Something else I thought of was that I would like to see that a trainer was really passionate about dogs and about what they were doing - rather than someone who couldn't really be bothered and was actually doing it just to make some money.

I If I took her to training though and asked her to do something simple that she knows well, such as sit, her response would be 'why? What's the point?' wheras my JRT Rogue would be 'sure, what else can I do to please you?'

Do trainers see certain breeds differently,??
I had things said about my boxers attenion span and his playfullness before he was even met ..

Well as a dog training instructor myself (not as my main income) and also a competitor and a person who keeps up their CPD my views are as follows:

There is, as yet, not nationally recognised benchmark against which all trainers are measured.

The KCAI is, IMV, the most robust scheme out there and the title of KCAI is going to be, IMHO the one which most people aspire to achieve.

Having said that, there are a huge number of dog training instructors who have nothing after their name bar a full stop, and some of those are far more effective than many who have a plethora of (sometimes spurious) letters after their name.

The legal definition of competency is someone who has the requisite skills, knowledge, ability, training and experience to teach others.

I am continually amazed at those who have only had ONE dog of ONE breed who appear to believe they are in a position to advise others!

ALL dogs can be trained to achieve their full potential, just like humans.

Just as not all humans have the ability to be a brain surgeon, concert pianist or olympic athlete, not all dogs have the makings of a (insert relevant discipline champion).

The problem with people who only train (insert relevant breed) is that they often do not have the knowledge of how to tackle dogs that have a different outlook on life (eg handler dependant v non dependent breeds).

Above and beyond the legal definition of competency I am looking for someone with whom I can gel.

I do not necessarily have to agree with or incorporate all of their views or techniques into my training, but I will generally agree with the overall ethos.

I have attended training courses with several superb trainers with whom I have little in common to increase my SKATE and develop my "eye".

The old saying of "the only thing two dog trainers will agree on is that the third trainer is wrong" is a trite if true maxim.

ALL breeds can be trained to a high standard, and if you do not aim high you will not reach high.

the one thing is would add is i would put people skills at all times, written and verbal, as the first and foremost 'qualification'.
As most often you arent training the dog, you are training the owner to train the dog.
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I`ve been to a lot of trainers over the years.
I have learned to look at methods first. If they use methods I`m comfortable with, I`m happy to stay.
The best trainer I`ve had didn`t have any qualifications. The most highly qualified trainer I`ve had told me to do something stupid. So now I look at their methods.