This blog examines the career of dog training, including what it entails, the education and training required to succeed, and the steps required to enter the field.
Dog training is a rewarding and enjoyable profession that involves resolving animal behavior issues, reducing separation anxiety, and acclimating canines to new living arrangements. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, animal care, and service workers can expect a positive job outlook over the next several years, with the BLS projecting a faster-than-average employment growth of 33% from 2020 to 2030.
Therefore, if your only experience is owning or training a dog, and you want to train dogs professionally, you will need to put in some work. Learn more about how to become a dog trainer.
How to Become a Dog Trainer?
The actions that follow will assist you in developing the abilities required to work as a professional dog trainer and will also show potential employers that you get along well with both dogs and their owners.
Learn More About Dog Training
To train a dog, one must understand animal behavior. Learn as much as possible about dog behavior and training methods by reading books, attending seminars and workshops, or taking behavior and obedience classes. Work on training your dog if you have one first.
Gain Experience
You must gain experience after completing your own training. Even if you’ve trained your own dog, you’ll need to have prior experience instructing other dog owners. Think about helping out at a neighborhood animal shelter or rescue or working as an intern with a dog trainer there.
Many apprenticeships last between six months and a year and will give you practical experience. You can start interacting with clients and their pets more frequently with little to no supervision as you learn various training techniques and advance in skill.
Acquire a Dog Training Certification
Although you are not required to hold a federal or state certification to train dogs, having your name on a list of certified dog trainers can help you impress potential employers and customers.
The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), and the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers (NADOI) are just a few training organizations that offer certification programs to those looking to boost their credentials.
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program run by the American Kennel Club is one of many popular programs in that dog trainers are certified.
Join a Professional Organization
Joining a reputable dog training organization, such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), is an ideal way to expand your professional network and learn new skills. Seminars and other events are held frequently by various organizations so that dog trainers can share their expertise and learn new training techniques.
Write An Effective Dog Trainer Resume
When you have completed your training and gained experience training dogs and their owners, you can begin to apply for dog training jobs. Make sure to write a strong resume that highlights your knowledge, abilities, and credentials if you want to grab employers’ attention and distinguish yourself from other applicants.
You can check out more information we have on leash training, crate training, potty training, clicker training, and bell training.
What is a Dog Trainer?
A dog trainer is a person who trains dogs for a living, whether it be for basic good behavior, as service dogs, or for dog shows. They accomplish this by using body language and verbal commands to teach dogs how to modify their behavior, thereby assisting the canines in developing good manners and getting along with both people and other pets.
Although there isn’t a single organization that certifies dog trainers, those who are interested in this line of work can benefit from doing so from a variety of organizations. The American Kennel Club (AKC), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and other organizations all provide certification or collaborate with external organizations that do. Consider taking classes or attending a dog training school before testing for certification.
What Does a Dog Trainer Do?
Owners are shown how to train their dogs to obey commands by a dog trainer. Trainers can also assist owners in stopping undesirable pet behaviors, such as jumping on furniture, making noise late at night, or urinating in inappropriate locations.
They frequently deal with dogs who become agitated, fearful, or anxious when separated from their owners. Some dog trainers only work with a certain breed of dog, while others focus exclusively on obedience training as opposed to behavior modification.
Dog Trainer Skills and Job Duties
Some of the essential skills a successful dog trainer should have include:
- Excellent communication skills with dogs and people
- A calm, nurturing, and confident attitude
- A strong understanding of dog behavior
- Knowledge of proper dog training methods and techniques
- Patience when working with dogs and people who may learn at different paces
The following are some of the daily job expectations of dog trainers:
- Creating a training plan for dogs and owners
- Teaching commands to dogs and owners
- Helping owners teach their dogs to behave well in a variety of situations, including interacting with other animals, going on walks in public places, riding in vehicles, and meeting new people
- Teaching owners to recognize signs of pain or health problems in their pets
Conclusion: Become a Professional Dog Trainer
Take just one small step in the direction of your goal, and then take another: read a book. If you’re interested in working with dogs professionally but aren’t sure you can leave your current job, try this: train a dog for fun first. Complete a course, and watch a video. You will be aware if the bug has you, and you won’t be able to reverse its momentum.
And lastly, keep learning! The field of dog training is ever-evolving, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest research and techniques to ensure you become the best dog trainer you can possibly be.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Become a Dog Trainer?
Depending on the type of training you choose and any specializations, the time it takes to become a dog trainer varies. While many certification programs demand dog trainers to finish a minimum number of hours of training with clients, some training programs can take several weeks to a month to complete.
Do You Need Qualifications to Be An Animal Trainer?
Becoming an animal trainer doesn’t typically require anything more than a high school diploma or equivalent, but there are certain specialty fields, such as training, that require a bachelor’s degree in biology, marine biology, animal science or.
