Have you ever fancied becoming a dog trainer? Perhaps you just love well-trained dogs. Either way, making a pro career training other people’s beloved pets is a very interesting thing. Becoming a professional dog trainer also means you will be teaching dog owners to train their pets. This means that besides being a dog person, you also have to be a people person.
You will need to like learning, have lots of patience, and capable of working with different people, diverse learning styles, and a broad range of dogs.
Educate Yourself
Many myths are floating around about dogs and what motivates them. However, modern dog training is science-based and leans much on animal learning and behavior. Part of becoming a dog trainer, therefore, entails educating yourself in such areas.
To become a professional dog trainer you will need to study many articles, books, and DVDs on the subject of animal training. Many excellent training resources are available that can assist build your knowledge. Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers has compiled a list of such resources.
If you prefer getting a more formal kind of education, with more a guided curriculum and course structure, then it might be a good idea to join a dog trainer school. Just make sure you scrutinize the credentials of whichever trainer is offering the course to ensure the teachings are scientifically solid.
Get your Hands Dirty
The most frequently traveled route to becoming a professional dog trainer is perhaps to get involved in actual training. After reaching the heights of educating yourself, it seems natural to practice what you have learned. The best option is to enter into an apprentice/mentor relationship with an experienced professional trainer.
As part of their dog training programs, some training academies do have formal apprenticeships. Some dog trainers do offer internships as part of their businesses. Sometimes, an informal apprenticeship can grow out of a client/trainer relationship. Apprenticeships vary in duration and some mentors might charge you a fee or have you work for free as you train dogs to learn skills.
Another excellent way of gaining valuable hands-on-experience is by volunteering at an animal shelter. Many shelters have training programs that instruct volunteers on how to train the dogs to help make them more adoptable.
Get Professionally Certified
With a good foundation of knowledge, experience, and technical proficiency, you can now look for independent validation of your dog training skills through certifications or joining a professional organization. The most well-known is the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. CCPDT offers the globally acknowledged Certified Professional Dog Trainer — Knowledge Assessed certification ((CPDT-KA). After acquiring one of these certifications you’ll be ready to start a dog training business.
Membership in professional organizations shows potential and actual clients that you are serious about your new career line. It proves to the world that you have been tested against strict standards. This a distinction that sets you apart; a commitment to ethical conduct and professional excellence.
The skills to become a pro dog trainer certainly take a lot of practice and time! Once you have the skills and knowledge down, broaden your reach by networking with other trainers.
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