Why Dog Trainers and Behaviourists Don’t Offer Guarantee's

As a professional dog trainer, I get asked all the time: “Can you guarantee this will fix my dog’s behaviour?” It’s an understandable question - after all, who wouldn’t want a sure-fire fix?

But here’s the thing: no reputable dog trainer or behaviourist will guarantee to “fix” your dog’s behaviour problem. In fact, offering such a guarantee is considered illogical and unethical by industry standards.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise if you think about it with a bit of common sense. Let’s explore why guaranteed results are unrealistic not just in dog training, but in virtually any service that aims to change behaviour or outcomes.

Why No Guarantees in Dog Training?

Dogs Aren’t Machines: Your dog isn’t a car or a computer where you can simply swap out a part and voilà, it’s fixed.

“Behaviour is fluid and ever changing, and your dog is not a furry car or computer that can be repaired with the turn of a wrench or replacement part.”

Training success depends on many factors, and while a trainer can guide you, most factors are beyond the trainer’s direct control. In other words, dogs have minds of their own – they think, feel, and react in ways that aren’t 100% predictable.

Too Many Variables: There is no magic wand in behaviour change. A dog’s breed and genetic temperament, their past experiences, their current environment, and owner participation all play huge roles in the outcome. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Code of Ethics puts it plainly: due to variables in breeding, temperament, and owner commitment and experience, a trainer “cannot and should not guarantee the results” of training.

If a trainer promises a 100% guaranteed fix, that should raise a red flag – the APDT even warns, “Be wary of any trainer who gives you such a guarantee.”

Owner Participation is Key: Successful training is a team effort between the trainer, the owner, and the dog. I can show you the methods and create a training plan, but you have to implement it consistently. If an owner doesn’t follow through with practice sessions, boundary-setting, and the recommended techniques, the dog’s behaviour won’t change. If you don’t do the exercises, you won’t see improvement. Much of a dog’s progress happens outside of our training sessions, in daily life with you reinforcing the right behaviours, this is where the new habits really form. No trainer can be there 24/7; we rely on the owner to continue the work.

Ethical Training vs. “Quick Fixes”: Sometimes you’ll see a trainer advertising a “guaranteed fix” in X days. Usually, they charge a hefty fee, and often they may use harsh methods to suppress the behaviour quickly. Sure, you might get a short-term result, but it can come at a “heavy price tag to both your wallet and your dog’s well being.” It’s often a sales gimmick.

Ethical trainers know that true behaviour change takes time, patience, and humane methods – and they won’t guarantee results just to make a sale. Real life isn’t a remote-controlled machine; dogs are living creatures with feelings and free will. Even a well-trained dog might have an off day due to distractions or not feeling well. Understanding and accepting this reality is the first step to a successful training journey.

No Guaranteed Outcomes: Common Sense Across Professions

It’s not just dog training – no service professional can honestly guarantee specific results. Think about other fields where people help you achieve a goal:

• Mechanics: A mechanic can fix the issue they find in your car and may offer a warranty on that repair, but they can’t guarantee your car will never break down again, or even that their work on your car will fix the issue you went in with. Machines are complex; fixing one problem doesn’t mean something else won’t fail later. There’s always a chance an issue could recur or a new problem could surface. (Even brand-new cars occasionally act up despite all the guarantees!)

• Psychologists/Therapists: Mental health professionals guide you through therapy, but “no therapist or counsellor can guarantee results for a therapy client.” The outcome depends on many variables: what the client is seeking help for, how actively they participate in the process, whether they follow the advice, and their unique personal challenges. In short, if a person doesn’t engage with the therapy or isn’t ready to change, the therapist cannot magically guarantee a cure.

• Tutors/Educators: A tutor can teach you techniques and provide knowledge, but they can’t promise you’ll get an A on the exam. Your grades depend on your effort, study habits, test-day performance, and sometimes factors like test anxiety or the difficulty of the exam. The tutor provides the tools, but the student must use them. No amount of tutoring guarantees a perfect score if the student doesn’t put in the work.

• Driving Instructors: A driving instructor will give you the skills and practice opportunities to pass your driving test. However, even driving schools openly acknowledge they “cannot guarantee you will pass” the road test – the student needs to practice on their own and stay calm and prepared for the exam. Passing the test depends on the student’s effort and how they perform on that particular day, not just on the instructor’s lessons.

