Choose a dog trainer by matching the format to your problem and by asking exactly how they teach. In Louisiana you can train at home, in a group class, through a day program, or by sending your dog to stay with the trainer, and trainers differ on which of those they offer, whether they take aggressive or reactive dogs, and which tools they use. Ask to watch a class, ask what happens when a dog gets it wrong, and expect to do a good share of the work yourself.
What tells one trainer from another
These are the differences recorded on our listings.
| Difference | What it means | How common it is here |
|---|---|---|
| In-home | Trains at your home | About half |
| Group classes | Runs classes for several dogs and owners together | About half |
| Board & train | Your dog stays with the trainer for a program | Some |
| Aggression & reactivity | Takes dogs that are aggressive or reactive toward people or other dogs | Only some |
| Reward-based only | States that it uses no prong, choke or shock collars | A few |
Most trainers listed here have a place you can go to, and some come to you; a number do both.
Format. Each format is good at something different.
- In-home private training works on problems where they happen: jumping on visitors, barking at the window, pulling out of your own front door. You get the trainer's full attention and a plan built for your household. It is sold as single sessions, behavior consultations and packages aimed at one issue.
- Group classes teach manners and basic skills around other dogs and people, which is a lesson in itself. They cost less per hour and suit puppies and friendly adult dogs. Classes here cover puppy and basic skills, obedience, and activities such as scent work.
- Day training means dropping your dog with the trainer for the day, several days a week. The trainer does the repetitions and shows you how to keep them up.
- Board and train means your dog lives with the trainer for a set program. A lot can be taught quickly, but it only holds if you learn to do the same things at home, and you can't see what happens day to day.
The dogs they take. Aggression and reactivity are specialist work. Only some trainers take those dogs, and some run classes just for reactive dogs. If your dog has bitten, or lunges and barks at people or dogs, say so in your first message and choose a trainer who states they do this.
Methods and tools. Trainers differ a great deal here, and it is the thing owners most often wish they had asked about. A few trainers listed here state that they are reward-based only, meaning no prong, choke or shock collars. Most don't state it either way, which tells you nothing until you ask.
Questions to ask before you book
Methods
- What happens when my dog gets it right?
- What happens when my dog gets it wrong?
- What equipment do you use, and will you ever use a prong, choke or electronic collar on my dog? Would you ask me first?
- Can I watch a class or a session before I sign up?
A trainer who is comfortable with their methods will answer the first three plainly and say yes to the fourth. If the answers are vague, or you are told not to worry about it, keep looking. You don't have to accept anything done to your dog that you are not comfortable with.
Fit
- Have you worked with this problem, and with dogs of this size, age and breed type?
- Which format do you recommend for my dog, and why?
- Who will actually train my dog: you, or an assistant?
- What did you study or who did you learn from, and do you keep up any certification?
Results
- What is a realistic result for my dog, and how long does it usually take?
- How much practice will I need to do between sessions?
- What support do I get after the program ends?
Be wary of guarantees. A dog is not a machine, and behavior depends on the dog, the household and the practice put in. A trainer who describes likely progress and what could slow it is being straight with you.
For board and train or day training
- Where will my dog sleep and spend the day, and can I see it?
- Who is with the dogs overnight?
- How many dogs are you training at once?
- Will I get updates and video during the stay?
- How many handover sessions do I get, and what happens if the behavior slips at home?
The booking
- What does the program cost in total, and what is included?
- What is your policy if it isn't working or I need to stop?
Before you book: check with your vet
A sudden change in behavior, such as a dog that starts snapping, guarding, having accidents in the house or reacting to touch, can have a medical cause. Pain is a common one. Have your vet examine the dog before you pay for training, and tell the trainer what the vet found. For serious aggression or severe anxiety, your vet may suggest a veterinary behaviorist, and a good trainer will be glad to work alongside one.
What a first visit looks like
Most training starts with an assessment or consultation, at your home or at the trainer's facility. Some trainers call it an evaluation, and some charge for it.
Expect a lot of questions: your dog's age and history, its daily routine, exercise, what the problem looks like, when it started, what you have tried. The trainer will watch your dog and often try a few simple things to see how it learns and what it will work for.
A good first session leaves you with three things:
- an explanation of why the dog is doing what it does, in plain terms
- a plan: what you will work on first, and in what order
- homework: one or two short exercises you can do that day
You should be handling your own dog for part of the session, with the trainer coaching you. If the trainer does everything and hands the leash back at the end, you have watched training, not learned it.
For a group class, the first week is usually orientation: how the class runs, what to bring, and a first exercise or two. Bring small soft treats, a regular leash, and a hungry dog. Ask beforehand which vaccinations the class asks for; your vet can tell you when a puppy is ready to join.
For board and train, the first visit should be a tour and an assessment before any commitment, and the program should end with lessons for you, not just a trained dog handed back.
How often
Training is a course, not a standing appointment, but it takes more than one visit.
- Group classes usually run weekly for a set number of weeks.
- Private sessions are commonly a week or two apart, with practice in between, for as many sessions as the problem needs. Simple manners may take a few. Fear and reactivity take longer and progress unevenly.
- Day training and board and train pack the trainer's work into a few weeks, followed by sessions that pass it on to you.
What happens between sessions decides the result. A few short practice sessions every day, a couple of minutes each, do more than an hour once a week. Everyone in the house needs to use the same words and rules.
After the course, skills fade if they aren't used. Many owners come back for a refresher, a higher-level class, or something for fun, such as scent work, that keeps the dog working with them.
Where to compare trainers
Trainers are listed side by side, with the formats and programs each one offers, on Training in Louisiana. You can also look by place: New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harvey, Marrero, Terrytown and Estelle.
This is general information, not professional, legal or veterinary advice, and it can be out of date or wrong. Check anything that matters with the business, and ask your vet about your pet’s health. Our terms have the details.