Conducted by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. Training your own dog is valuable but remember, your dog loves you and will forgive your mistakes. How to Become a Dog Trainer While you don’t need a degree to become a dog trainer, you will need to at least complete high school and have experience working with dogs. There is no required education or licensing in order to become a dog trainer, so if you’re planning to jumpstart your career with your own research or experience, you’ll be able to get into the swing of things in just a few months. Thank you. It’s common for dog lovers looking for a career change to consider dog training as an option. As a dog trainer, it’s really not easy to teach a dog obedience and all that. Hi Samantha! It may sound or look easy but when you begin, you’ll be nagging too. Whether you’re brand new to dog training or an established trainer who is ready to grow, Become a Pro Dog Trainer can help you take the next steps. Continually work toward bettering your skills, learning, and working with experienced trainers before you decide to branch out on your own. Whether you’re hoping to open your own business, work at a local store, or partner with a training company that’s already established, ensure that you’re ready and fully experienced before you open your doors. 240 hours of instruction over 90 days 2. Dog training certificate programs prepare aspiring dog trainers to become professionally certified in the industry. Some trainers even specialize in training dogs to perform obstacle courses and win dog shows. With standards like that, certification will ensure potential clients have faith in your skills and choose you over other dog trainers. Networking. So, if you desire to be a dog trainer but your only credentials are owning or training your own dog, be aware that you have work to do. Finally, modify any problem behaviors as you encounter them. For example, to earn the title of Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, you need to complete a minimum of 300 hours of experience training dogs in the last three years as well as pass a 180-question multiple-choice exam. Ahh. There’s currently no requirement, course, or exam that dog trainers need to pass, but if you don’t know anything about dog behavior, you’re not going to make for a very good dog trainer. Don’t just teach the basics like “sit” or “down.”  Teach advanced skills too, such as staying put with the added challenge of distance and distractions. Work alongside with pets, a very fulfilling career option! Join us as we introduce you to a world full of dog fun! To be eligible for the examination, you have to: √ A minimum of 300 hours’ experience in dog training within the last 3 years. Consider becoming certified with the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Police Dog Training Schools. Once you have some research, knowledge, and experience under your belt, take a good, honest look at your skill set. The first step in your journey should be training your own dog. California's Bergin University of Canine Studies is considered a top school for prospective service dog trainers. Even small things like grabbing treats from your treat bag to reward a dog for good behavior can be tricky if you’re holding the leash of a very excited pup! How you become a dog trainer is you seek out the most talented, professional and accomplished dog trainer with the right kind of education, expertise and experience to teach you everything you need to know about how to be a dog trainer. In this article, we’ll explore some of the skills you’ll need to develop in order to become a successful dog trainer, the steps you can take to get your dog training career on track, and what your job outlook projects for this career path. Become a medical assistant and launch a career in healthcare. With more than 77 million dogs in the U.S., there is an undeniable demand for dog trainers. There are plenty of excellent resources regarding dog training that can help build your knowledge. * Employment conditions in your area may vary. That will not only give you access to more dogs, but you will also have somebody monitoring your technique and guiding your development. The level of training to become a guide dog trainer is high and the compensation is often low. I’ve read tons on the matter, but never spoken to someone who does it as their job and I have a lot of questions. Dog trainers can benefit from the fact their job has potential. You won’t be able to problem-solve for your clients or adapt your techniques to a given situation if you don’t understand the principles behind your techniques. Course requirements include: 1. A career that’s flexible, brings joy, and connects you with animals is just the thing I’m looking for. The job outlook is positive. They train people. Finding a Job Think about your priorities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics really gave an accurate estimated salary for dog trainers and though some persons may want to compare it with the hard work involved, it’s still worth it. This Association is the largest professional group of dog trainers in the world and they offer various seminars, newsletters, courses, and training tips. You’ll have to teach dogs the basic commands and skills they need in order to behave, act politely, and function in society. You can’t tout your skills working with dogs if you’ve never worked with dogs, so it makes sense that you’d need to get some experience. If you’re looking for a career that’s flexible, brings you joy, and connects you with animals, then it’s probably time you begin considering a career in dog training. Just to be sure this career makes sense for you, let’s run over a few of the main things we’ve covered thus far. That's a higher than average projected growth of 1,100 jobs. Book work 4. Why Become a Certified Dog Trainer? *Salary information based on the May 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey. Learn about HVAC in your state – a career with great job outlook! The goal is to make money and stay in business for decades. Like we’ve mentioned, you don’t need certifications or documentation proof to work as a dog trainer, but we can bet that being certified and having coursework under your belt is going to significantly boost your business. A secret about dog training is that most dog trainers don’t train dogs. Learn about welding in your state – a career with a short training period! Plus, your membership will provide you access to information and courses that will keep you up to date on all the latest training advancements. Dog training is an incredibly rewarding career, especially if you’re inspired by, drawn to, and love animals. However, your clients might not be so patient. Check around your area for possible mentors, or work with pet stores to see if they’ll train you and grant you the experience you need. You don’t need any formal education or certification to call yourself a dog trainer. Become a Pro Dog Trainer is a 6-unit, interactive online course that teaches the core principles of professional dog training to anyone who wants to start a new business or gain expertise working with dogs. 1 You can stand out from the competition by getting your dog training certification from Animal Behavior College. For instance, training schools, like the Karen Pryor Academy, offer a variety of dog training