Dear Dr. Evans,

I hope to get a new puppy over the summer. I want to get off on the right foot with him or her right away, so I'm thinking about training classes. What should I look for in a dog trainer?

—Newbie

Dear Newbie,

Congratulations! Not just on your soon-to-be best friend, but also on your being proactive. Good training makes a good dog, and a good dog is a joy.

I recommend interviewing any trainer you're considering. Even if the training will take place in the context of a class, ask if you can speak to the trainer before signing up. You want to get a sense of this person's philosophy about reward and punishment before letting him or her guide your puppy's development. The first weeks of a pup's education can be extremely formative, and you want them to be formative in a good way.

So some advice from the heart: if the trainer thinks of him/herself as The Punisher, run for the hills and take your puppy with you.

I cringe when I see a prong, a pinch, or a shock collar on a dog. There is always a better way. I once saw a so-called trainer string a dog up by his prong collar for so-called disobedience — i.e. the trainer was so inept and such a brute that the poor pup was too terrified to learn anything. Thank God, punishment-based methods have largely fallen out of favor, but please do your part by refusing to patronize such misguided trainers.

Instead, trust your pup to someone who believes in positive reinforcement training. This method uses rewards to teach and shape desired behavior. Usually, tiny bits of food treats are offered immediately after the pup executes the behavior requested. You say, "Sit"; the tidbit needs to hit the tongue the second the butt hits the floor. And most puppies love working for food — we all like getting a paycheck, right? and if your puppy is one of the, say, three puppies in the world who aren't food motivated, a talented trainer can help you find alternative rewards.

Positive reinforcement has actually become such a buzzword in the training profession that a lot of schools make sure to use the word "positive" in the their name and advertising. If you can't find someone you are comfortable with, your vet, as always, is a great resource.

And of course, make sure any training school has appropriate health standards: requiring vaccinations, proof of deworming, and so forth.

So enjoy your new pal and get him started on positive training right away.You'll probably really enjoy the classes, and your pup will enjoy learning to please you. Not to mention all the treats.

—Dr. Evans

Dr. Lynn Anne Evans of the Barrington Veterinary Clinic has been practicing veterinary medicine for 26 years. Do you have a pet question for Dr. Evans? Please email life@eastbaynewspapers.com, with "Dr. Evans" in the subject line. The Barrington Veterinary Clinic is located at 260 Waseca Ave., Barrington.