Your dog bites, barks constantly, panics when left alone, or becomes difficult to manage with visitors. Very quickly, you are advised to "consult a behaviorist."

However, a few searches are enough to encounter very different approaches: dominance, leadership, energetic, emotional rebalancing, coercive methods, so-called natural methods, or science-based approaches.

For an owner, it can be difficult to sort through it all.

Choosing a professional should not depend on their number of followers, their marketing pitch, or the consultation price. The most important factors remain the methods used, the actual training received, and the ability to work within a consistent ethical, scientific, and medical framework.

In France, some activities related to dog training are regulated, but merely using a title or designation unfortunately does not, on its own, guarantee a particular level of competence.

What Science Says About the Methods Used

Even before discussing diplomas or certifications, the first criterion to examine is the method employed.

Scientific work published in recent years shows relatively consistent results regarding aversive methods.

The study by Vieira de Castro and colleagues observed that dogs from schools using punishment-based methods showed more stress behaviors, more negative emotional responses, and higher cortisol concentrations than dogs trained primarily with reward.

Affenzeller and colleagues' work goes in the same direction. Dogs whose owners used more positive punishment or negative reinforcement methods exhibited more pessimistic responses in judgment bias tests, suggesting a less favorable emotional state.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior now considers that reward-based methods offer the best benefit-risk ratio in terms of welfare, learning, and the relationship between dog and owner.

The Question of Dominance

The vocabulary used by a professional can also provide clues about their theoretical framework.

Explanations based primarily on notions of "dominant dog," "pack leader," "alpha," or "putting in their place" no longer align with current recommendations from major veterinary behavioral organizations.

The AVSAB has published a position statement indicating that dominance theory is not a relevant basis for behavior modification.

The problem is not limited to a matter of vocabulary. When these concepts are used to justify intimidating or coercive methods, they can exacerbate certain problems related to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

A professional who explains the majority of canine behaviors through dominance therefore deserves to be questioned about their scientific references and working methods.

The French Framework: What Really Matters

In France, the professional practice of activities related to dog education or training falls within a specific regulatory framework.

The ACACED (Certificate of Aptitude for Pet Animals) or an equivalent recognized qualification is a regulatory requirement for certain activities involving companion animals.

However, it is important to understand what this certificate represents. It validates general knowledge concerning the biological, behavioral, health, and regulatory needs of companion animals.

It does not constitute a specialization in canine behavior or advanced training in managing behavioral disorders.

The BP Éducateur canin (Professional Diploma in Dog Training) registered with the RNCP (National Directory of Professional Certifications) represents more in-depth professional training and is an interesting indicator of structured training. It alone does not guarantee the quality of support, but it attests to a more comprehensive curriculum.

Truly Useful Certifications

When a professional presents themselves as "certified," several questions should be asked:

• by which organization?

• according to which criteria?

• with what requirements?

• and with what external control?

Some international structures have clearly defined certification criteria.

The Animal Behavior Society oversees the CAAB and ACAAB titles with requirements regarding training, professional experience, and recommendations.

The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) also offers a certification system based on various experience and evaluation criteria.

Conversely, some private certifications can be obtained in a few days without practical experience, independent evaluation, or a real code of ethics. In this case, the term "certified" provides little information about the actual level of competence.

What is Often Misinterpreted

The term "certified" does not, on its own, have a particular value. One must always know the organization that issues the certification and the criteria used.

Seniority is also not a sufficient indicator. A professional may have been practicing for a long time without having updated their knowledge, while a more recent practitioner may have benefited from recent training and active continuing education.

Promises of rapid results should also prompt caution. Behavioral disorders often occur in complex situations that require evaluation, adjustments, and progressive work.

Finally, the price of a consultation does not allow one to evaluate the quality of support. A high price does not guarantee particular expertise, just as a moderate price does not necessarily indicate a lack of skills.

Which Professional for Which Problem?

For basic education, prevention, socialization, or certain minor problems, a properly trained educator using reward-based methods can be perfectly suitable.

When more established problems appear (reactivity, anxiety, repetitive behaviors, significant relational difficulties), it becomes relevant to seek a professional with real experience in behavior.

As soon as pain, illness, neurological disorders, or medication are considered, the intervention of a veterinarian becomes essential.

Some regulatory behavioral assessments, moreover, are specifically the responsibility of the veterinarian.

A serious professional knows the limits of their scope of intervention and does not hesitate to refer to other professionals when necessary.

How to Choose Concretely?

Before making an appointment, several questions can be asked:

• What is your training?

• What certifications do you have?

• What methods do you use?

• Do you use e-collars, choke collars, or other coercive methods?

• How do you evaluate progress?

• Do you work with veterinarians when necessary?

The most reassuring answers are not necessarily the most impressive.

A competent professional explains their reasoning, adapts their recommendations to the dog in front of them, recognizes the limits of their intervention, and does not promise universal results.

Choosing a professional is not just about finding someone competent on paper. It's also about verifying, throughout the follow-up, whether the support truly suits the dog and the situation.

If progress doesn't come, it doesn't necessarily mean the dog is "impossible" or that the owner has failed. It can happen that the method, pace, framework offered, or the relationship with the professional are not right for that particular dog.

In this case, it is legitimate to seek a second opinion, re-evaluate the situation with a veterinarian, or find a professional better suited to the dog (not necessarily more competent). The important thing is not to get discouraged, and not to remain in a support that brings neither understanding, nor improvement, nor security.

Sources

1. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Humane Dog Training Position Statement. 2021.
2. Vieira de Castro AC, Barrett J, de Sousa L, Olsson IAS. Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLoS ONE. 2020.
3. Affenzeller N, Palme R, Zulch H. Dogs are more pessimistic if their owners use two or more aversive training methods. Scientific Reports. 2021.
4. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals.
5. France Compétences. RNCP BP Éducateur canin.
6. Légifrance. Textes relatifs à l'ACACED et aux activités liées aux animaux de compagnie.
7. Animal Behavior Society. CAAB and ACAAB requirements.
8. International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Credentialing Program.