With ABC There’s a Dog Training School Near You!
A dog trainer program can prepare you for a great career, but not everyone lives close to a school offering dog training classes – or do they? Our certification program is a flexible and affordable alternative. Animal Behavior College has been certifying students through our online dog obedience trainer course since 1998. So no matter where you live, there IS a dog training school near you.
And there’s so much to love about being a dog obedience trainer! Dog training is an active, engaging career that lets you work with dogs all the time, teaching them obedience skills and guiding owners through the steps so that they can reinforce learning at home with consistency and (hopefully) patience. In the process, you help dogs and their owners create a lifelong bond.
In addition, teaching puppies and adult dogs to master the basic commands – sit, stay, down, heel, come, off, and leave it– not only makes them good canine citizens, some of these skills could potentially save their lives. Well-mannered dogs just live better lives; they aren’t as likely to be abandoned as an owner surrender at a shelter because of behavior problems.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential in California
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Academy of Pet Careers, Indeed.com and Talent.com 2024. Hourly rates may vary in your area.
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential in Texas
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential in Virginia
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Academy of Pet Careers, Indeed.com and Talent.com 2024. Own Your Own Business earnings statistics reference the prices charged in 2025 for private in-person dog training lessons, based on what multiple companies charge across various cities in the specified state. Hourly rates may vary in your area.
What Does ABC’s Dog Training School Look Like?
ABC’s dog training certification course combines the reasonable cost and flexibility of distance learning with the added benefit of working one-on-one with a professional dog trainer in your local area. If you are Googling “dog training school near me” refine your search to “Animal Behavior College.”
ABC’s comprehensive dog obedience training curriculum focuses on a positive reinforcement dog training philosophy that is science-based. Our digital curriculum is 11 stages long, expands over 950 pages and includes 29 instructional dog training videos.
Once you have completed the online part of the course and have a strong foundation, you move on to the externship, which is where you get paired up with a mentor trainer in your area. By working alongside a professional trainer, watching them, and getting real-world training experience, you’ll gain confidence and hone your newly learned skills.
Dog Training Program Curriculum Description By Stage
ABC’s Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program is designed to provide you with the knowledge to teach dog owners the skills to train their own dogs humanely and effectively.
Our dog training course emphasizes the need to understand dog behavior problems, as well as provide solutions using training techniques based on scientific research and experience. In addition to understanding the reasons underlying a dog’s behavior, dog obedience instructors must have a range of behavioral solutions at their disposal. We also provide you with the tools to become an effective communicator and teacher.
Stage 1 – A BASIC OVERVIEW OF CANINES – 21 Days
Stage 1 of our online dog training course provides you with basic knowledge about canines. As a professional dog trainer, you need to understand dog breed characteristics, social developmental periods and proper socialization techniques, basic nutrition, disease prevention and canine communication. This stage provides foundational information about normal dog behavior and ideal canine husbandry practices that you can refer back to when you are working with clients.
Having a clear understanding of dog behavior can help you clarify to your clients the difference between normal dog behavior occurring at inconvenient or inappropriate times and abnormal dog behavior. Being able to educate your clients on basic dog care can even help them prevent potential behavioral and health problems from developing later on.
Stage 2 – LEARNING THEORY – 21 Days
Stage 2 of our dog training course provides you with a strong understanding of the scientific principles of how dogs learn. Knowing the basic principles of behavioral theory—classical conditioning, the four quadrants of operant conditioning and the four stages of learning—will help you train dogs successfully. Understanding how to use conditioned reinforcers (e.g., a clicker, spoken word, hand signal) and unconditioned reinforcers (e.g., treats, praise, pets) is equally essential.
This stage also discusses specific dog training philosophies, including the LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) approach and the Humane Hierarchy, as training- and behavior-modification techniques, such as luring, capturing and shaping, as well as desensitization and counter-conditioning.
Stage 3 – A DOG TRAINER’S TOOLBOX – 14 Days
In this stage, we introduce you to a variety of dog training tools and products, and their proper usage. These include, but are not limited to, clickers, treats, collars and harnesses, leashes, housetraining aids, crates, behavior deterrents, toys and safety equipment. You will learn that although a key component to a successful dog training program is a mutually committed relationship between dogs and their owners, proper training tools can help expedite the process.
Stage 4 – DOG TRAINING FUNDAMENTALS – 14 Days
This stage provides you with a history and evolution of dog training principles and techniques. It explains the differences between obedience training, behavior modification and problem-solving and discusses the various types of training programs.
It also delves into the distinctions between temperament and personality, and how to identify innate canine behaviors and characteristics. This knowledge will be a valuable tool when you begin training clients’ dogs.
This stage also introduces you to working dogs: service, emotional support and therapy. You will learn the differences between these dogs and the roles they play in the lives of the people who need them.
Stage 5 – BASIC OBEDIENCE DOG TRAINING CUES – 28 Days
Stage 5 of our dog training course contains step-by-step instructions on how to teach basic obedience cues by following the LIMA approach and the Humane Hierarchy, and adhering to the four stages of learning. These detailed instructions will help you better serve your future clients—both two-legged and four-legged. The dog obedience behaviors and cues covered include Release, Focus, Sit and Sit-Stay, Down and Down-Stay, Come, Loose-leash Walking, Heel, Leave-it, Take-it, Stand and Fetch.
This stage also provides solutions to the most common training challenges you will likely encounter while working with clients.
