How to Choose the Right Dog Trainer for Your Dog’s Personality

Know Your Dog’s Personality First

Every dog is different some are confident and energetic, some others might be shy and cautious. Before you start looking for a trainer, it’s important to understand your dog’s temperament and personality. Does your dog have a lot of drive and energy? Are they highly sensitive to new environments or people? Or maybe they’re stubborn and independent? These traits will influence how your dog learns best and which training methods will resonate most. For example, a sensitive dog might shut down or become fearful if training is too harsh, while a high-energy dog may need more structure and clear boundaries to stay focused. Taking time to really observe and understand your dog will help you narrow down the types of trainers who will be the best fit. Any experienced trainer should be able to identify all of this themselves and determine if their programs are a good fit. It’s just as important for the trainer to determine if they are the right fit as well.

Understand the Different Training Styles

Dog training isn’t a one size fits all, and there are several common styles you NEED to know about. Positive reinforcement trainers focus on rewarding good behavior with treats, praise, or toys creating a happy, trusting environment. Balanced trainers combine rewards with some corrections to set boundaries. Relationship based trainers prioritize the bond between owner and dog, using body language and calm leadership to teach. It’s important to understand these differences because some dogs respond better to one style over another. The best trainers don’t stick rigidly to one method they adjust based on the dog’s needs, personality, and progress. So, when you’re vetting trainers, look for someone flexible and experienced with different approaches. A good trainer will have several methods in their mental tool box and know wich of those they are the best at using. Trainers whom only stick to one method or ideology can yield decent results if they have the right dog. But they will also be very limited by this.

Ask the Right Questions Before Hiring

This is so VERY important! Don’t be afraid to interview trainers before you commit. Here are some questions that will give you a clearer picture of their approach and fit. Secondly, don’t be alarmed if the trainer ends up asking you a million questions as well. Good trainers also ask A LOT of questions. This is just their way of getting an idea of what they could be getting into.

• “Have you worked with my dog’s breed or temperament before?” This helps you know if they have relevant experience.

• “How do you handle dogs that are fearful or reactive?” This will tell you if they have a gentle, thoughtful approach.

• “Can I watch a training session before I sign up?” Seeing their style in action is invaluable. However be understanding that not all trainers will allow this. For many reasons. Just know this doesn’t automatically disqualify or mean they are not capable. It very well could be for the dog or your safety.

• “What’s your plan if my dog isn’t responding well?” A good trainer will have alternative strategies ready.
  Asking these questions upfront saves you headaches down the road and ensures you’re on the same page. Again a good trainer will have several tools for this in the tool box. You could even ask how they have handled situations like this in the past.

Watch for Red Flags

Not all trainers are created equal, so it’s crucial to watch out for warning signs. Be wary of anyone promising instant results or “perfect dogs” after just a few sessions training takes time, patience, and consistency. Avoid trainers who refuse to explain their methods or who dismiss your concerns. If a trainer has no reviews or references, that’s a sign to proceed with caution. And steer clear of harsh physical corrections or punishment. Trainers who sell “sessions” only. Understand all dogs are different. A sessions for one dog could look like 3 minutes vs another could be 10min. Ive worked some dogs who could easily outwork me with minimal breaks. Sessions only training is a red flag. At legion sessions are geared toward teaching the owner to be the trainer. Not fixing your dog. Trust your instincts! If something feels off, it probably is.

Match Energy and Personality

Your dog’s personality isn’t the only thing to consider. You also want a trainer whose energy and communication style matches yours. Do you respond better to calm, patient guidance or a more energetic, upbeat approach? A mismatch here can create friction and slow progress. Remember, training is a partnership between you, your dog, and the trainer. When the trainer’s style complements both your personality and your dog’s, the process is smoother, more enjoyable, and ultimately more effective. Experienced trainer learn over time that just like dogs humans are also all different. Learning to teach all types of dog and humans. Be open minded to receiving from them. Sometimes trainers can unintentionally hit a nerve or sensitive spot when teaching the human where they have unintentionally messed up. While this is not a reflection of you as the owner being a bad person, one of the hardest parts of being a trainer is sometimes correcting the owner or learning that enabling behavior can sometimes be directly linked to personal subjects. Keep an open mind and you will go very far.

