Online dog training and Distance learning has become quite popular in the age of the internet. Most universities offer courses online to attract non-traditional students. Online degrees are available from accredited institutions for subjects as diverse as psychology to gunsmithing to automotive repair. Dog training is no exception. There are several programs available online to students who wish to become professional dog trainers.
We receive many phone calls from prospective students asking if we offer any of our courses online. We do not, and the simplest reason is that while there is a lot of good information that can be learned through reading articles, studying books, and watching videos, when it comes to training dogs the very best learning opportunities come from interaction with dogs. We want our graduates to leave our school confident in the skills they’ve gained, and with as much experience as possible. Gaining experience takes two things: time and opportunity. Our full-time trainer school courses are designed to maximize both for those who are serious about pursuing professional dog training careers.
We provide as many opportunities for students to work with as many different breeds and temperaments of dogs as they choose to handle while they are here. As a result, our students have a lot of experience to draw from before they ever meet their first client. They learn about behavior analysis by conducting behavior analysis. They learn to train different types of dogs using a variety of motivational reinforcements by training different types of dogs using a variety of motivational reinforcements. They study learning theory and understand the various tools and methods of the trade by observing learning theory in action and using the various tools and methods of the trade. They learn to modify behavior in dogs by modifying behavior in dogs. This is not something an online dog training course can provide.
Our full-time staff is on hand to teach, demonstrate, and assist the students in each area of dog training they are learning. Whether they are training pet dogs, service dogs, working dogs, search and rescue dogs, police K9s, or any other type of dog, our instructors are present to answer their questions, observe their progress, and make recommendations for their success. This is not something an online dog training course can provide.
Many online dog training courses assign a professional training mentor to their students to help guide them through the practical, hands-on side of dog training. Unfortunately, mentors are not always conveniently located to students (which is why they are pursuing a distance learning option to begin with) and many interactions are limited to video conferencing, telephone contact, email, and posting clips of the dog the student is training. It is difficult to get a solid understanding of a student’s progress from only a snapshot view of their learning. We prefer to coach and mentor our students throughout their entire course, and across a wide spectrum of dog types.
We use many of the same books, information, and learning materials as other online dog training schools; however, we believe it is the practical experience that matters most. Our course is designed to be 35% classroom learning and study (including books, lectures, articles, videos, and homework), and 65% practical, hands-on experience. That means our students are spending most of their time working with and interacting with dogs. We work hard to ensure our students have a solid understanding of each skill, and can train the same behavior to a variety of dogs with competing motivations.
Convenience does not always mean quality. We stand by our School for Dog Trainers as a quality program designed with our students’ success in mind. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a professional dog trainer, and want to set yourself up for success, but still have questions about any of our programs, please contact us at 866.200.2207 or by email at training@highlandcanine.com.