Who is the best dog trainer / behaviourist and why?

As it says on the tin.
Who has helped you most in your training of your dog and why?

For me - it has been people who have helped with specific areas -
so

Barbara Sykes on aggression. Her account of how she coped with a severely damaged dog was an inspiration to me. Admittedly I cherrypicked, but I`d recommend that with any trainer.
Her website is here:
http://www.bordercollies.co.uk/

Jean Donaldson for general training hints because she put into a cohesive strructure what I`d been doing instinctively and gave me a framework to move
forward with.
Her website is here:
http://jeandonaldson.com/

Richard Curtis for a slim HTM book that gave me lots of ideas on training that was fun for both me and the dog.
website here:
http://www.k9freestyle.co.uk/

Nina Bondarenko (both)
Suzanne Jaffa
Ann Bussey (both)
Mike Snow
Rod Roberts
Ismael de Vos
Karen Pryor (both)
Ivan Balabanov
Bernhard Flinks
Kamal Fernandez
John Rogerson (both)
Joanna Hill
Geert de Bolster (both)

I have trained with all of the above, some for a long time, and all, without exception have given me fabulous tips and help.

I am sure there are more but those I can think of off the top of my head.

I have not mentioned those whose books I have read only as of course there are many more.

Neither have I mentioned those whose seminars I attended as a spectator

The people I have mentioned have helped ME and MY dogs with particular aspects of my training.

ps the above are not listed in any particular order

pps both means that are officially both, ie a behaviourist and a dog trainer.

myself

Turid Rugaas

FOAL Farm Animal Rescue Centre

the philosopher Seneca

kevin behan

temple grandin

ian dunbar

cognitive behaviour therapy

having a baby

a lady wo took her border collie along to a club i used to instruct at and just whispered....she was the best dog trainer i saw

Jean Donaldson - her wonderful 'The Culture Clash' confirmed how vital it was for me to let my young Lab mix with other dogs EVEN though he was way over the top with excitement at meeting other dogs.

I had been given different advice previously but was not happy and Jean Donaldson's book gave me the confidence to follow my intution and allow my dog to mix freely.


Our trainer, Nicky - she was recommended to me by someone else and she helped me understand Dexter far more and also taught me how to keep him calmer. Huge help.


Various other trainers whose books and articles I have read. Sometimes one can find a single tip in a whole book that makes a massive difference

Thanks. Could you perhaps recommend a couple of websites or ways of getting further info?
It`s always good to expand my knowledge.

I had a lesson from a trainer who had us all whispering commands - it was fascinating.

Cesar Milan: All though I don't rienact his methods for my puppy what he has to say has provided me with a lot of knowledge, I really did used to love watching his shows but now I have my own pooch never get around to watching I don't care what anyone says about him.

Junnita Smith (website is Furry Little Monsters) located in Essex I found her website having found a ref for her on her page about a dog that sounded a lot like Millie. Junnita as an animal behaviourist/trainer she does cats and other animals too!! Her mehtods are that of kindness and I got her to get mum to see the light. She came round and assessed Millie and gave some advice and explained to mum why newspapers arn't effective, I would highly recomend her if your having trouble with doggies.

http://ninabondarenko.co.uk/

http://pages.123-reg.co.uk/j04nn4246...ing/index.html Joanna Hill

http://trainperview.com/ Ivan Balabanov

http://www.clickertraining.com/ Karen Pryor

http://www.rodroberts.co.uk/

http://johnrogerson.com/

http://www.b-flinks.de/

http://www.debolster.be/site/ Geert de Bolster

Mike, Suzanne and Anne do not have websites for training stuff etc.

we did an agility workshop where we used no commands just bodylanguage...now that was interesting

Joyce Stranger - for giving me the confidence I needed to know the direction I wanted to go in in respect of training