A Dog Training Career with Dog Training Certification
Many people may be considering a dog training career because they have a love for dogs and feel they are suited to becoming a dog training instructor. There are a few different jobs that you might consider. Although the options for studying to become a dog trainer is limited.
Some dog training schools offer online dog training and also dog training certificates. It is important to be aware of which dog training schools are legitimate and which dog training certificates will be accredited and recognized.
There are currently no degrees for studying dog training at any universities. There are also no dog training apprenticeships available in the US. To get dog training experience you volunteering at a shelter will be the best option.
Is Dog training certification Available?
There are a few dog trainer education organisations that offer dog training certifications in the US. Many online dog training certifications can be scams .
Here are some of the most recognized dog training certification schools and dog training associations : 
- The Association of Pet Dog Trainers – APDT – http://www.apdt.com/default.aspx
The APDT provides membership for professional dog trainers who have attained a dog training certificate from an approved organization. They have strict standards and say this about what they require of a certified dog trainer course.
“A good training program will cover the following subjects:
History of Dog Training. A complete history of dog training from late 19th century to present. Comparison and contrast of dog training with other animal training endeavors.
Animal Learning. Classical and operant conditioning, positive and negative reinforcement, positive and negative punishment, conditioned reinforcers, discrimination, generalization, habituation, sensitization and desensitization, blocking and overshadowing, motivation, establishing operations, conditioned emotional responses. Comparisons of dog learning to human learning.
Dog Behavior. Dog development and ethology, genetics of behavior, fixed action patterns, social signals, body language, social development, critical periods, hormonal influences, breed characteristics.
Designing Classes. How to design your courses/instruction materials once you graduate. How to counsel individuals, motivate handlers/owners, how to screen and steer clients.”
A list of there approved dog training certifications can be found here
- The Animal Behavior Society – http://www.animalbehavior.org/
The ABS is a non profit society founded to promote the study of animal behavior. They have dog training certifications available called Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists.
What exactly is applied animal behavior?
From their website –
“The field of applied animal behavior employs the knowledge of animal behavior that we gain through observation and experimentation for a particular purpose. This purpose may be to benefit humans or the animals. In many circumstances applied animal behavior can be used to mediate conflicts or problems that exist between humans and animals in a way that does not require killing or hurting animals.”
- National K-9 Dog Trainers Assocaton(NK9DTA) – http://www.nk9dta.com/
NK9DTA is a professional dog training school approved by the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools. Their current members have experience with therapy dogs, scent detection dogs, police dogs and personal protection dogs. They offer dog training certificates.
- (CCPDT) Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers – http://www.ccpdt.org/
The CCPDT offers dog raining education and have a dog training certificate available called the Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed ( CPDT-KA )
This is the most rigourous dog traning certification available. The applicant is required to demonstrate knowledge of and experience in dog training. There is a requirement of 300 hours of teaching dog classes, private dog training and working with dogs before the person is allowed to sit for the exam for the CPDT-KA exam.
The dog training exam covers:
dog training
animal husbandry
canine ethology
There is also a requirement of a reference from a client , a colleague and vet as part of application to this certification.
The CCPDT began in 2001 and the test was created by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers that took 20 nationally known dog training professionals who worked for 3 years to research the written exam material. This exam is only given twice a year to applicants.
They are based in New York and more information can be found here
A dog training career may sound exciting and interesting, if it is something that you are passionate about then it is possible to make a living from it. Make sure if you are going to get a dog training certificate that you go to a well respected organization like the CCPDT for your dog training certificate.