How To Become A Dog Trainer

Since the earliest times, dogs have been associated with mankind. Without a doubt, dogs are the most preferred pets in the world. Some people even use them for carrying out specific jobs and not just as a pet. Dogs are valued as wonderful companions, but in some cases trouble may arise when these pets are not properly handled. With the rapid scientific advancements regarding dog behavior and the success of TV shows featuring these pleasing pets, proper dog training is now given much needed attention.

If you have a soft spot in your heart for dogs and manage to be a determined leader at the same time, then you should consider being a certified dog trainer. It’s an active job where you can enjoy your time outdoors, spend time with dogs and their owners and get a good pay at the end of the day. But you have to first undergo your own training. So here are some steps that will get you started.

How to become a dog trainer

1  Try to assess yourself.

Are you a dog lover? Do you possess qualities such as assertiveness and consistency? Can you show compassion and maintain firm leadership at the same time? Those are just some basic questions that come to mind when one talks about pursuing a career in dog training. It all begins with evaluating whether your innate qualities such as patience, perseverance, determination and other useful abilities can make you an effective dog trainer. Open mindedness will help you learn as you take the path of your chosen career.

2  Research and education.

A formal education is not a requirement in order to be a dog trainer. It is up to you to equip yourself with useful information before having your actual hands-on experience.  You can gain needed background knowledge through various ways. This can also help you get a certification in the future. Here are some tips:

• Read books, search the internet, or even watch videos that can help you understand dog behavior and their characteristics.
• Attend workshops, seminars and conventions that are available and accessible to you.
• You can have online courses on dog training which are flexible depending on your time availability.
•  However, if you want to undergo a more structured preparation, you can enroll at a good quality dog training school.  A good training school ideally provides learning areas such as history of dog handling, lessons on dog psychology and behavior, and even creating programs and courses for clients. This kind of education may take weeks and cost you as much as $4000.

 3  Practice, practice, practice.

Allot some of your time to practice what you have learned. Skills are developed by constant repetition. You can start by using some techniques on your own dog and you can also attempt to train your friends’ dogs for additional challenge.

Starting with your own pet or other familiar dogs can help you elevate your skill set and improve you confidence in a safe environment.

4  Learn from the pros.

It is a good idea to get advice from experts. Theories can be difficult to use in the actual situation. Don’t hesitate to ask experienced dog trainers for some tips to help you start your journey of becoming one. Local breeders and other dog enthusiasts are also good resource people.

5  Gain experience.

No one can be successful without constant practice. You must challenge yourself to become better. Applying as a volunteer in dog shelters and animal rescue groups are some examples of ways on how you can develop your skills. You can also get first-hand involvement on dealing with different breeds of dogs. Remember that dogs can be unpredictable, so the more experience you gain, the better for your career later on.

This career is dynamic and is always a case to case basis. It is better that you are armed with all possible skills and knowledge to face every difficult situation dealing with pets or their owners. It is also necessary to take note of the information such as the contact numbers of shelters, clinics and other clients that you have worked for because these are required to be a certified dog trainer.

6  Get certified.

It is also a must that you gain a certification. This certification proves that you have sufficient understanding and experience on dealing with dogs. It will be beneficial in finding work in the long run and may give you an edge over other dog trainers. One example is the Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) credential given by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

Requirements include:

• Proof of at least 300 hours in dog training in the last five years. Teaching hours must comprise 75%, either in classes or private engagements. The rest may be in related exposures such as working in shelters or clinics.
• High School Diploma
• Three references: a customer, a coworker, and a veterinarian
• Complete application form and a fee of $385.
• Get a schedule when you want to take the test. Tests are given twice a year, in spring and in fall. Check out Profession Testing Corporation for available test schedules.

7  You will also need people skills.

Never forget that you also have to deal with people. The main task for a dog trainer is to convert dogs into wonderful pets. But you should also keep in mind that trainers are also responsible in coaching or guiding pet owners.

One should learn and implement all methods of motivation and rehabilitation techniques so that owners can be empowered as better dog handlers themselves. Owners need to be capable of proper dog handling even after you are finish with the job.

8  Join an organization.

Groups are always helpful. There are several support groups for dog trainers. The network of people can surely be of help to you in one way or another.  The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is an organization geared towards excellence of dog training through education.

The APDT conducts conferences, sends out newsletters, and hosts e-mail discussions which can further enrich your knowledge as a dog trainer. Membership costs about $150 a year.

Dog training is not as easy as it sounds. It entails a lot of responsibilities because it deals with not only trying to change behavior of the pets but also their owners. However, the fulfillment after successfully training dogs and empowering people can be very motivating. So, if you think that you have the passion to deal with dogs then take actions and start on the way of becoming a great dog trainer.