Evaluating working dog training services

Describe your starting point

Explain the dog’s age, experience, livestock exposure and the task you want to learn. Ask how the trainer assesses suitability before introducing a new exercise.

Observe the approach

Ask to observe appropriate training or discuss a representative session. Clarify how livestock and dogs are protected, how pressure is managed and how the session changes when the dog struggles.

Agree practical terms

Confirm group size, facilities, fees, cancellation arrangements and what you should practise afterwards. A competition result can be relevant experience but is not itself proof of teaching skill.

After a first session, write down what you learned and what remains unclear. A useful trainer should be able to explain the next exercise in terms you can apply consistently at home.

For stock training, ask who supplies the livestock and what preparation is expected of the handler. Confirm whether the first session is an assessment, lesson or group demonstration.

Evaluate the commercial service

Ask what is included in the fee: assessment, lesson time, livestock, written feedback, follow-up or access to facilities. Clarify whether the trainer works with you, takes the dog into training or provides a demonstration. Those services involve different handovers and expectations. Request a realistic explanation of progress and what happens if the dog is not ready for the next stage. Keep a written record of agreed goals and care arrangements, especially when the dog stays with the provider, rather than treating a general promise to train it as a complete brief.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• RSPCA Policy C3: Working animals (opens in a new tab)

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