Guest post by Lauren from Dog Mum Mindset.
I’ve been a dog trainer and behaviourist for 12 years. When I started out in 2013, there were not so many dog trainers around. It was a pretty niche career, and the ones who did it tended to be those who had been doing it for a very long time in their local village halls. Fast forward to 2025, and things look very different. Dogs are more pampered and catered for than ever before – and with that is a whole new influx of dog trainers who are social media savvy and know how to market themselves and their skills.
However, has this been the best thing for our dogs? Some say yes, because it is so much easier to get excellent dog training advice as soon as you need it and a whole range of wonderful new trainers. Others think no, because it seems much, much harder to find a truly ethical (yet effective) dog trainer among a rising trend of bad – and sometimes downright dangerous – dog advice.
So, how do you find an ethical dog trainer in 2025? Here are 8 top tips to finding someone you can trust for your companion…
1 – They Will Tell You
Trainer who are passionate about dogs will tell you the type of training that they do. Look out for words that show that they are reward based, positive, dog trainers such as force free, science led, modern – anything that shows that they are doing what DEFRA, the BVA, and academic research signals that we should be doing.
2 – They Will Have Great Credentials
Ethical dog trainers do not wake up one day and start training dogs. They will often have experience (like working with dogs and volunteering) AND credentials such as a degree or quantifiable assessments.
3 – Look Out For…
The Animal Behaviour and Training Council is a collection of dog organisations that try and ensure their members are ethical, qualified, and assessed – so anyone from one of these organisations is your very creme de le creme. If you do not have anyone nearby, the Dog Training Charter lists members of organisations such as the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and is a great way to go. The Dog Training College and Absolute Dogs may also be useful indicators that they will behave ethically. (I created this quick video that walks you through the exact steps you need.)
4 – Scrutinise Their Statements
Anyone can go online and pay some money to become a “qualified dog trainer”. If you haven’t heard of the course, look it up and understand what it actually means – is it science based and does it actually give practical skills, or is it simply paying for a certificate that doesn’t stand up under scrutiny?
5 – Avoid These Buzzwords
A trainer who uses any of the following is likely going to use outdated and aversive techniques: balanced, corrections, dominance, alpha, pack leadership. Slip leads, check chains and pet corrector type of equipment is another warning sign. If they don’t explicitly say that they are an ethical dog trainer – believe them. (And if they use an e-collar or prong collar – run).
6 – Watch Their Work
If a dog trainer talks the talk, but you cannot actually see what techniques they use, through videos or through clear explanations, then it may be better to avoid.
7 – Don’t Put Your Faith in Influencers and Celebs
There are influencers who use frankly awful dog trainers – but remember, there is often a financial advantage (they get the training free or even paid to promote), so do not blindly use someone because a big influencer has. The same goes for TV programmes too…!
8 – Trust Your Gut
Any decision you make is out of your dog’s control, so it is down to you to make the very best decisions for your companion. If you start training and something doesn’t feel right – don’t ignore it. The right dog trainer will be out there for you, and you should feel happy, relaxed, and confident that your dog is enjoying their session, too.
As a dog trainer who is passionate about putting our dogs first, I really hope these tips have helped you and your pup!
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About Dog Mum Mindset
Lauren Hewitt-Watts is a full Clinical Animal Behaviourist member of the APBC. She worked in person training and consulting with dogs and puppies for a number of years, with a strong industry background among various dog organisations. Lauren is the founder of Dog Mum Mindset – an online-only platform specifically designed to give dog owners ethical, effective and high standards of dog training and behaviour help. Everything is available at www.dogmummindset.com, from free dog content to clinical behaviour backed courses and memberships.
