What is the difference between an obedience trainer and a behaviorist?
An obedience trainer teaches basic obedience commands such as sit, down, stay and come. A behaviorist is a person specialized in a specific animal behavior, much like the difference between a doctor and a psychologist. An obedience trainer does behavioral training, teaching a dog a specific behavior. A behaviorist does behavioral modification, changing the way a dog perceives and responds to a specific situation. The most common reasons a person would seek the advice of a behavioral specialist are for aggression or severe separation anxiety issues. The most common reason a person would seek an obedience trainer is to teach the dog better manners.
