I’m a dog trainer who worked with Lady Gaga – signs an animal is dangerous and the ways to pick the best pet for you
A CELEBRITY dog trainer has revealed the best ways to determine which pup is right for you, including signs that it could be dangerous.
Certified professional trainer and TikTok sensation Sam Hoke told the U.S. Sun you should spend a good amount of time analyzing a dog’s behavior before making a final decision.
“You wanna make sure they had a decent upbringing,” Hoke told the U.S. Sun.
“It’s more so about their behavior and temperament. You need to see how they interact with you.”
The trainer, who goes by @dogtrainerofficial on TikTok, said you when you first meet a dog the two of you should take a walk together.
While hanging out with the pup, it’s important to watch how it responds to cars, other dogs, and children if you have a family.
Hoke said analyzing these behaviors is especially important if you’re adopting from a shelter.
Much like humans, the dog expert said the first four and eight weeks of a puppy’s life are incredibly important.
So if you’re meeting the furry guy after this point, it’s best to get as much info as you can. However, be wary of what others say.
“I wouldn’t trust the information a whole lot of the information that you get from the shelters cause a lot of them are just trying to push dogs through,” Hoke said.
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“A lot of people will come into sessions with a rescue dog and have all this back story, and I’ll meet the dog and know that none of that is true.”
DANGEROUS SIGNS
Hoke has worked with plenty of dogs in his illustrious career, but he said an aggressive animal is hard to find.
Instead, future owners should look for signs that a dog is scared as this is when the creature may lash out.
“Aggressive dogs are rare. They’re more so reactive, and it comes off in the form of aggression,” Hoke said.
This reactivity mainly stems from fearfulness or the job role the dog has assumed.
Finding a secure dog is important as it may come off as aggressive if it feels the need to protect itself or its family.
So just know if a dog is growing or biting at others it is usually because something is making it afraid.
“A lot of the time humans are just reinforcing the wrong behaviors because they don’t know,” Hoke said.
“If you give them the tools to interact with dogs in the right way they can reduce that reactivity.
“That being said, if you have a breed that requires a lot of effort, it’s not going to be as easy.”
Hoke has also revealed to the U.S. Sun the three warning signs you may have picked the wrong breed for your family.
When he isn’t sharing tips on his TikTok, the celeb trainer is working at his exclusive dog training facility in Los Angeles, California, Ranch Dog Training.