Choosing A Dog Trainer in Singapore: 6 Things To Consider.

By Marc Wong, CTC, CPDT-KA, AVS-ACDT

If you search for a dog trainer in Singapore today, you will find no shortage of choices.

Some trainers describe themselves as positive reinforcement or force-free. Others advertise themselves as balanced trainers, behaviourists, canine psychologists, or master trainers. You may see videos promising dramatic transformations, perfectly obedient dogs, or behavioural problems seemingly fixed within minutes.

For the average dog owner, it can be extremely difficult to know whom to trust. Almost every trainer will tell you that they love dogs and that their methods work. So how is an ordinary dog owner supposed to tell the difference? This is especially important because dog training isn't simply about teaching your dog to sit, stay or walk nicely on a leash. The methods used during training can affect your dog's emotional wellbeing, behaviour and relationship with you long after the training session is over.

In August 2026, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour (AVSAB) published a new guide titled How to Choose a Trainer, providing dog owners with practical advice on what to look for (and what to avoid) when selecting a dog trainer.

Who is AVSAB and Why do they Matter to Singaporean Dog Owners?

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) is a professional organisation founded in 1976 whose core area of expertise is in animal behaviour and behaviour modification, a topic which dog training heavily leans on.

While AVSAB is based in the United States, its recommendations are highly relevant to dog owners all around the world as well as here in Singapore. AVSAB is a professional organisation whose membership includes veterinarians, veterinary behaviourists, researchers and other professionals working in animal behaviour. Its guidance is grounded in the scientific understanding of animal learning, behaviour and welfare. These are universal principles that do not change simply because a dog lives in Singapore rather than the United States.

Singapore also does not currently regulate dog training in the same way that professions such as veterinary medicine are regulated. This makes it especially important for owners to know how to evaluate a trainer’s methods, education and credentials for themselves. AVSAB’s recommendations therefore provide Singapore dog owners with a useful, evidence-based framework for separating marketing claims and training terminology from the things that actually matter when choosing someone to work with their dog.

AVSAB periodically publishes consensus position statements and educational resources addressing important and sometimes controversial areas of animal behaviour and training. Its guidance is particularly valuable because it approaches dog training not simply from the perspective of whether a technique can change behaviour, but also from the perspectives of animal welfare, behavioural science and the long-term human-animal relationship.

Its latest guide gives dog owners the following pieces of advice when choosing a trainer.

1) Training Method Matters (a lot!)

Perhaps the most important statement in AVSAB's new guide is also one of the simplest:

HOW YOUR DOG IS TRAINED MATTERS.

AVSAB states that positive reinforcement methods are effective, humane and ethical, and can be successfully used across breeds, training goals and behavioural challenges.

Conversely, AVSAB advises against training methods that rely upon force, intimidation or pain.

This includes techniques and equipment such as:

• Shock or electronic collars

• Prong collars

• Leash jerks or leash corrections

• Hitting, poking or physically intimidating a dog

• Rolling a dog onto its back

• Shouting or threatening body language

• Spray bottles and other startling or punitive techniques

  
  

Why does this matter?

Punishment can sometimes appear to "work" because it can stop behaviour in the moment. But stopping the outward behaviour is not necessarily the same thing as solving the reason the behaviour was happening.

Consider a dog that growls when frightened:

A) Punishing the growl may make the dog stop growling. But it doesn't necessarily make the dog less frightened. In fact, the dog may become more frightened of the original trigger. Additionally, they may become worried about what its owner or trainer might do to them when that trigger appears.

B) The growl is valuable information. If we punish the warning signs without addressing the fear underneath them, we may end up with a dog who is still uncomfortable but has learned not to warn us as clearly. This has great safety consequences for both owner and dog.

This distinction becomes particularly important when dealing with behavioural problems involving fear, anxiety, reactivity or aggression.

The goal of good behaviour modification should not simply be to suppress what the dog is doing. The goal should be to change the underlying emotional response.

