As for me I’m direct, I don't care about being politically correct, will tell you what I think and not mix words to make what I’m saying hurt less. I’m here for the dogs, and nothing comes before the dogs. Our teaching is based on compulsion, and not cookies. Our teaching is based on mutual respect, not begging your dog for some action. Our teaching is designed to produce results, not empty promises.

If we don’t do an activity we will refer you to a trainer that will help you get the results you want. An example would be hunting, competition agility, earth dogs, lure coursing, weight pulls, hog catching, flyball, free style dancing with dogs, frisbee, and breed showing.

Scheurman’s K9 Academy teaches all levels of obedience, all levels of competition obedience, therapy dogs, search and rescue, cadaver recovery, as well as service dogs for persons with a disability as defined by the ADA. We also have a canine manikin for teaching canine first aid and CPR.

Scheurman’s K9 Academy offers group classes, private lessons, and board and trains. Why don’t all the others, could it be that they don’t have the knowledge, ability, facilities, experience, or the time to do it. Plus, I would think it would be hard to do board and trains after working a full time job, and then come home to yet another full time job. What happens to the clients dog while this “trainer” is at his or her full time job? Certainly not being worked! This is my only business, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, I work with dogs. This is NOT a part time business for Scheurman’s K9 Academy.

Dog trainers are not regulated in any State except California. ANYONE can say they are a dog trainer. They may not even know what a dog is, may have never seen one, yet they can claim to be a dog trainer. They can proclaim themselves the “King” “Queen” “Prince” “Princess” of dog trainers, but are they? NO, that is just to get you to give them your money.

My certifications come from the military, law enforcement, education, and the competition dog sport world. I attended a civilian school to “learn” to be a civilian dog trainer; I already held a certificate from the NJ Department of Education as an adult educations instructor, had obtained my certifications as a Law Enforcement Instructor ( dogs and firearms) and had attended over 100 schools, classes, seminars, and training programs in dogs and firearms. I knew how to train dogs, and law enforcement personnel, although I was not sure of the civilian sector. The one thing I remember from that training program, was that we all had to run a group class. At my critique the lead instructor, and our assistant instructor agreed, I was an excellent law enforcement instructor, however they felt I would give “little old ladies, heart attacks with my Marine Corps. demeanor and should stick to training law enforcement officers”. I didn’t, and to date, no little old ladies have had heart attacks while on the training fields. I continue to attend seminars and classes, to continue my education. I have read over 2,500 books, on dog training, different methodologies, and ideologies. I belong to several professional organizations, all to keep current with issues regarding training dogs and humans.

A local area trainer that was in the same dog club with me once made the comment “Wally, you are too hard core.” I considered this a compliment, although she did not intend it that way. She told me “how” I should run my business, I thanked her, she is gone, but I’m still here. There is a saying “Once a Marine, always a Marine”, that is perhaps one of the truest statement made by man. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest, I’m training dogs. I try to make the classes’ fun, handlers that are having a good time, are less likely to stress then handlers that are allowed to become fixated on a problem.

We are serious dog trainers, for people that want results. People that realize that a well trained pet is available to everyone, that there are no bad dogs (sometimes illness or injury can make a dog bad), just bad handlers, or better yet bad dog trainers. If a “professional” trainer can’t deal with temperament issues, what kind of trainer are they? If they can’t train their own dog, or don’t have a trained dog to demonstrate their abilities, how good are they? If they can’t show by certification their students level of success, how can they be, what they claim to be? The answer is simple they can’t. Each time a student earns a title or even a leg of a title we announce it. We offer perspective students the ability to interview our students, without us hanging around. A perspective student is NOT directed to any one student, but allowed to pick and choose who they want to talk to. We may point out that a particular student had the same problems or concerns, and they should include them in the interviews, but that is their decision.

In 33 years of dog training, I have recommended only one dog be euthanized for non-medical related aggression. The dog in question was a Rottweiler, a 125 pound Rottweiler. A brief synopsis a 50+ year old woman, who raised toy breed dogs, adopted a 2 year old 125 pound AGGRESSIVE Rottweiler, because the owner was going to euthanize the dog due to aggression. The dog pulled the new owner down, and drug her over the pavement to get to students of a class in progress. Then turned on his new handler! Three instructors were required to gain control of this animal. This woman had no right in owning this animal, although I understand she was trying to save his life, it doesn’t justify the risk to the community, or her family. Every owner of an aggressive dog is given the same options by us:

1. Euthanize the dog! We don’t recommend it, but it is an option.

2. Place the dog with a guard dog service. This only works if the dog is a working breed. Dobie, Rottie, GSD, Mal. This gives the dog a chance to live out its life.

