HOW TO BECOME A
PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER

The American Dog Trainers Network receives dozens of inquiries every week regarding how to become a professional dog  trainer.
Here are a few tips to help you get started.

 

Seminars, Workshops & Conferences

One of the best ways to learn about dog training and behavior is by attending lots of dog training and behavior seminars, workshops and conferences.

Generally inexpensive, participants can learn many aspects of dog training and behavior by a wide variety of experts in the field, at a nominal fee (usually about $30-50/day).

The American Dog Trainers Network recommends that those learning how to train dogs attend at least two dozen 1- to 4-day seminars and workshops on a variety of dog-related subjects, including as many of the following as possible:

 

• The History and Development of Breeds
   
• How To Choose & Raise A Puppy; Developmental Stages
   
• Housetraining & Crate Training
   
• Puppy Training & Pet Dog Training
   
• Competition Obedience Training (all levels)
   
• Animal Behavior, Behavior Modification & Problem Solving  Techniques
   
• Effective Handling Skills
   
• How To "Read" and Evaluate A Dog
   
• Effective Counseling Skills; Techniques To Teach Students  Effectively
   
• Canine Health, Nutrition, Medicine (Both Traditional &  Alternative),
   
• Handling & Training Aggressive Dogs
   
• Handling & Training Shy, Timid & Phobic Dogs
   
• Dog Sports & Activities (Schutzhund, Agility, Flyball,  Freestyle, etc.)
   
• Tracking
   
• Protection Training
   
• Canine Anatomy, Structure, and Movement
   
• Responsible Dog Ownership
   
• Service Dog Training; AAT & AAA
   
• Bomb and Narcotics Detection
   
• Search and Rescue
   
• Animal Control Laws and Legalities
   
• Trick Training
   
• Constructive Games; Exercise Outlets
   
• Handling and Training Dogs for TV, Film & Advertising
   
• Pet Safety Tips
   

For a list of upcoming seminars, see: Recommended Seminars.

For a list of speakers, see: Recommended Speakers.

• American Dog Trainers Network
  (212) 727-7257   (1-3PM EST)
   
• Animal Behavior Society
   
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers
  (800) PET-DOGS
   
• National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors
   

Also see: Associations

[*Contact the ADTN for more information.]

• Read everything you can get your hands on. A good trainer reads as much as dog-related materials as possible. (No matter how bad a book may be, you will probably still learn something new from reading it.)
   
• Don't believe everything you read. Just because it's in print, doesn't mean it's true (or valid for every dog).

Please see:

• Recommended Books
   
• Dog Book Reviews
   
• Recommended Dogwriters

Videos

There is now a good selection of videos dog training and behavior available.

See our Recommended Videos section.

• Dog Fancy
   
• Dog World
   
• AKC Gazette
   
• Dogs In Canada
   
• Front 'n' Finish
   
• Off-Lead
   
• Fetch The Paper
   
• Pet Life
   
• Match Show Bulletin
   
• Animal Health Newsletter (Cornell University)
   
• Our Animals (ASPCA)
   
• Dog Sports Magazine
   

For additional magazine titles see: Magazines

Volunteering At Animal Shelters

Volunteering at an animal shelter can offer anyone interested in becoming
a dog trainer, a great deal of invaluable experience.

1. The programs taught and promoted harsh compulsion-style training methods and severe physical corrections, despite ads and other promotional materials that claimed that they taught humane methods and used positive reinforcement techniques, and/or:
    
2. The programs were either very limited in their scope, or covered topics only superficially (despite impressive course outlines), and/or:
    
3. They offered very limited and/or unsound behavioral information to their students:

Several graduates have complained that they have witnessed rough and abusive methods of training and correcting dogs (including small breeds). For example: dogs being hung or even "helicoptered" (swung around by their choke collars until they began to loose consciousness), when the dogs became defensive as a result of the harsh handling and severe leash corrections they were forced to endure. Even small dogs and puppies were in many cases treated roughly. One graduate even told us of a little Miniature Pinscher being "helicoptered" on a choke collar for snapping (as a result of being harshly corrected).

Several graduates have also told us that they witnessed dogs and puppies cowaring, submissively piddling, yelping, and in some cases, even screaming in pain and fear throughout their "training" sessions. According to the schools' trainers, these dogs (and puppies) were being "uncooperative", "dominant" or "stubborn", and their handlers were often instructed to give these terrified dogs (and puppies) even tougher corrections.

A good trainer:

• has lots of tools in his or her toolbox, and knows how to use  them well.
   
• strives to learn as much as possible, from as many sources as  possible.
   
• knows there's always more to learn, and keeps him- or herself  up-to-date by attending seminars, workshops and conferences as  often as possible.
   
• has a strong behavioral background.
   
• has an open mind.
   
• does not behave in an arrogant manner (towards their clients or the general public).
   
• has a strong sense of ethics.
   
• doesn't misrepresent himself with bogus or misleading titles and credentials.
   
• loves dogs [If a trainer doesn't love dogs, s/he has no business training them.]
   
• has patience, and understands that anger and abuse (of any  kind) have no place in dog training.
   
• treats their students (both two- and four-legged) with respect and kindness. (Empathy, compassion, kinship and encouragement towards one's students is essential when training dogs.)
   
• has good teaching and handling skills.
   
• has a good sense of humor.
   
• is passionate about living and working with dogs.

_{Robin Kovary is the American Dog Trainers Network helpline director
 and canine behavioral consultant.}