Why Most Dog Training Fails in Austin | Legion Dog Training

Most dog owners spend money on training, only to find themselves back at square one months later. Why? Because most training skips the most important piece: the dog’s nervous system, mind and body and soul.

The Problem with Conventional Dog Training - First and foremost. This is not a call out to say all trainers outside of this approach are bad trainers. In fact. Most just don’t know any different because they were never taught any different rather by online certifications or in person formal training. What I am sharing is coming from a former in person trainee and online and offline certification holder and lots of apprenticeships combined with my own experience working in the dog world for over the past 20 years. With that said there are good trainers out there whom mean the very best for your dog but just haven’t evolved in education and stepped outside of the traditional boundaries and limits created by corporate America. NOW let’s get into the good stuff.

Focus on obedience over relationship. Almost all if not the majority of trainers who focus on obedience only and not the relationship are most certainly going to give you temporary results or results that operate much like a bandaid. But what exactly are we referring to when we say “relationship”? Well… Your dog has a relationship with everything. Its leash and collar, toys and food and water or backyard or doors and cars and trucks and rides in them or even as simple as grass or sidewalks. It’s literally EVERYTHING. This is often overlooked and most importantly the human to dog and the dog to human relationship is completely skipped over and all these things that could be the root to various behaviors that need adjustment get wiped right under the rug. It’s masked with obedience and rewards and corrections. Now does that sound like a fun life? When you really dig deep and let that sit in. It doesn’t to me as the root cause can still be there and un addressed. This doesn’t address energy, environment, or the human side of the leash at all. Which often leads to short-term results that fade over time.

What Actually Works (The Holistic Way)- Teaching calmness before commands. It really is that simple. Before you can ask your dog to be the best version of themselves. You have to ask yourself. Are you being the best version of yourself? More often than not our dogs are reacting to us and our subconscious and even sometimes conscious habits while with them. If your nervous system has you tense and tight or shaky and nervous or excited or careless of whatever the emotion maybe. Your dog in some way fashion or form is going to reflect that. Teaching owners to regulate themselves and snap out of the panic or whatever it may be that is taking over their body and piloting them is crucial. Long before we can ever ask anything of our dogs. The trick here is getting back to you. Be in control of you. No matter what. Because when you're not. You're now operating in tunnel vision and then guess what…. your dog will too. The perfect recipe for disaster. Here is where the important part to change is. (Take note!) Structure, boundaries, and leadership! (Trust, Love, Respect) This doesn’t just go for you and your dogs relationship. But in your personal relationship with yourself too. When structure is introduced there is a deeper knowing of what to do and how to do it. When there are clear and concise boundaries in place there is also a deeper knowing of NOT to do and where the thresholds are that push the limits of yourself and your dog to far. The sweet spot where you both thrive together. When you step into these and fully embody them you are now taking the lead. Leadership is now in full play. You are leading yourself and your dog forward with confidence and calm cool collected control. Sounds easy right. No…it’s not. But EVERYONE is 100% capable of getting there. I see it day in and day out.

Mind body spirit approach to healing and balancing dogs. Now when you read that does it make a bit more sense why we approach the way we do? Not only is getting out of tunnel vision (or whatever it may be for you) and getting more into your mind and body and spirit freeing but its also releasing and no longer hanging onto what doesn’t serve you or your dog. It’s a very subtle break through of limited beliefs and low confidence and other various things from all walks of life. It’s healing for you both in real time. It’s balance and not a power struggle of some sort. And this is why we train both the dog and the human. One simply can not move forward without the other. This is the holistic approach. For some it’s deep and life changing. For others it’s deeper and life changing for the dog only. Everyone is different. But we all deserve to live our best lives in the best versions of our selves.

This is what Makes Legion Different. Don’t get me wrong there are other trainers doing this same work and it’s beautiful to see this world evolve over the years into something deeper and meaningful. We are the only the only trainers in Austin who go this deep and one of Austin’s only holistic dog trainers. Holistic training is real world training and not just tricks in a classroom or a mask of obedience and short sessions for money. Its deep. Its real. It’s life changing vs temporary fixes that fade over time.

If you’re ready to go deeper than surface level training and finally understand your dog……We’re here to guide you.