Becoming a dog trainer
Since starting this page, I’ve received several e-mails asking me how to become a dog trainer. The answer is not simple, because there are no established standards (yet) in the field, and no standard ways to learn the trade.
What I’ve done is establish a list of questions and answers, which I will add to as time goes by. This is a work in progress and is missing a lot of information. If you have a question that is not answered below, e-mail me and I’ll do my best to post the reply on this page.
Who certifies dog trainers?
Nobody, officially; this is an unregulated field. At this time, the only credible organization certifying trainers is the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). NADOI has an extensive evaluation process, and only certifies experienced trainers. A NADOI certification is a definate feather in your cap, but that option isn’t available to new instructors.
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is the current largest professional association, and membership is open to anyone. The APDT just established a testing and certification program. It’s hard to predict how successful the certification will be. To read more about the program, visit the APDT website.
The APDT is a larger and better known organization than NADOI, so they will have the power of publicity. However, testing is expensive and you have to travel to the test location on a specific date, so it may not be popular among trainers. From what I’ve read, there are no experience requirements so it might be a good option for newer trainers. When I start hearing more about the quality of the program I will post the info here.
At this time, NADOI and the APDT are the only organizations recognized by professional trainers and veterinarians.
You will find that most of the “certified” trainers or “master trainers” are certified only by the school that trained them; hardly an impartial rating! While there are a few good schools for dog trainers, the majority of them are not worth paying for and certainly don’t qualify one to be a trainer. More on this later.
What qualities do I need in order to be a good trainer?
First of all, you should be aware that your primary job will not involve training dogs; it will involve training people! Most of your time will be spent teaching the owner how to train his or her dog. Good communication and people skills are a top priority. You will need a great deal of flexibility, as well as the ability to see other people’s point of view.
Each person has a different attitude towards dog ownership and different expectations of their dog’s behavior. While you may be able to educate people, you will rarely if ever be able to change their point of view. If that bothers you greatly or offends your ego, don’t enter this field.
You will often be caught up in highly emotional family disputes, especially if you do in-home training. The dog may be only one of many problems within a household, or it may be bringing underlying family problems to a head. So in addition to giving training advice, you may end up as a mediator between family members.
You need to have the desire to constantly be learning new training methods and solutions. A good trainer doesn’t simply learn one way to do things and hope that it works in all situations.
You need to care about dogs, but be able to handle the fact that some stories will not end happily.
You need to be able to manage your own business, unless you end up being one of the VERY rare trainers who works for someone else. Don’t go into this field thinking that you will make big money; it will most likely end up being a part-time hobby.
Can I go to school to be a dog trainer?
Accredited colleges do not offer dog training programs. Most colleges do offer some courses which would be beneficial as background information, such as Psychology of Learning or similar classes dealing with applied learning theory.
There are several private dog training academies throughout the country, most not worth the price of attendance. Remember, NADOI and the APDT are the only “certification” entities recognized by trainers and veterinarians in the US, so an individual school’s “Master Trainer” or “Certified Trainer” title may wow your future students, but is a rather meaningless accolade.
If should decide to go to a training school, avoid the ones boasting that they can teach you everything about all aspects of dog training in one course. Each field of dog training is its own seperate field of expertise, and it takes years to become expert in any ONE area. “Learn obedience training, behavior problem solving, personal protection training, police dog training, tracking, search and rescue, assistance dog training, and how to run your own business in just six weeks,” is not a realistic claim. There are no “secrets of professional dog trainers.”
Another problem with most training schools is that they tend to teach only one “method.” There is no one training method you can learn that will work on all dogs in all situations, or even come close. In order to be a good trainer, you have to know many, many training methods, and preferably know enough about canine behavior and how dogs learn to make up your own methods to fit a given situation.
Many schools teach outdated, overly forceful training methods. Be wary of academies that make statements like “We don’t believe in using food to train, because…..” “We teach you to train dogs using love and praise as their reward,” or “No show dog training, just practical results.” While this may all sound good, it usually isn’t.
And, just as anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, anyone can run a school for dog trainers. Buyer beware!
