Methodology · v1.1
How we score and order listings
We score how completely dog training programs publish the details owners need — not training quality, outcomes, or whether a program is right for your dog.
In plain English
- What we measure: how completely a program publishes pricing, method, and program details.
- What we don't measure: training quality, results, or fit for your dog.
- Paid placement: featured ads never change scores, verification, or organic order.
What we do and don't measure
We measure how completely a dog training program publishes information about its services. We do not measure training quality, outcomes, or whether a program is right for your dog. A high Transparency Score means a listing is easy to evaluate — not that the business is better than one with a low score.
This page is the published standard behind every Transparency Score, verified badge, and city-page ranking on Barklen. We version it so the rules can evolve in public.
Transparency Score
Each listing gets a score from 0 to 100. It is a weighted mix of three parts — not a flat average — because shoppers do not weigh every detail equally.
Price transparency
45%
Share of shoppable programs (excluding consultations) with published pricing.
Method transparency
30%
Explicit force-free or balanced = 100. Vague wording = 35. Not stated = 0.
Program clarity
25%
Average of duration, focus areas, description, and inclusions across shoppable programs.
How the math works
transparency_score =
(price_transparency × 0.45) +
(method_transparency × 0.30) +
(program_clarity × 0.25)Rounded to a whole number. The same value appears on profiles and drives directory sort — one formula, one number, everywhere.
Worked example: price 89, method 100, clarity 100 → 40.05 + 30 + 25 = 95.
| Component | Weight | How it's calculated | How to improve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price transparency | 45% | Share of shoppable programs (excluding consultations) where price is not marked unpublished. | Publish package or session prices on your website. |
| Method transparency | 30% | Explicit force-free or balanced disclosure = 100. Vague euphemism = 35. Not stated = 0. | State whether you are force-free or balanced in plain language — not “relationship-based” alone. |
| Program clarity | 25% | Average of per-program scores (out of 100): duration 35, focus tags 25, description 25, includes 15. Consultations excluded. | Add program length first, then focus areas and a short description; list inclusions when you can. |
Score bands
80–100
Highly transparent
55–79
Moderately transparent
30–54
Limited information
0–29
Minimal information
Listing cards only show a score badge at 80 or above. Low scores are never shown in red — they describe the listing, not the quality of the business.
If fewer than two components can be calculated (for example, a listing with no shoppable programs), we show “Not enough data to score” instead of inventing a number.
Within program clarity, duration weighs highest because it is the most consistently published and most useful to a shopper. Includes weighs lowest because most trainer websites do not itemize inclusions — their absence should not zero out an otherwise well-documented program.
How listings are ordered
Programs that publish detailed information appear first. Listings with limited published information appear lower on the page. Within each group, ordering accounts for review rating and review volume, with newer listings weighted toward the category average until they have enough reviews to establish a record.
A program with a single five-star review has not demonstrated the same track record as one with two hundred reviews averaging 4.8. We account for this by weighting listings with few reviews toward the category average until more reviews accumulate.
What “verified” means
- 1
Business license
Confirmed active with the city or county where the program operates.
- 2
Liability insurance
Current coverage confirmed, with carrier and policy period on file.
- 3
Certifications
Any claimed credential checked against the issuing body’s registry.
Verification is a factual check, not an endorsement. We do not evaluate training methods, assess outcomes, or inspect facilities. A verified badge means we confirmed these three specific things and nothing more.
Recognised certifications
- CPDT-KA
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CCPDT).
- CPDT-KSA
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CCPDT).
- KPA-CTP
- Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner.
- CBCC-KA
- Certified Behavior Consultant Canine – Knowledge Assessed (CCPDT).
- IAABC
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants member or certified.
- IACP
- International Association of Canine Professionals member.
- APDT
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers member.
- CCPDT
- Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers credential family.
- ABCDT
- Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer certification.
- VSA-CDT
- Victoria Stilwell Academy Certified Dog Trainer.
- AKC CGC Evaluator
- Authorized American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
Advertising and paid placement
Featured placement is paid advertising. It is clearly labeled wherever it appears. It has no effect on transparency scores, verification status, or the ordering of any other listing. We do not accept payment to raise a score, add a badge, or change organic position. Free listings receive quote requests on exactly the same terms as paid ones.
Where our data comes from
- Public business records and business websites
- Owner-submitted information for claimed listings
- Google review data, summarized — we never republish review text verbatim
- AI-assisted extraction with human review before publication
We refresh listings on an ongoing basis and aim to re-verify published profiles regularly. Every listing carries a last-verified date so you can see how recent the snapshot is.
For an applied example of how we analyse the catalog at scale, see The State of Dog Training in America 2026 report— aggregates on pricing, methods, credentials, and disclosure.
What we get wrong
Business websites change and our data can go stale. Extraction from unstructured websites is imperfect. Some programs publish little publicly despite doing excellent work — a low transparency score often reflects an old website rather than a poor program. If something on your listing is wrong, tell us.
Corrections
Use Report an error on any profile, or claim your listing to correct details yourself. We aim to review correction requests within five business days.
Changelog
Version 1.1 — August 2026
Program clarity now uses partial credit per program (duration 35, focus tags 25, description 25, includes 15) averaged across shoppable programs, instead of requiring all fields for a full score. Published Transparency Scores will shift for listings that document some but not all program fields.
Version 1.0 — August 2026
Initial published standard: weighted Transparency Score (price 45% / method 30% / clarity 25%), Bayesian review adjustment in directory order, three-part verification definition, and advertising disclosure.
Common questions
- Does a high Transparency Score mean a trainer is better?
- No. We measure how completely a program publishes information about its services. We do not measure training quality, outcomes, or whether a program is right for your dog.
- Does paid featured placement change my Transparency Score?
- No. Featured placement is paid advertising, clearly labeled, and has no effect on transparency scores, verification status, or the organic ordering of other listings.
- What does a verified badge mean?
- Verification is a factual check of business license, liability insurance, and claimed certifications. It is not an endorsement of training methods, outcomes, or facilities.
- How can a business raise its Transparency Score?
- Publish pricing on programs, state your training method clearly (force-free or balanced), and document each program with duration, focus areas, a description, and inclusions. Price disclosure carries the most weight in the formula; program clarity awards partial credit so missing inclusions alone does not zero out an otherwise clear program.