If you love dogs, you're interested in knowing about their wellbeing and guessing what is going on in their minds, then consider becoming a dog trainer. It's touching, enriching, stimulating, and entertaining to deal with different dogs.
You'll enjoy their unique physical capabilities and temperaments, especially when doing one-on-one private training. As a dog trainer, your work will be to teach dogs good behavior and basic obedience. Dog training is unregulated, and many people simply jump into the training bandwagon.
But how can you get certified as a professional dog trainer so you stand out from the rest? In this guide, we'll talk about why certification matters and then walk you through the steps to get certified as a dog trainer and the career opportunities after certification.
What You Need to Know to Become a Professional Trainer
Before we dive into how you can become a professional dog trainer, let's first see the statistics of how this industry is fairing. Now, the pet industry is booming, despite the increased cost of living and inflation.
For instance, 66 percent of households in the U.S own pets and around 56 percent of Canadian households own a cat or a dog. On average, pet owners spent around $136 billion on pet related expenses.
When it comes to pet training services, owners spend around $3.83 billion, and it's projected that the training expenses will increase to about $6.84 billion by 2031. According to Forbes, 41 percent of Gen Zs prefer enrolling their pets for professional training. The projections also have it that virtual pet training will have the fastest growth.
Considering that dogs make up 42.5 percent of the pets we're talking about, you won't go wrong joining the dog training industry. But before we walk you through the steps to join the industry, let's first see why it's important to get a dog training certificate.
Why Certification Matters in Dog Training
Certification usually indicates you have gone through some form of formal education. It's the tangible evidence of training. Here are some reasons why you need dog training certification.
Improved Knowledge
As we mentioned, certificates show successful completion of training tests. Obviously, this formal education will boost your knowledge about dogs, their behaviors, how different breeds differ, and the best ways to train them. This gives you the ability to handle and train different breeds without much hassle.
For example, a person joining dog training based on experience might not have had the opportunity to deal with all breeds or teach complex tricks. Also, the person might be using the same training tactics over the years, and is not exposed to the modern and more effective training methods.
On the other hand, formal education prepares the trainers on how to handle all breeds and situations, and exposes them to the latest training methods and apps.
Higher Trust
People value their furry friends. According to a study published in the Animal-Human Interactions journal, the pain of losing a pet is the same as that of losing a child. Some pet owners even said the grief is more intense than that of losing a relative or close friend.
Owing to this strong bond, many dog owners aren't ready to gamble with uncertified trainers, the same way nobody wants to gamble with uncertified doctors. A certificate proves that you're qualified for the job, and dog owners can easily trust you with their furry friends.
Increased Earning Potential
Apart from your love for dogs, you'll want your dog training career to give you a decent life. On average, a dog trainer in the US makes around $19 per hour. The low earners make around $14 per hour, while the top earners make around $29 per hour.
In Canada, top earners make around $57,100 per year while the entry level dog trainers make around $33,150 per year. The national average annual income for dog trainers is around $47,382. The main difference between the top earners and low earners is certification.
On average, certified dog trainers make around 40 percent more money than their uncertified counterparts. However, keep in mind that the earnings still vary from place to place. For instance, cities like Deer Park, CA, pay an average of $24 per hour compared to the average of $19 per hour.
Expanded Services
If you're a dog trainer based on skill and experience, you're limited to training only. You can't get certifications to offer advanced services without the basic dog training certification.
On the other hand, a certified trainer can advance in other areas, such as becoming a Canine Good Citizen evaluator. You'll only need to get a certification from the American Kennel Club to advance to this level.
Types of Dog Training Certifications
Even if the dog training industry is unregulated, there are many certification programs in place. Some focus on entry-level trainers, while others focus on experienced trainers who want to advance their skills or specialize in a certain area. Here are some of the dog training certification bodies to consider.
Association of Animal Behavior Professionals
This program targets experienced trainers. The requirements for enrollment include two references from industry professionals, at least 30 hours of skill development under supervision and 300 hours of active dog training. You'll then sit for an exam, assessing the following areas.
- Compliance with AABP stand on dog training ethics
- How to assess dogs for training
- Principles of dog behaviors
- Training technology
As a candidate, you'll need to part with $60 for membership. Then, you'll pay $200 before sitting for the examination. After successful exam completion, you'll be given a certificate as a Certified Dog Behavior Technologist.
International Association of Canine Professionals
This is another organization that targets experienced dog trainers. You need to be a member of the organization for at least six months and have a training experience of at least two years to qualify for the program.
You'll then need to pay $125 to sit for the certification exam. If successful, you'll be given the certificate for a Certified Dog Trainer. The downside is that you'll have to pay $125 annually for this certificate.
