There are no laws that say someone must be professionally trained to become a dog trainer. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer and market their services. However, most dog owners do not trust trainers who have not been professionally trained in some compacity. So, your best chance of success as a dog trainer is to enroll in a certified dog trainer school so that you can get some credentials under your belt to present potential clients and assure them of your skills. Here are a few features to look for when deciding which certified dog trainer school to enroll in:
In-Person and Online Instruction
Instruction from a professional in person is important because it allows you to see their actions, references, and examples in action without being restrained to a limited video view. However, you should also be able to access supportive materials and classes online in your own time and at your own convenience.
Having access to online instruction will allow you to keep up with classroom instruction at your own pace, or even to surpass what you are learning in person. It will also allow you to focus on aspects of your training that are most important to you or that you want to specialize in.
Hands-On Training Experience
In addition to classroom instruction, the certified dog trainer school you decide to enroll in should also offer the opportunity to take part in hands-on training. The school may require you to find a friend or family member who is willing to loan their dog to you for training if you don't have a dog of your own.
Alternatively, they may have volunteers who offer up their dogs for training. Either way, you will spend time working with your dog in a classroom capacity with oversight from your instructor to ensure that you are practicing your skills properly. This will help you be more confident and effective when you conduct your first one-on-one training session with a client's dog.
Official Assessments
A great way to know how well you have absorbed the instruction you were provided is to complete assessments that are graded as feedback. If the certified dog trainer school you decide to enroll in does not require you to take assessments, how can they know whether you are worthy of graduating from their school? How will you and your clients know that you have sufficiently learned all the information that was offered throughout your schooling? Welcome assessments and overlook schools that do not offer them.
To learn more, contact services like International School for Certified Dog Trainers.