Questions to ask a board and train trainer

Twelve questions to ask a board and train trainer before you book, the answers you should hear, and the replies that should make you keep looking.

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A Vizsla sits in a meadow at sunset looking up at a person standing in front of it.

The twelve questions and what you want to hear

You do not need to ask these in order, and a good trainer will often answer several before you get to them. Write the answers down; comparing programs from memory a week later is hard.

Question	A good answer sounds like	Keep looking if
1. How do you teach a new behavior?	Markers, food and play rewards, short sessions	They cannot describe it, or talk mainly about corrections
2. What happens when my dog gets it wrong?	Make it easier, manage the setting, reward the right choice	Leash pops, ‘stim’, scruffing or pinning
3. What equipment will you use?	Flat collar or harness and a regular leash	Prong, choke or shock collars, or ‘whatever the dog needs’
4. Who trains my dog each day?	A named lead trainer and how others are involved	Nobody in particular
5. Where does my dog sleep, and who checks overnight?	A clear description of the space and monitoring	Vague or evasive
6. How do playgroups work?	Small, matched groups, only when the dog is ready	Large open groups for every dog
7. How will I hear about my dog?	A regular update and a way to ask questions	‘We’ll call if there is a problem’
8. What do the owner lessons cover?	Hands-on practice with each skill you are taking home	A short demo at pick-up
9. Is my dog right for this program?	An honest yes, no or ‘it depends, here is why’	Every dog is a fit
10. What if my dog is fearful or reactive?	Slower plans, longer programs or referral	‘We’ll fix that in a week’
11. How is the facility licensed?	A local kennel license and vaccine rules	Unsure or dismissive
12. What is in the written terms?	Clear price, payment, cancellation and emergency terms	Nothing in writing

How to read the answers

Notice how the trainer talks, not just what they say. Someone confident in their methods explains them in plain language and is comfortable with follow-up questions. Phrases like ‘we do whatever works’ or ‘we have our own system’ without detail are worth probing. Ask for an example: ‘If my dog jumps on a visitor, what exactly would you do?’

Also notice what they ask you. A good trainer wants to know about your dog’s history, health, triggers and your goals before recommending anything. A program that quotes a price and a start date before learning about your dog is selling a package, not a plan.

Trainer in a Dogtown shirt working with a hound mix on a raised cot

Questions about your specific dog

Add two or three of your own, built around your dog’s hardest behavior. Describe it concretely, such as ‘lunges and barks at other dogs within about twenty yards on leash’, and ask how they would approach it, how long it typically takes to see change, and what you would need to do at home.

For dogs with fear, guarding or a bite history, ask whether the trainer has worked with similar cases and when they refer to a veterinary behaviorist. At Dogtown, those dogs are discussed honestly at the assessment, and some are better served by a six-to-ten-week behavior-modification program than by a standard stay.

How Dogtown would answer the core questions

In fairness, here is how we answer the ones that apply to us. Training is relationship-based, fear- and force-free and built on positive reinforcement. Gabriella Pope, Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist, leads the assessment that starts every program. Dogs sleep in an overnight suite with 24/7 monitoring, join a small playgroup of 7 to 10 dogs matched by size and temperament only when ready, and you receive a daily update, with the format confirmed at booking.

Foundation includes one go-home lesson; Advanced includes two scheduled coaching lessons. Price is quoted after the assessment, and the evaluation is free. Anything else, such as payment and cancellation terms, is confirmed in writing at booking. You can read more on who trains your dog.

Mistakes buyers make

Asking only about price and dates. Those matter, but they are the easiest things to compare later. Asking leading questions is another: ‘You’re positive-only, right?’ invites a yes. Open questions such as ‘walk me through a session’ get more honest answers.

Finally, do not skip the written terms because the call went well. A friendly conversation is not a contract. Our guide on how to read a board and train contract covers what to look for.

How to do it

Step by step

01

Write your dog’s summary

Note age, breed, health, the three behaviors you most want to change and any fear, guarding or bite history.
02

Print the twelve questions

Add two or three about your dog’s hardest behavior and leave space for notes.
03

Book a call or the assessment

Set aside about twenty minutes when you will not be rushed.
04

Ask open questions and take notes

Ask trainers to walk you through examples rather than answer yes or no.
05

Score each answer

Mark each one good, unclear or worrying, and follow up on anything unclear.
06

Compare programs side by side

Line up your notes for each program and rule out any with worrying answers on methods or safety.