courses and webinars, both in-person and online. Consider reading well-respected books about animal behavior, enrolling in dog-obedience courses on your own, and researching animal behavior extensively online. First, join a professional organization like the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Right now, there are about 10,000 dog trainers in the United States, and with the current demand for trainers, that amount simply will not suffice. When you’re ready to offer the world your services, do so with a splash. Learn one of the most in-demand healthcare careers out there. timing, rate of reinforcement, and reward placement, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed, iy_2021; im_01; id_10; ih_13; imh_59; i_epoch:1610315999936, py_2020; pm_12; pd_26; ph_15; pmh_46; p_epoch:1609026395321, link-block-publisher; link-block-publisher_link-block-publisher; bodystr, pn_tstr:Sat Dec 26 15:46:35 PST 2020; pn_epoch:1609026395321. The IMDT dog training qualification involves a 2 day theory course, a 4 day practical course and a 2 day assessment. If you’re thinking you’d be a great fit for a dog training career, but aren’t certain what a dog trainer actually does in their day-to-day routine, we’ve laid it all out here for you. Snapchat: ktschink Instagram: xoxokaty Twitter: xoxoxkaty Guide dog trainers perform their job because they have a passion for animals and helping others. Additionally, you’ll need to factor in equipment, time for training, insurance, facility costs, and various forms of advertising. Get qualified. The top earning state in the field is Kentucky, where the average salary is $56,710. Ever wondered what it takes to become a certified dog trainer in Florida? This course is designed to help you … There’s currently no requirement, course, or exam that dog trainers need to pass, but if you don’t know anything about dog behavior, you’re not going to make for a very good dog trainer. All rights reserved. Being a dog trainer can be an incredibly rewarding job. Dog trainers can make up to $150 per hour, if they’re professional, well-trained, and have the special clientele. Dog trainers have a high earning potentially depending on the facility they work at, the experience they have, and the special skills they’re able to imprint into the animals they work with. Next, look into certification. Legally, neither of these things are required to be in this profession, however, it will be much harder to land a job or start up your own viable dog training business if you’re not experienced and don’t have any certification. This might mean working with reactive dogs or those with separation anxiety or other issues. Consider reading well-respected books about animal behavior, enrolling in dog-obedience courses on your own, and researching animal behavior extensively online. That means dog trainers need people skills. There are a lot of myths about dogs and their motivations, but modern dog training is based on the science of animal behavior and learning. Also consider taking up a dog sport with your dog so you can really dig into the technical aspects of training like timing, rate of reinforcement, and reward placement. Whether you want to become a better trainer of your own dogs or are ready to start your journey towards working with dogs professionally, VSA’s course offerings have something for everyone. According to the BLS, the growth rate for dog trainers is categorized as faster than average and expected to see a growth rate of about 11 percent by 2024. Great medical career for all the animal lovers out there. As you are completing your training or education, make … Many courses claim to prepare you for a career as a dog trainer in a matter of weeks. But your potential future clients will need help with all kinds of behaviors, so you need hands-on experience with whatever you might be required to teach. Fumbling with treats or accidentally rewarding the wrong behavior won’t bother your canine companion. Membership in organizations like this will show your clients you are serious about your new profession. Now that you’ve worked with dogs and people, and taken the courses, you’re ready to jump into dog training. Here’s a list of 3 necessary steps to a career as professional dog trainer: Step 1: Get educated. While there are plenty of dog specific skills you’ll need to be a successful dog trainer, there are a few personal skills you’ll need to develop, such as : You do not need to attend school to be a dog trainer, although certification and dog training courses are highly encouraged. © The American Kennel Club, Inc. 2020. Dog Trainer School Florida – Become a Dog Trainer in FL! For example, it’s important to understand the four quadrants of operant conditioning or how classical conditioning works. For more information, see our Resources. All in all, you don’t need any certifications or licenses to act as a dog trainer. The good news about being a dog trainer? Or, you can talk to local shelters or rescue organizations about working with their dogs. Your main job as a trainer will be to teach your clients how to do the training for themselves. Our program is not only available in Florida, but also across the United States, with professional … 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. As a dog trainer, or a dog obedience trainer, you’ll teach dogs the basic commands and skills the need in order to behave, act politely, and function in society. However, if you’re running your own dog training business, you can anticipate to spend a bit of money to get your company going. Dog trainers earn a national average salary of about $33,600 yearly; however, some dog trainers have reported making up to $53,000 yearly ($150 hourly). As a note, though, dog trainers typically earn larger salaries than animal trainers in general. Learn one of the fastest-growing healthcare careers out there. A dog trainer performs a variety of tasks that all essentially boil down to training a dog to perform the functions he or she has been trained to do. Becoming a certified dog trainer is not as difficult as it may seem. My name is Siera. Contact Us Now "This unique program combines theory and the necessary hands on training that has allowed me to become self employed doing what I love. To become a dog trainer, you'll need at least a high school diploma and previous experience working with animals. As a dog trainer, you’ll likely have the following duties: Though being an animal trainer, a dog trainer specifically, can be a rewarding career that many people are passionate about, it’s safe to say that you won’t be bringing in the biggest bucks. Learn how to become a home health aide in your state. The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is an excellent goal to work towards. Dog trainers can cover wide ranges such as basic obedience to highly-specialized service dogs. Trainers who receive certifications, hold CPDT titles, and continue their education on a regular basis are far more successful than dog trainers who do not have certification or experience to provide to their clients. Written tests and skill assessments in areas of dog behavior, psychology, temperament and communication Essential info about dog health, training, sports and more. However, people often call a dog trainer only when they have a problem on their hands. 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