Modern dog trainers employ humane and gentle training methods which are not harmful to the dog and/or handler, and avoid procedures that could cause the dog great pain, distress, or that have imminent potential for physical harm.  The old “military” methods of rolling the dog on it's back (Alpha Roll), pinning the dog down or shaking the dog by the scruff of the neck are disappearing. As a dog owner, you must feel comfortable with the training tools and methods used by the trainer.

Modern trainers use non-coercive methods that set dog owners up to succeed while training their dogs. Reward-based and praise-base methods involve operant conditioning. The term operant refers to voluntary responses, as opposed to involuntary reflexes. The frequency of operant responses is determined by its consequences. Responses that are positively reinforced will be repeated more frequently; those that are ignored will be extinguished. Praise, play breaks, food rewards, toys and anything that encourages the dog to respond function as reinforces.

Training Tools

Before committing to any trainer it is also important to understand the many different dog training tools used by dog trainers, their uses, advantages and disadvantages. Humane tools promote calm and relaxed behavior, and effective learning that is in the best interests of the owner and his/her animal companion.. Safe training tools include head halters, treats, toys, martingale nylon collars and body harnesses.

In contrast, tools that can cause the dog distress are choke, prong or electric collars. These devices are indeed innapropiate to train your dog because they cause pain and discomfort and they don't offer a real solution for your dog's behavioral problems.