show him who’s boss”)
Part 3: Choosing a boarding or daycare facility
A great daycare or boarding facility can be enriching and supportive. A bad one can be overstimulating at best, unsafe at worst. Good facilities take safety seriously and account for behavioral needs.
Questions to ask (and why they matter)
- What equipment do you recommend?
- What happens when my dog does what you want? And when they don’t?
- How do you ensure my dog is not inadvertently being punished?
- How will you know if my dog is anxious, stressed, or fearful?
- What activities do dogs do? How are playgroups supervised?
- How much exercise does my dog get daily? Do you include training, and how?
- What is your evaluation process for group play? Who is not a fit for playgroups?
- How do you build rest into the day (quiet time, crate time, nap breaks)?
- How do you prevent and handle scuffles (body language monitoring, interrupts, separation protocols)?
- What are your illness policies (vaccines required, isolation, sanitation, notifying clients)?
- Who makes behavioral decisions, and what training do they have?
- Do staff hold industry certifications or continuing education (PACCC, Fear Free Boarding/Daycare, IBPSA education)? (PACCC)
What good answers sound like
Great facilities employ or consult with qualified behavior staff, invest in ongoing education, and adjust care based on subtle stress signals, including reducing group time when needed.
They should clearly state they avoid fear, pain, and force in care and handling.
They should also have a system, not vibes:
- structured grouping
- constant supervision during play
- planned downtime
- clear criteria for who participates in group settings
Red flags
- “All dogs are in group play all day”
- staff cannot describe canine body language, stress signals, or de-escalation
- punishment-based handling in the name of “control”
- no transparent incident policy
- refusal to show you the space, or they rush you through a tour
Part 4: Special notes for rescue dogs (and sensitive dogs)
Rescue dogs are not “broken.” Many are just under-supported.
If your dog is fearful, reactive, undersocialized, recovering medically, or new to your home, choose professionals who can move at the dog’s pace and prioritize emotional safety. A good trainer or facility should be comfortable saying:
- “This dog needs decompression and predictable routines.”
- “We will start with management and skill-building.”
- “If this is beyond our scope, we will refer to a veterinary behaviorist or qualified consultant.”
Veterinary behavior guidance specifically emphasizes humane methods for challenging behavior cases and appropriate referral when needed. (AVSAB)
Quick checklist you can screenshot
Green flags
- Clear, reward-based teaching plan
- Talks about management + teaching skills, not “stopping” behavior
- Can identify stress and adjust the setup
- Transparent policies, welcomes questions, welcomes observation
- Ongoing education and reputable credentials (CCPDT)
Yellow flags (dig deeper)
- Vague explanations (“we do what works”)
- No written plan or homework expectations
- A lot of talk about “respect” without describing training mechanics
Red flags
- Guarantees, dominance language, intimidation, pain tools as defaults
- “No treats, no rewards” ideology
- Minimizing fear, stress, or aggression risk
Closing
Choosing a dog professional is not just a customer service decision. It is a welfare decision. You are hiring someone to influence how your dog learns, how safe they feel, and how they experience the world.
Ask the questions. Listen for the answers. Trust your gut if something feels off. Your dog does not get a vote in who you hire, so you have to vote for them.
Sources used
SELECTINGADOGPRO-SPA
Humane training and punishment guidance: (AVSAB)
Research on aversive training risks: (sciencedirect.com)
Professional credentials and education resources: (CCPDT)
Foster with Us: Beezysrescue.org/foster