Stage 6 – EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING – 28 Days
This dog training stage teaches you how to resolve the most common behavioral issues owners have with their dogs, including housetraining problems, excessive barking, inappropriate chewing and jumping, puppy nipping, digging, begging, stealing food and bolting out of doors.
This stage explains how to address these behavioral issues by creating effective treatment plans that follow the Humane Hierarchy and adhere to the LIMA approach. As a certified dog trainer, you will likely encounter a wide variety of dog behavior problems. This stage gives you a variety of solutions to offer your clients.
Stage 7 – DOG TRAINING SAFETY – 7 Days
Stage 7 teaches you how to conduct safe and stress-free dog training sessions. You will learn how to recognize stress signals that could lead to dog aggression, how to reduce and/or prevent them, and what to do if a dog becomes aggressive. It also discusses how to recognize signs of stress in clients and how to address them.
This stage also discusses the necessary precautions to ensure everyone’s safety (including your own) in group classes and private lessons, and how to create a stress-free, positive learning environment for clients and their dogs.
Stage 8 – PUBLIC SPEAKING & CONDUCTING TRAINING LESSONS – 7 Days
Stage 8 introduces you to public speaking best practices and how to interact with clients. As a dog trainer, you will need to be able to speak to and motivate people. We provide you with a variety of techniques you can use to communicate clearly and effectively.
In addition, the manner in which you speak and how you organize your instruction is crucial to being a successful dog trainer. As such, this stage also discusses how to convey dog training information to clients, and how to create comprehensive lesson plans and homework assignments for group classes and private lessons. It also provides details on how to set-up and conduct remote dog training sessions.
Stage 9 – BUILDING A DOG TRAINING BUSINESS – 21 Days
This dog training stage provides you with everything you need to know in order to launch your dog training business. Starting with choosing a business name and type, and creating a business plan, this stage goes into detail on how to market your business through networking online and with other pet professionals; how to create a compelling website through SEO best practices; how to use social media and traditional media to expand your customer reach; and how to market to specific demographics
This stage also explains how to run your business, including developing and adhering to a budget; creating contracts and forms; and delivering quality customer service. If you prefer to work for someone else instead of starting your own business, we also discuss how to write an effective résumé and cover letter; and how to have a successful interview.
Stage 10 – EXTERNSHIP AND VOLUNTEER SHELTER HOURS – Varies in length
As you enter this stage of the program, you’ll become part of ABC’s international campaign to improve shelter dog rehabilitation and adoption. The campaign is called “Students Saving Lives”.
As an ABC dog training student, you will be asked to volunteer at a local animal shelter, humane society or rescue organization of your choice. This will give you a chance to practice some of the techniques you have learned thus far and prepare you for the upcoming in person training with your Mentor Trainer.
You will be practicing basic dog training techniques and be given an opportunity to start building a relationship with the organization of your choice. This portion of the program can be rewarding for you, as you are able to practice what you have learned while helping shelter dogs become better candidates for adoption.
The second portion of this stage is your externship. During this portion, you will work with an ABC Mentor Trainer, observing and participating in the instruction of basic obedience cues, such as: sit, stay, come, down, heel and loose leash walking. You will have a chance to work with individual dogs under the guidance and supervision of your Mentor Trainer.
You will be applying the various dog training techniques just observed as well as the ones learned in the previous stages. Your Mentor Trainer will evaluate you on your teaching performance and provide suggestions, guidance and constructive critique of your skills.
Pet CPR and First Aid Certification
Being a professional in any animal care career is accompanied by the responsibility of being able to react calmly and safely in the event of an emergency. Animal Behavior College’s Pet First Aid and CPR Certification will give you the knowledge needed to respond safely and effectively to medical emergencies like choking, heat stroke, bleeding injuries and poisonous bites from insects and snakes.
You’ll also learn how to artificially keep a pet’s heart and lungs working until you can seek veterinary help along with many other vital life-saving skills. By learning what can happen and how to respond appropriately, you may prevent many pet emergencies from ever happening and thereby help ensure the safety of not only your own pets, but also any pets in your care.
Stage 11 – FINAL EXAM AND GRADUATION – 14 Days
Stage 11 is graduation. During this stage, you’ll be given a final exam to measure your overall performance. Once passed, you’ll become an ABCDT and be invited to join the ABC Dog Trainer Alumni Group.
Benefits of Online Dog Training Classes
By choosing ABC, you can keep your present job while working your way through our online curriculum. ABC brings the classroom to your living room (or library or favorite coffee shop), which means no added expenses will be incurred for housing at a remote location and no time will be wasted by driving back and forth to a classroom-based dog training school.
Flexible Hours
You can fit your study time in around your current work or school schedule, making this program a custom fit. With this flexibility, the normal completion time is 52 weeks.
Our Program Manager Team
Although the first portion of the program is done in the privacy of your home, you won’t be alone. Our ABC Program Manager Team is available to you the whole way. They will be there to guide you through the entire dog trainer program, counsel you, answer your questions and grade your exams. A Program Manager will contact you shortly after enrollment to get acquainted and welcome you into the program. At that time, you’ll be given the Program Manager’s contact information for all future interactions as you journey through the program.
Short Term Programs
ABC offers Short Term Programs to those individuals interested in continuing their education. Although you may sign up for any of the Short Term Programs upon enrollment, you will only be granted access once you have successfully completed stage 3. This is done to ensure you have the knowledge necessary to maximize your learning experience. Check out our available Short Term Programs here and add even more skills to your training toolbox.