2) Recognise Red Flags & Green Flags

Words can often reveal a great deal about someone's training philosophy. AVSAB recommends looking carefully at the language trainers use on their websites, social media and videos.

Green flags

Look for trainers who talk about concepts such as:

• Rewards (Treats, toys, praise).

• Communication, Cues, Building a relationship or strong bond.

• Force Free, Reward Based, Science-Backed.

• Prevent unwanted behaviour and teach a replacement behaviour.

• Upbeat tone of voice and friendly body language.

• Promotes outlets for normal dog behaviour, choice and overall well-being.

A good trainer should be able to explain not only what they are doing, but why they are doing it. They should also be comfortable answering questions about their methods.

For example:

• "What happens if my dog gets something wrong?"

• "What equipment will you use on my dog?"

• "Do you ever use physical corrections?"

• "How will you know if my dog is becoming stressed?"

• "What will you do if my dog is too frightened to continue?"

A competent trainer should be able to answer these questions clearly.

Red flags

AVSAB recommends being cautious when trainers rely heavily on concepts such as:

• Tools that cause pain, startle, avoidance or discomfort. Prong or shock collar, push, pull, poke, hit, leash jerks, roll onto back, twist ears / lips, rattle can, water spray bottle.

• Use words like Boss, Alpha, Pack Leader, Dominant / Submissive, respect, obey, command.

• Balanced Training

• Punish / Correct unwanted behaviour.

• Harsh tone of voice, yelling, stomping or threatening body language.

• Shut down or disallow normal dog behaviour, limits dog's choices, insist on the human taking control over the dog.

Also pay attention to what actually happens in training videos. Does the dog look relaxed and engaged? Or do you see dogs crouching, freezing, repeatedly licking their lips, attempting to move away, pinning their ears back or otherwise showing signs of fear or stress?

Social media videos showing dogs becoming very still and "obedient" after a correction may look impressive to someone unfamiliar with canine body language. But compliance and emotional wellbeing are not necessarily the same thing.

3) Understand The Terms "Balanced" vs "Force-Free"

One particularly noteworthy part of the new AVSAB guide is that it specifically lists "balanced training" as a red flag. This term can sound reassuring to dog owners. After all, "balanced" sounds moderate and reasonable.

In dog training, "balanced training" (also known as "traditional" training) generally refers to an approach that combines rewards with aversive & coercive consequences or corrections. These may include leash corrections, prong collars, electronic collars or other techniques intended to make unwanted behaviour less likely. The reason the dog complies is because it is trying to avert bad things from happening to it.

This is in contrast to "Force-Free" (Also positive reinforcement, R+ / P-, Reward-Based etc.) approach which similarly uses rewards to encourage good behaviour. However, unwanted behaviour is curbed by a combination of reinforcing alternative good behaviour, withholding rewards, Desensitisation, Counter-conditioning and other techniques that based on well proven behavioural science.

To find out which training philosophy your trainer adheres to, a useful question to ask them is:

"What happens when my dog makes a mistake?"

Compare their answers to the list of "Red Flags" vs. "Green Flags" above and you will have an idea of their training philosophy.

4) Check Your Trainer's Education & Credentials

Another important recommendation from AVSAB is to investigate a trainer's education.

Dog training is a field where experience is certainly valuable, but experience alone does not necessarily mean that someone is using current, evidence-based methods.

Someone can have twenty years of experience while practising methods that behavioural science has moved beyond.

AVSAB therefore recommends looking for trainers with formal education from modern, science-based and humane training programmes.

Their guide specifically gives examples including:

• The Academy for Dog Trainers (CTC)

• Karen Pryor Academy (KPA)

• Victoria Stilwell Academy (VSA-CDT)

  
  

AVSAB also highlights involvement with professional organisations such as the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC), as well as Fear Free® education.

Additionally, in Singapore, dog trainers who are endorsed by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a government agency under NParks, also carry the ACDT designation.