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
The CCPDT allows you to pursue two different certificates: the Knowledge and Skills Assessed Certified Dog Trainer (CPDT-KSA) and Knowledge Assessed Certified Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA).
For you to qualify for CPDT-KA, you must have a reference letter from a vet certified by the CPDT-KA and have over 300 hours of training experience. Before taking the exam, you must sign a code of ethics statement and pay an examination fee of $385.
To qualify for the more advanced CPDT-KSA certificate, you first need to meet the following things:
- Have a CPDT-KA certificate
- Submit a video showing you coaching three different dog owners
- Submit a video showing you training four different dogs
- Submit a video showing you training for different skills
- Pay an examination fee of $225
Steps to Get Certified as a Dog Trainer
As you can see, most certification organizations require you to have some dog training experience. That means you must have some dog training background before reaching the certification level. Here are the steps to follow until you get certified as a dog trainer.
Learn About Animal Behavior
Training dogs is all about understanding animal behavior. Read books and attend dog-related workshops and seminars to gather as much knowledge as possible about dogs. This will expose you to the physical and temperamental diversity of different dog breeds.
Train Your Own Dog
After gathering some knowledge about dog training, it is advisable to try it out by training your own dog. If the skills can't work for your dog, they can't work for somebody's dog. Don't limit yourself to the basics of Down and Sit commands.
Teach as many advanced and complex commands and tricks as possible. That means you will need training equipment such as Biothane leashes, neoprene-lined martingale collars, and treats and treat pouches.
Train Other Dogs
Your furry friend already loves you, and he might be willing to obey commands. Also, you have all the time to train your dog. So, you can make mistakes that confuse the dog, but over time, the dog learns. For instance, sometimes you might delay giving rewards after a good behavior or mistakenly reward a bad behavior. But because you're with the dog for months, it'll eventually learn.
That's not the case when training other dogs. You're a stranger to them, and you need to establish the bond before training. Clients won't be so patient with you. They expect the dog to be fully trained in around 4 to 6 months.
So, to learn how to work with accuracy and within schedules, even when dealing with new dogs, it's advisable to train other people's dogs. That can be your friends or neighbors' dogs. Another option is to volunteer in rescue centers and animal shelters.
The advantage of this option is that you'll get exposed to so many dog breeds and learn how to deal with many dogs at the same time. Second, people adopting dogs from those facilities may prefer to hire you as you have been dealing with the dog they're adopting.
Train the Dog Owners
Dogs forget the training just like kids. Even a well-trained dog still needs refresher training. As a result, dog training is a continuous process. That means even if you train the dog correctly, but the owner fails to offer continuous training, the dog will end up with bad behaviors.
The dog owner will then simply conclude that the training wasn't high quality. So, to build a reputation of good training, train the dog owners on how to offer refresher training.
Join Professional Dog Training Organizations
Join the professional bodies once you have the experience needed. Finally, do the exams and get certified. We recommend starting with organizations that don't require many years of experience and then working your way up. We also recommend taking videos while dog training, just in case the organization needs proof of experience.
Career Opportunities After Certification
In the animal care industry, the job growth rate is at around 29 percent. That shows growth in career opportunities for dog trainers. After you have paid the membership and exam fees and you have got your certificate, it's time to start working and getting paid. Here are some of the best career opportunities after certification.
Start a Dog Training Business
This is the most straightforward opportunity as you don't have to look for a job. You don't need federal licenses and certificates to start. It's only the business permits and licenses from the local government, just like any other business.
Then, market your business. Certificates like CPDT-KA can help establish your expertise and credibility, giving you a competitive edge. Also, networks from rescue centers, animal shelters and veterinarians can land you clients.
Get a Job Training Job
There are many companies offering dog-related services such as boarding kennels, animal shelters, animal clinics and daycare centers. There are also national franchises that hire dog trainers, such as Best Friends Pet Care, Camp Bow Wow USA, Dogtopia, PetSmart and Petco.
Since there are many half-baked, self-proclaimed dog trainers, these companies usually prefer certified trainers. So, if you have a certificate, you can easily land a job in one of these places.
Create Dog Training Resources
Instead of training the dogs yourself, you can create resources that will help dog owners train their furry friends. For example, you can shoot videos and write articles and books detailing the training steps.
You can also become a behavior consultant, where you help dog owners correct specific behavioral problems. Note that this requires extensive knowledge and experience, as you'll be dealing with things that average trainers can't solve.
Offer Specialized Services
You can further your dog training knowledge and offer specialized services like T.V. and movie training, canine sports training, law enforcement training, therapy dog training, scent detection training, and service dog training.
Conclusion
Most new dog owners prefer hiring professional dog trainers, which increases the demand for certified trainers. Certification establishes your expertise, builds trust, and gives you a competitive edge over your uncertified counterpart. Note that some certification organizations require an annual fee for the certificate.