[brytlea]

Hmm...I trained golden retrievers for the most part (that's what I raise/show). I always turned away dogs with aggression problems, for instance, because it wasn't something I felt comfortable handling.
I also stopped training (professionally) about the time clickers came into vogue, so I can't say if I would have liked or used it. However, the principal is sound (insofar as I understand it--I have never gone to a seminar on it tho).
But, you just underlined my point. There are alot of different ideas about what works, and it depends on the dog and the particular problem you're dealing with. Who decides? Better to let the market decide (in my opinion). Things that don't work will be cast into the dustbin (for the most part).
susie

[HairOfTheDog]

I love Golden Retrievers, and as far as clickers go... it's not really the device... it's the type.., and you know who they are. :~D

They're fine for prepping people with pretty good dogs to go show in obedience. But that's about where their experience ends. When I was trying to solve a rather embarrassing fault in my Labrador (he'd get up and mount the dog next to him in the sits and downs at dog shows), I trained under every single dog trainer in town for practice in different groups, and all of them were just aghast at both my uncouth strong-willed dog, and all the rather severe methods I tried to fix him :~D

Finally I ended up with a Schutzhund trainer who is a Dog-God. And I was able to end up with both a dog I could get titled, and a dog I could actually take places and do fun things with! :~D

[Tallguy]

I think that part of the 'game' here will be to force the newly licensed dog trainers to report dogs with "aggression issues". Even if the State doesn't specifically require reporting, the insurer will -- and there's always an insurance company lurking in the background when professional licensing is involved.

Of course, this will all be counter-productive as owners with certain breeds, or dogs that might have aggression problems, will simply not seek to have their dogs train with professionals.