If you want to earn a dog training certificate become a dog trainer, you’re in luck; there’s never been a better time to start your training career and you can do it online. An online dog training certificate from Animal Behavior College is respected among professionals. In fact, learn to teach dog obedience courses. In the past, dog training classes were not readily available; it wasn’t easy to find a way to learn how to become a dog trainer.
ABC was supportive in assisting organizations like the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) when they first considered establishing their certification in 1999.
Our dog obedience training program is designed for students looking to sit for the CCPDT national certification CPDT-KA.
Certification simply means the person certified has mastered a specific course of study or body of knowledge and passed examinations, proving their understanding of the material.
While it is true that there is no state, provincial, or federally required certification or licensing for dog obedience trainers, acquiring credentials makes a difference. Certification is desirable to dog owners and prospective employers alike. If you want to be a well-rounded trainer with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, it makes sense to earn your certification.
So, can you become a dog trainer without getting certified? Sure. Is it the best plan? No. Getting certified demonstrates to the world that you know what you’re doing when it comes to handling dogs and teaching them to become good citizens.
Most dog trainer certifications are awarded through either a dog training school or a dog trainer organization. A dog training school provides a formalized education in dog training with required testing throughout the process. A dog trainer organization offers certification to individuals who meet their criteria, including a specific amount of professional experience, and pass their examination.
Individual dog training schools and dog trainer organizations may set their own educational requirements for certification as this profession is not federally regulated. From an educational standpoint, certifications offered by schools for dog trainers are more substantive than those from trainer organizations.
The certification choice that you make will depend upon the level of experience you have in dog training. We are grouping these levels into three basic categories. These are: a person with no dog training experience, a person who trains their own dog or competes in dog sports with their dog, and a “professional” dog trainer. For clarification, a professional trainer is one who gets paid for their dog training services.
If you are an individual with no dog training experience, or you train your own dog or compete in dog sports, and would like to pursue a career as a certified dog trainer, consider a complete program.
A complete program should include theoretical knowledge, scientific principles and hands-on training experience, such as the one offered by Animal Behavior College (ABC). A complete program covers all aspects of dog training: from the history of dog training to business building, from behavior modification to the principles and applications of behavior, and much more.
In addition, since practical experience is vital to success, make sure the school you attend offers a hands-on component, so that your learning is not just theoretical. Students who graduate from ABC will be certified as an ABC Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT) and have the right to use that designation after their name.
It is also recommended that graduates pursue additional certifications through organizations like CCPDT. ABC’s programs prepare students who are in pursuit of this and other independent certifications. It is also recommended that students consider more advanced certifications throughout their dog training career once they meet the prerequisites for them.
Your path will also depend on what you intend to do with your dog training career. For example, if you are interested in training service dogs to help owners with various disabilities, you would want to pursue an additional service dog trainer certification.
If you are an individual with professional dog training experience, you can pursue an advanced dog training certification through a dog training school or dog trainer organization. Most of these types of advanced dog training certifications require a predetermined number of hours conducting dog training classes, reference letters from other professional dog trainers, reference letters from animal industry professionals (veterinarians), and other requirements as determined by the individual school or organization. In addition, most advanced certifications require the applicant to have completed a certain number of continuing education units in the dog training field.
As with any career, it is important to stay relevant and to always keep learning. There are many choices when looking to supplement your knowledge through continuing education programs or short term programs. Animal Behavior College offers a variety of short term programs which include:
Think of dog training certifications as tests that let you—and the public—know you have gained specific in-depth knowledge and experiences. That being said, acquiring multiple dog training certifications is likely to make you a more well-rounded dog trainer.
If you are already a professional dog trainer—or have enough experience and knowledge to become one—your situation is a bit different. Dog trainers in this category should consider more advanced dog training certifications and may even want to join a trainer organization and go through its certification program.
Many advanced dog trainer certifications offered through organizations have a relatively low cost and can be completed in a short period of time. This makes it easier for professional dog trainers to fulfill their goals of multiple dog training certifications.
In addition to advanced (or level 2) dog obedience training certifications, there are also courses of specialty training and certifications that you can pursue, depending on what you plan to do with your career as a dog trainer. Many dog trainers have a desire to go into service dog training.
Service dog trainers teach dogs to help persons with disabilities including veterans with PTSD, owners who are blind, or pet parents who are mobility challenged. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a service dog trainer, ABC encourages you to consider our ABC Certified Service Dog Trainer Program.
One final note: While certification is important, it is not by itself a guarantee of your success. In order to be a successful dog trainer, you need to provide quality service and always remain open to learning more, evolving from a good dog trainer to a great one. This takes time, patience and lots of practice.
If you’re interested in becoming a certified dog trainer, please call 800-795-3294 or fill out the contact form. Check out what our graduates are saying about us.