If you’re an aspiring professional dog trainer, you may be considering pursuing a certification in the field of dog training. There are plenty of factors to weigh up as you think about your options – after all, certifications are often very time-intensive and require a significant financial investment. In addition, dog trainers are not required to be licensed at the federal or state level in the United States, so certification or licensure isn’t technically a barrier to entry in this field. You may be left asking yourself – does formal education really matter for dog trainers?
In this article, we’re going to outline some compelling reasons why completing a course of study in canine behavior will be beneficial for you, your career path, and the dogs and owners you work with.
Examples of formal dog training education
There are a number of organizations that offer dog training certifications, each with their own nuances and challenges. Typically, these organizations will require that you complete a program of study, which can either be completed in-person or online. The duration and study program varies by organization. Examples of organizations offering certifications in dog training include:
- School for Dog Trainers – The School for Dog Trainers offers a wide array of programs focusing on canine behavior. Situated at three campuses across the United States, students have the option to study specialized courses focused on Service Dogs, Police K9s and canine behavior, or can opt to study the 24-week Master Dog Trainer program, which provides a complete insight into all facets of dog training. Graduates receive a certificate from the School and graduate as a Highland Canine Professional Trainer (HCPT).
- Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) – Founded in the early 2000s, the CCPDT offers two certifications – the CPDT-KA and CPDT-KSA. The certification measures a trainer’s knowledge and skills relating to science-based dog training. Certifications must be renewed every three years, and dog trainers must undertake ongoing education in that time.
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) – The IAABC offers credentials for an array of animal professionals, with dog-centric certifications including Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified In Shelter Behavior – Dog (CSB-D). The IAABC relies on LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principles.
- National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) – NADOI has been established for almost 60 years, and is the oldest certifying organization of its type. Certified members of NADOI must meet a number of criteria, including experience (in excess of five years as a dog trainer), number of dog-handler teams worked with, and hours that have been worked in charge of training clients. Additional certifications are available once accepted as a full member of NADOI.
The list above is not exhaustive. You may also be able to pursue studies in animal behavior through college degrees which can further enhance your knowledge and understanding of canine behavior theory.
The benefits of formal education for dog trainers
Formal education provides several benefits for professional dog trainers. Below ,we have listed six positive reasons why you should enroll in studies.
1) Improve your knowledge
When working with dogs, having an understanding of canine behavior and how dogs learn is essential. Without this understanding, how will you be able to teach dogs new behaviors, or resolve troublesome ones? By engaging in formal education, you are able to understand these fundamentals – helping you to diagnose problems and implement training techniques that have the best chance of success. As in most fields, education is power.
2) Build trust and reputation with clients
Would you trust a doctor to operate on you if they had no qualifications, but simply said they were skilled enough to do the job? In that scenario, you’d probably look for another doctor. The same applies to dog owners. Dogs are now an integral part of the family, and clients like to speak to several trainers to make sure that you’ll be able to help them achieve their dog training goals. Qualifications and certifications can enhance trust and reputation with potential clients.
3) Open up career opportunities
When you complete any course of formal education, it makes you a more attractive candidate for potential employers. If you are looking to work as a professional dog trainer but don’t want to work for yourself, demonstrating your knowledge through the education you have received is a great way to differentiate yourself from other applicants. If you do want to start your own business, programs like ours at the School for Dog Trainers also teach the business side of dog training, including how to market your dog training services and set prices.
4) Gain a competitive advantage
Dog training is an extremely competitive market, with many large cities now saturated with trainers. Obtaining certifications not only increases your knowledge and builds trust, but it can pay dividends by offering you a competitive advantage over other trainers in your area. In an unregulated industry where literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, formal education can be a true differentiator.
5) Expand your services
If you pursue a certification in a particular area of dog training, you may be able to expand your service offerings. For example, the Service Dog trainer program at the School for Dog Trainers teaches all aspects of raising and training service dogs, along with providing an understanding of the laws that afford rights and protections to service dog owners. You could also pursue a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator certification through the American Kennel Club (AKC) and offer to perform the CGC test for local dog owners. Education opens up new opportunities for the services you can provide.
6) Increase your earning potential
Dog training in itself is a rewarding career choice – but it can also be a lucrative one. Our research, conducted by speaking to hundreds of dog trainers across the United States, showed that dog trainers with formal certifications earn 40% more per year than trainers without qualifications. This difference can be attributed to the increased knowledge, trust and reputational benefits that are associated with dog training certifications.
In conclusion
Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should – and just because you can become a dog trainer without formal education, doesn’t mean that it is the best route for your career in this competitive industry. Formal education helps to build knowledge, improve the services you can offer dog owners, and increase your earning potential.
Do you have questions about dog training certifications? Reach out to our team at learntotraindogs@highlandcanine.com, and we’ll be happy to guide you through our programs at the School for Dog Trainers!