• Veterinarians: Vets can perform surgeries or prescribe treatments to help your pet, but they cannot guarantee that a procedure will 100% cure an illness or that a surgery will have the desired outcome in every case. Animals, like humans, can respond unpredictably to treatments. A vet might say, “We estimate an X% chance of recovery,” but they won’t promise “I guarantee your dog will be cured.” There’s always some risk or variability in medical treatment – no vet (and no doctor) can change that reality. As many in the medical field will tell you, there is “no guarantee of the outcome for medical care for humans or pets.”

• Doctors: Similarly, your physician can give you the best treatment based on medical science, but they will never (if they’re honest) guarantee that you’ll be cured. Every patient is different. “Although every physician wishes to do their best, no doctor can guarantee a cure or promise a perfect result in every case.” Doctors can estimate success rates and give prognoses, but absolute guarantees are not part of medicine. Unexpected complications or individual variations mean results can vary widely.

These examples could go on. In any profession where humans, animals, or complex systems are involved, absolute guarantees are impossible. We all provide a service to work toward an end goal, but there’s always a degree of uncertainty. It’s just common sense.

What Can a Good Trainer Promise?

While we can’t guarantee the outcome, here’s what a good dog trainer or behaviourist will promise you instead:

• Professional Expertise and Effort: I guarantee to put forth my best effort, using my training, experience, and proven, humane techniques to help you and your dog. I will commit to your success and work diligently towards the goals we set for your dog’s behaviour. For example, I promise to use modern, science-based methods and to tailor the training plan to your dog’s needs – essentially doing everything in my power to set you and your dog up for success.

• Honesty and Ethics: I will be upfront about what I can or cannot do for your dog. If a case is beyond my scope, I’ll tell you or refer you to someone with specialised expertise. I won’t sell you unrealistic dreams. You’ll get honest assessments and realistic expectations from me. This also means I refuse to use any quick-fix, harmful techniques just to make a problematic behaviour stop momentarily. Your dog’s welfare and long-term progress come first.

• Guidance and Support: I’ll guide you through the process and support you as you learn to train and manage your dog. Think of me as a coach or teacher – I provide the knowledge, exercises, and feedback. I will show you how to handle situations and will be there to troubleshoot difficulties. I will educate and empower you to understand your dog better. Together, we’ll celebrate improvements and work through setbacks.

• A Partnership: I can assure you that if you put in the work, I will be right there working just as hard alongside you. The more consistent and engaged you are in the training plan, the more progress we’ll make. I can promise you that commitment and teamwork often lead to wonderful improvements – many owners see major positive changes when they follow through. I essentially guarantee that I won’t give up on you or your dog as long as you’re trying. We’re in this together.

The Only “Guarantee”: Doing Nothing Changes Nothing

At the end of the day, about the only thing that’s almost guaranteed is this: if you don’t take any action to address your dog’s behaviour, it’s not going to get better on its own. That might sound blunt, but it’s common sense.

If you ignore the problem or decide not to seek help, you can pretty much count on the bad behaviour continuing or even worsening.

On the flip side, while hiring a trainer and working hard isn’t a 100% guarantee of perfection, it greatly increases your chances of improvement. Think of it as stacking the odds in your favour. With professional guidance and consistent effort, you’re giving your dog the best possible shot at overcoming their issues. Most clients who commit to the process do see significant positive changes – no, not overnight miracles, but real progress over time.

Bottom line: No dog trainer or behaviourist can responsibly offer you a guaranteed fix, just as a mechanic or doctor can’t promise you perfection.

But we can offer you knowledge, support, and our dedicated effort. The rest depends on factors we navigate together – your dog’s uniqueness and your own commitment to the training plan. Instead of a guarantee, what you get is a partnership working towards a happier, better-behaved dog. And that partnership, driven by common sense and realistic expectations, is your best bet for success.

So next time you’re looking for help with your dog, be wary of anyone who does promise a guaranteed outcome.

Real professionals will give you an honest answer like: “No guarantees – but I will do everything I can to help, and if you put in the work, we’ll make it as good as it can be.”

That’s the truth in dog training, as obvious as it may seem.

And remember – doing nothing guarantees nothing, but doing something opens the door to improvement.

That’s as close to a promise as you’re going to get in the world of dog training and beyond!