There is one training school that I’ve found that I feel is worthy of being recommended and listed on this site, and that is the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers. I haven’t attended myself, so I cannot vouch for it 100%, but what I’ve seen and heard is good. Respected trainer and seminar presenter Jean Donaldson, (the author of Culture Clash) is one of the instructors.
They teach modern, humane training methods and give you a good foundation of understanding how dogs learn. Their curriculum is complete and realistic. Their 6-week course (titled Certificate in Training and Counselling)looks like it provides a well rounded education in pet dog training and behavior counselling. For more information, you can contact them at:
Academy for Dog TrainersSan Francisco SPCA
2500 Sixteenth Street
San Francisco, CA 94103-4213
(415) 554-3095
Can I learn to be a good trainer without attending a training school?
Absolutely. Many of the nation’s top trainers have never seen the inside of a formal training school!
How old to you have to be?
There is no minimum age requirement. I started training dogs when I was 11 years old.
What are the best ways to learn to be a trainer?
- Learn from other good trainers,
- Attend seminars and conferences put on by expert trainers (the APDT conference is excellent),
- Read training books and watch training videos. Lots of them.
- Train dogs. Lots of them.
Learning from other trainers is ideal if you can find some good ones in your area to work with. Attending their classes, taking lessons from them, and eventually acting as an assistant instructor will give you great hands-on experience.
Attending seminars and conferences is one of the best possible ways to expand your training knowledge, learn new methods, and keep up to date on the latest advances in training. The APDT hosts an annual 5-day conference, with top trainers speaking on a wide range of topics. NADOI also has an annual conference. Some of the top trainers and seminar presenters today are Karen Pryor, Gary Wilkes, Jean Donaldson, Pam Reid, Steve White, Ted Turner (not the rich one!), Donna Duford, Terry Ryan, Marian and Bob Bailey, Sue Sterburg, Dawn Jecs, and Patricia McConnell. While most seminars are hosted independently, Puppyworks sponsors and organizes many seminars by nationally and internationally known dog trainers and behaviorists. It’s a good place to start.
Reading training books and watching videos lacks the hands-on element, but can give you a knowledge base exceeding that of many experienced professional trainers. For a start, read and watch everything listed in my Books pages, especially those for professional trainers. The APDT also has a top-ten list of books and videos recommended by APDT members. You have to scroll down a bit to get to the section for trainers.
Then read everything your local library has on dog training. Subscribe to training publications such as NADOI’s Forward!, the Clicker Journal, the APDT Newsletter, Off Lead, Front and Finish, and DogSports Magazine.
Training dogs is the only way to get hands on experience and test your skills. I suggest you start by volunteering at your local animal shelter as a trainer once you feel you have a broad enough knowledge base. You get experience, while increasing the adoptability of the dogs….it’s a win-win situation.
Train as many of the resident dogs in obedience as possible. You can even hone your instructing skills by volunteering to meet with your pupil’s new owners and get them started in obedience, as well as offer advice on any minor behavior problems. If there is no instructor in your area who will let you serve as an assistant in their classes, perhaps you could start holding small classes for adopted shelter dogs free of charge through the shelter, or charge a small fee to be donated to the shelter.
And, of course train your own dog(s) to the highest level possible!
Are there any books I can read on how to become a dog trainer?
There is one book on the subject, called So You Want To Be A Dog Trainer, by Nicole Wilde. This is the book for aspiring trainers. For more info, check out my Books for Professional Trainers section.
What does a good dog trainer need to know?
What follows is a PARTIAL list which I will add to as time permits.
- How dogs learn/learning theory
- When to take on a training challenge and when to refer it to someone else
- Liability awareness
- Dog body language and how to read dog behavior
- First aid/CPR for dogs and humans
At least four methods for teaching each exercise below; one using food as a reward, one using play as a reward, one using praise as a reward, and one using negative reinforcement for when all else fails.
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Come
- Walk on a loose leash
- Heel
- Stand for examination
Several methods for solving the following minor behavior problems, even if you only intend to teach basic obedience:
- Jumping on people
- Running away when off leash
- Excessive barking
- House soiling
- Destructive chewing
This article written and copyrighted 2001 by Jessi Clark-White. All rights are reserved, and this article may not be duplicated in any manner without written permission from the author.