3. Build a dangerous dog kennel out in the back yard and let the dog live out its life there.

4. Train the dog!

Perhaps it is the 365 days a year I spend with dogs being trained in controlled human aggression, I understand aggression issues better, and I’m willing to work with them. So what is with “professional” trainers, that can’t handle aggressive or problem dogs, maybe they are not so “professional” after all.

Another thing I don’t understand about other “Professional” dog trainers, dog trainers with e-mail address, and no web site and how about “professional” dog trainers with “personal”web sites, with a small section dedicated to their business. When you click on http://k9-trainer.com, you will not find wedding pictures, pictures of family and friends; you won’t find heartwarming stories about my family, my boats, and my cars. What you will find is what you are looking for, information! Information on dog training programs, pricing, our methodologies and our ideologies. You will also find pictures and videos of our students working their dogs. Information you can use to help make an intelligent decision, on who is going to train your dog.

When we receive a telephone call about our programs, we can’t change our position (or price) to fit the perspective caller’s demeanor. They may have read either printed material distributed by local veterinarians, or have visited our web site. With the others, they can change like chameleons, to fit the callers profile for a “professional” dog trainer. Their goal is to separate the caller from their money, and worry latter how they are going to deliver on promises they made. I have had students tell me, they went to so and so, and that so and so, told them that their dog was to dumb to learn, and get rid of it and buy a new dog. Is that how they deliver on their promises, blaming the dog? What about the cases of aggression, euthanize the dog, as the first and only option?

We have a high drop out rate, despite our efforts to have people come out and view a class. To see what they are getting in to, before they give us their money. Either they don’t realize the hard work involved, they just don’t have the convictions to stick to a training program, or they don’t like my after shave. I have come to except this, I don’t have to like it, but I won’t change a successful program, which is designed to save dog’s lives. A trained dog is a happy dog, because the owner is happy.

Let’s look at trainers and training programs the large commercial pet supermarkets. These are a few questions I have about them. They don’t allow correction collars in their training programs, because they feel they are out and out abusive, but yet they sell them! Doesn’t that make you go Huh! If I believed that something was abusive, I would not sell it. I would stand by my convictions, even if I lost money! Somewhere deep down either they know there is a need for them, or all they care about is their bottom line, either way what dose that say about them? I have never seen the instructor’s dogs at these training classes, being used as demonstration aids. I have to wonder why? Do they own a dog? Why can’t a “professional” trainer have their “well” trained dog in class, to demonstrate the benefits of their training program? To my knowledge they don’t offer much more then the very basics, so why would someone that wants a SAR, protection, or competition dog go there? What about off leash work do they offer it? What have their instructors accomplished? Have they titled dogs in formal obedience? If yes, why isn’t their dog at the class to demonstrate the control the perspective student is going to have after they finish the program? Accredited means that the instructors went through an “in-house” training program, nothing more, since the dog training “profession” is not regulated, we know that they are not accredited by the State (except maybe California). So has their background in training dogs been one week, two weeks, or maybe a month?

At Scheurman’s K9 Academy you get 60 years of experience, dealing with all kinds of dogs and dog-owner problems, and we are not hypocrites. I have been training dogs “professionally” since 1973, that is 32 years. Before I received my first dog in the Marine Corps, 1973, my mother raised and bred Poodles (toys and tea cups), My Grandfather had a very well trained Doberman, and my uncle raised, bred, and trained German Shepherd Dogs. I have been around dogs all of my life. I learned a lot from my Grandfather and Uncle on how to train dogs, and I also learned a lot from my mother, on not what to do.

Further did you ever wonder why these superstores don’t have biographies on their trainers? After all it seems to me that if their trainer’s accreditation means anything or if their trainers had any accomplishments they would want to flaunt it. Is their turnover rate on instructors too high? Maybe they have nothing to flaunt? At Scheurman’s K9 Academy, since 1988 we have had the same two CERTIFIED MASTER TRAINERS as instructors, plus we added Jeanie a CERTIFIED ADVANCED OBEDIENCE INSTRUCTOR, in 1998.We added Kimberly Krech a CERTIFIED BASIC AND INTERMEDIATE OBEDIENCE INSTRUCTOR , in 2006.

We have had assistant instructor over the years, students that had titled dogs, and wanted to help out. Our assistants are never placed in the position as a lead instructor, prior to certification. All of our instructors and assistant instructors are required to title dogs, prior to being assigned as a lead instructor, or assistant instructor.

Are we perfect NO! I recently had a student tell me “With you Wally, What you see, is what you get”, what a wonderful compliment.

In closing this article, there are several things you can do to prevent being ripped off.

