Santa Clarita, Calif., February 15, 2018 — Claudia Gallo was at a career crossroad. As much as she enjoyed her five and a half-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, she always knew she wanted to help and work with animals. After being honorably discharged from the military, she became a veterinary assistant and soon realized she lacked an understanding of canine behavior. It was then that she enrolled in Animal Behavior College (ABC)Certified Dog Trainer In-Classroom Program.
“Enrolling in ABC’s Classroom Program made sense because I’m passionate about dogs and am a hands-on learner,” Claudia said. “I wanted to gain practical experience in real life situations and the program was a great way to accomplish this.” Claudia graduated in 2015 and resides in Chehalis, Washington.
The 5-month, 11-stage Dog Trainer In-Classroom Program, which begins March 19, 2018 and concludes on August 17, 2018, is currently open for enrollment. Classes will be held at ABC’s headquarters, located at 25104 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita, California. Enrollment is open to all military veterans, their spouses or dependent children. Enrollment is also open to students with no military affiliation or experience who prefer a classroom environment as opposed to an online course.
ABC offers the Classroom Program twice a year usually in February or March (Spring Class) and August or September (Fall Class). The current class which started on September 18, 2017, will graduate on February 23, 2018.
The Classroom Program provides an immersive learning environment that teaches positive-reinforcement training techniques and covers an array of relevant topics, including learning theories, basic dog obedience cues, effective problem-solving, group class training, business building and pet first aid and CPR. Students use what they’ve learned in the classroom during their hands-on experience working with dogs at Best Friends Animal Society of Los Angeles.
Jennifer Roedl, a U.S. Navy veteran and Waverly Hall, Georgia resident is enrolled in the current class. What she likes most about the program is the traditional classroom setting as well as the ability to interact with other students.
“The classroom format works better for me because I enjoy classroom discussions, receiving feedback from my instructor, and working one-on-one with dogs,” Jennifer said. “I also enjoy the many new friendships I have made with my classmates who are also away from their families. We hang out with each other after class, discuss what we’ve learned and motivate each other which makes school even more fun and enjoyable.”
The course is taught by Beth Harrison, a seasoned ABC Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Level 2 (ABCDT-Level 2), which is the school’s highest certification level. Dog trainers who achieve Level 2 status have demonstrated professional prowess and a mastery of canine behavior and learning theory. Ms. Harrison has been a professional dog trainer for more than 16 years and specializes in helping canine rescues who have obsessive-compulsive disorders or who suffer from a post-traumatic stress disorder.
ABC’s Certified Dog Training In-Classroom Program is approved for veterans and eligible individuals under the provisions of Title 38 of the United States Code under the following programs:
•The Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30
•Post 9/11 GI Bill – Chapter 33
•Selected Reserve – Chapter 1606
•Reserve Educational Assistance – Chapter 1607
•Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance
•Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment – Chapter 30
Individuals with no military experience or affiliation may qualify for a variety of finance programs ABC offers.
The jobs forecast for animal care and service workers in the U.S. appear promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment will grow 23 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. With 60.2 million U.S. households owning a dog, which equates to 89.7 million dogs, according to the 2017-2018 American Pet Product National Pet Owners Survey, ABC certified dog trainers have the option of working for an established company or building their own successful dog training business.
As of January 31, 2018, 153 U.S. veterans and more than 3,700 military spouses and other dependents have enrolled and graduated from three of ABC’s four core programs — the Dog Obedience Program, the Grooming Instruction Program, and the Veterinary Assistant Program.
ABC also offers certification through the Cat Training Program (CTP) and specialized certificates of completion in Short-Term Programs on subjects including pet massage, pet nutrition, pet sitting, training shelter dogs, and selling and teaching private lessons.
Military veterans may qualify for financial assistance. To learn more, call 800-795-3294 or visit Dog Trainer In-Classroom Program.
About Animal Behavior College
Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Animal Behavior College is a vocational college that trains professional dog trainers, cat trainers, veterinary assistants and pet groomers nationwide and in the 10 provinces of Canada. As of January 31, 2018, ABC has graduated more than 25,000 students from all of its four core programs combined. Students obtain practical, hands-on experience applying what they learn by working side-by-side with a member of ABC’s expert mentors’ group. These professional mentors include thousands of professional dog trainers, veterinary hospitals and grooming salons from all across the U.S. and Canada who are dedicated to helping students to succeed in the pet services industry.
