Dog owners frequently ask the question, what is the difference between a dog trainer, a dog behaviourist and a dog psychologist.
The easiest way to explain the difference is to think of a dog trainer as a teacher. The teacher, or trainer, will equip your dog with the skills needed to navigate daily life and become a functioning member of society. Training also serves to strengthen the bond between dog and owner and teaches basic things like dog etiquette at home and in public. Training is best done early in the dogs life whilst the brain is still in a developmental stage and learns easily, but its never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. Dogs live to serve and please their owners, and with training they’ll respond positively to their owners.
A dog Behaviourist can be explained as an occupational therapist. Behaviour is assessed and problem behaviours can be modified through practise, patience and perseverance, much like CBT or cognitive behavioural training in humans. Behaviourists provided the tools and guidance a dog owner needs to modify unwanted behaviour.
A dog psychologist is similar to a Behaviourist, but looks deeper into the reasons for the dog behaviour. The dog may have suffered a trauma, suffer from PTSD, have been abounded or neglected etc which may explain the behaviour. The psychologist will assess the dog patient and will work in much the same way as a Behaviourist. A dog psychologist may also refer the dog to a vet or vet psychiatrist to prescribe medication and perform further testing. An example of this is a dog that suffers from fits, possibly epilepsy, sever anxiety, depression etc.
When choosing the right option for your dog, remember that what you put in is what you get out, as the dog owner, the amount of work you put in is directly related to the outcome. Your dog is dependant on you to help them be the best they can be and it takes work and what we call the 3 P’s – Patience, perseverance and practice.
we hope that this article will make it easier for you to navigate the wonderful world of dog ownership.