1. Go and watch a class or two.

2. Talk to current students, not from pre-edited lists, but those on the training field.

3. Ask to see the instructor’s dog. No dog no classes.

4. Don’t ask for references. You don’t know who they are giving for this reference. Brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle and so forth.

5. Call around to veterinarians, and do you own research.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

7. Don’t go to private lesson only instructors. It is easier to lie to one person then to a group of people. Many “private only” instructors, are not skilled enough to teach in the group environment. Therefore posses less abilities then those that “can” teach in a group setting.

8. Don’t go by price. Remember it is the trainer that places the price on his or her time, experience, education, accomplishments, and abilities. The adage “You get what you pay for”, holds true in dog training. If you pay six dollars an hour for training, expect a six dollar an hour trainer. If you pay one hundred dollars an hour for training, you are entitled to a trainer that is worth $100 an hour.

9. Before going to a superstore for your dog training, ask to see the instructor’s credentials. Then ask if you are guaranteed to have the same instructor each week. If not, ask to see the all of alternate’s credentials. If they are acceptable, and on par with other trainers you interviewed go for it.

10. Remember if you have a puppy it is even more important to make sure of the trainer. What a trainer does, can and will affect the puppy throughout its life. If a trainer fails or worst ruins your puppy you will have to live with that over the dog’s life time. Some local trainers only work with puppies, should a problem occur later in life, they refer you to someone like me. Shouldn’t you start off right? Another pet peeve of mine is the “puppy” class. This is designed to take your money. It is often billed as “puppy socialization” class. However is it? The bitch makes the dog, just as the mother makes the man. What I mean by this is that the, breeder, the bitch who whelped or raised the puppy, litter mates, the environment in which the puppy was raised, and other external factors have already socialized the puppy. Why pay someone to teach you how to play with you pup? We start dog training at 3 months of age. At 12 weeks of age the puppy has the same brain wave patterns, as an adult dog. From 7 to 12 weeks is the canine-human socialization period, this is the ideal time to have your dog meet new people on his own terms (although not aggressively). We make sure we explain fear impact periods (since they can’t be avoided), how to recognize them and how to work through them.

11. A ‘professional” trainer NEVER hits dogs, and staunchly opposes it. This includes with your hands, feet, fingers, and weapons. There is only one and only one reason to hit or kick a dog. If the dog attacks you and you are in a fight for your life. A trainer that carries a staff or other striking object should be avoided.

12. If the trainer has a e-mail address, they should also have a web site. They are free with most internet accounts. I’m not saying they need their own URL like ours, just a site with information about their programs.

13. Make sure the trainer has qualified assistants that can take over the class incase of illness, or injury. Never choose a solo trainer without, additional certified and competent instructors. Scheurman’s K9 Academy has 2 certified Master Dog Trainers, 2 Certified Advanced obedience instructors, in our civilian training programs. All of these instructors have titled dogs in one or more levels of competition. Should the lead instructor become ill or incapacitated, we have the personnel to allow you to continue your training.

14. Make sure the trainer you are choosing has the abilities to get you and your dog, to your goals. I can’t tell you how many times that we get graduates from other area trainers, that seek to enter in to our intermediate and advanced programs. This is particularly true of our Intermediate class, Search and Rescue class, and competition classes. They either have a sloppy foundation, if they have any at all, or the dog has been ruined for what the owner wants from his or her dog. An example would be a search & rescue dog which has had his or her prey drive diminish. If you want a competition dog, or a SAR dog, start with someone that can get you there. If you want a good house dog, the same applies.

15. Be wary of “professional” trainers that tell you puppies will grow out of certain unwanted behaviors, most don’t a few do. However if they don’t or the behavior increases it will be harder and sometimes more expensive to fix.

16. Be cautious of “professional” trainers that tell you, because of the dogs breed, it will protect you. If that were the case, the police and military would not have to teach their dogs to bite.

An old adage goes something like this “Those that can do, do. Those that can’t do teach.” At Scheurman’s K9 Academy “We CAN do it, and even more importantly we CAN teach it.”

I’m not the self professed king of dog trainers, nor am I the dog professor, the dog whisperer, nor do I profess to be all things to all dogs. What I am is a certified Master Dog Trainer, with the skills, education, and the resources, to get my students to their goals within the limited areas I offer training. If I don’t do it, I can’t teach it, and will be happy to tell you so.

Remember this is a profession without “professional” requirements, although a few of us have them, anyone can pretend to be a dog trainer, and separate you from your money.

The bottom line here is this, not all dog trainers are created equal, and it is buyer beware. Whether you choose us or someone else, please act responsibility. A little time spent now can prevent you from spending more time and money in training classes down the road. This article is not intended to cast dispersions on any trainer or any training program, just to aid consumers in making an intelligent decision on who is going to train them and their dog.