Credentials aren't everything, and AVSAB explicitly acknowledges that credentials alone cannot guarantee the quality of a trainer. But education gives owners another useful piece of information when evaluating someone's professional background.

When speaking with a potential trainer, consider asking:

• Where did you learn dog training?

• What certifications or professional education have you completed?

• Do you undertake continuing education?

• What training methods do you use?

A good professional should welcome these questions rather than become defensive about them.

5) Match the Trainer to the Problem

Before searching for a trainer, it is beneficial to first identify what you actually need help with. Teaching a puppy basic manners is very different from treating a dog that has bitten someone.

Your goals might include:

• Puppy socialisation

• Basic manners and life skills

• Loose-leash walking

• Recall

• Dog sports

• Behavioural problems

• Fear, anxiety, reactivity or aggression

The more serious or complex the behavioural problem, the more important the trainer's education and experience become. AVSAB specifically recommends that dogs experiencing fear, anxiety or aggression may require help from a veterinarian with advanced behavioural knowledge, a veterinary behaviourist or an appropriately credentialed behaviour consultant.

This is particularly important because behaviour isn't always purely a "training problem."

Pain, illness and other medical conditions can influence behaviour. Dogs suffering from significant anxiety may also sometimes benefit from behavioural medication prescribed by a veterinarian alongside an appropriate behaviour-modification programme.

A responsible dog trainer should recognise the limits of their professional scope and know when to work alongside, or refer a case to a veterinarian or veterinary behaviourist.

6) Observe Your Dog, Not Just The Trainer

Advocate for your dog.

Imagine taking your dog to their first training session. Your dog hesitates and backs away from the trainer. The trainer tells you, “Don't let him get away with that, he's trying to dominate you.” Would you know whether that explanation is supported by modern behavioural science? Would you feel comfortable questioning it?

You should!!

Training should be an enjoyable learning process for both dogs and humans. Both you and your dog should be looking forward to the next training session because it is so enjoyable!

Watch your dog's body language during training.

• Is your dog willingly participating?

• Are they comfortable approaching the trainer?

• Are they happily taking food?

• Do they have opportunities to move away or take breaks?

• Or does your dog appear frightened, frozen, overwhelmed or desperate to escape?

• Are you allowed to ask questions?

• Are you allowed to stop an exercise if you notice that your dog is uncomfortable?

• Are you allowed to tell a trainer that you are uncomfortable with something they are doing?

• And you are absolutely allowed to leave and choose another trainer.

  
  

As a dog trainer, one of the things I wish more owners knew is that you don't need to be an expert in learning theory to advocate for your dog. You don't need to know what every training acronym means. Ask questions. Watch your dog. And if something being done to your dog makes you uncomfortable, it is okay to say no.

The Bottom Line

There are many ways to make a dog stop doing something. That doesn't mean all of those methods are equally humane, safe or effective.

Modern dog training should not be about overpowering dogs, establishing dominance or making dogs afraid of the consequences of getting something wrong. It should be about teaching and learning.

The latest guidance from AVSAB reinforces a principle that an increasing body of modern behavioural science supports: we do not need to hurt, frighten or intimidate dogs in order to train them.

When choosing a dog trainer in Singapore, look beyond impressive before-and-after videos, marketing claims and promises of instant results.

• Ask about methods.

• Ask about education.

• Watch the dog's body language.

  
  

And choose a professional who treats your dog's emotional wellbeing as being every bit as important as their behaviour.

Because good dog training isn't simply about creating a dog who behaves well.

It's about helping dogs learn how to navigate our human world while preserving the trust we share with them.

Looking for a dog trainer in Singapore?

Whether you choose us or another trainer, ask them about their education, methods and what happens when your dog gets something wrong. If you'd like to learn more about our approach at The Pawsitive Focus, you can read about training philosophy and services here.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's August 2026 “How to Choose a Trainer” guide can be read on the AVSAB website.