Among Us
In a dog loving community, such as ours, it is no wonder that the new horizon is now saturated with dog trainers. There seems to be someone with a different style for every dog. When it comes to choosing a trainer, it is important to look at highly regarded certifications/credentials and experience.
There are some dog trainer certifications that require an application with true or false questions and a hefty annual due to become a member. There are some certifications that are given for graduating from online correspondence courses with minimal experience (sometimes only 3 months) to become a professional trainer. And there are some organizations whose certification evaluation is so unreliable that the applicant must sign a contract that they will only use a certain training method, not trusting the certified trainer to make professional decisions about what is best for the dog and owner. And there are some trainers that have no certifications at all.
In one case, the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), which was the very first professional certifying organization in existence – since 1965 – uses a peer evaluation process that is considered the Gold Standard for dog training instructors. As such, it’s members are a very elite few. Members also reside in Canada and Europe. Many dog trainers are daunted by the application process and will not even consider making the application for certification. Some certified members have taken a year or more to finish just the application for evaluation. The application itself will vary in length, some reaching as many as 100 or 150 pages long in written responses to very difficult training situations. Additionally, NADOI requires a minimum of 5 years of full charge instructing to even apply.
Certified NADOI instructors must prove their ability to communicate with dogs AND their owners and have a working knowledge of many tools in order to recommend and teach what is best for each dog and owner. NADOI does not prescribe one training method and relies on their evaluation process and the professionalism of its certified instructors to make decisions best for each dog and owner.
In Idaho, there are only 4 NADOI instructors. The Wood River Valley is home to one NADOI instructor who has been on the membership evaluation committee for several years, has been on the Board of Directors and is currently the Vice President of NADOI.
Fran Jewell went through the application gauntlet over 10 years ago after having already 15 years of being a full time instructor before even making that application. Her rise to this position in NADOI is an honor and for us locally, Fran becomes an enormous resource for dog owners seeking help with puppies, juvenile dogs, older dogs and even many with severe behavior problems.
She has a vast knowledge and is diversified in many methods of training and started “Clicker Training” or operant conditioning near the conception of the method for use with dogs in the early 1990’s. She learned from some of the great founders of operant condition even before Karen Pryor, such as Morgan Spector and Virginian Broitman. Her education was rounded out by such training greats as Ian Dunbar, Michael Ellis, and John Rogerson. To her credit, Fran has competed in and titled many of her German Shepherds in Agility, Obedience, Tracking, Search and Rescue, Nose Work, Sheep Herding,
and Pet Therapy placing over 45 recognized titles on them, some internationally.
The first Detection Dog Fran trained went to New York where she worked as a bomb detection dog at the United Nations Building for the dog’s entire career. Among her other credits, Fran has trained and placed a multitude of service dogs for people with disabilities. Her own dog, Steel, is in training as a diabetic alert dog for herself.
The most important thing Fran recommends is that when you are seeking training for your dog; take anything you find on the internet with a grain of salt. It might not work for YOUR dog. Seeking a professional with years of experience is always best so they can determine what will work for you and your dog. Be sure the trainer or instructor you choose has verifiable and valuable credentials; not a sign on the line and pay your dues credential. Anyone can hang out their shingle and say they are a dog trainer boasting their experience. But, if they are not willing to get a highly recognized and reputable certification, that can verify their abilities, be cautious.
