How to Become a Dog Trainer in Your Spare Time

Learning how to become a dog trainer in your spare time is more than getting a dog to sit or stay. It might mean working with difficult dogs or those with stress, anxiety, or other behavioral issues. But it can be very rewarding! These steps will show you what's involved and how to get started.

I enjoy writing about issues related to the health and wellness of animals and providing guidance to pet owners on effective home remedies.

Becoming a Dog Trainer

Becoming a dog trainer is so much more than learning how to get a dog to sit or stay. It might mean working with difficult dogs or those with stress, anxiety, or other behavioral issues. Helping owners resolve these problems can be stressful and difficult, and successful outcomes are never guaranteed.

But becoming a dog trainer can also be incredibly rewarding, especially if you already own a dog and know the pleasures that come with being a pet owner. Getting the proper training and credentials to be a qualified dog trainer requires effort and can be time-consuming, but these steps will show you what's involved and how to easily get started in your spare time.

Train Your Own Dog First

Before embarking on an expensive and time-consuming journey to get educated and qualified as a canine behavior specialist, think about training your own dog first. If you aren't a pet owner, you could always borrow a neighbor's dog with their permission.

Your relationship with your dog will grow stronger as a result of basic dog training. You and your dog will not only learn the fundamentals of basic commands like sit, down, and stay, but your dog should also start to behave better in public.

And training your own dog first is something that you can easily do in your spare time without paying for expensive formal education. It's one easy way to tell whether becoming a dog trainer is right for you.

Take the Canine Good Citizen Test

To train your dog successfully, consider striving to pass the Canine Good Citizen test. It is a 10-skill test created by the American Kennel Club that teaches pet owners the principles of responsible dog ownership and teaches dogs how to behave well.

The program offers the ideal framework for teaching your dog how to behave in public. The 10 test items on the CGC exam are sensible, useful behaviors that every dog ought to exhibit to be accepted in society. The CGC designation serves as a helpful entry point into more difficult dog training ventures and is often a requirement for many therapy dog certifications.

The great thing about the Canine Good Citizen program is that you can gradually become a dog trainer at your own pace and can learn the principles of teaching good dog behavior in your spare time if you wish to do so. You can teach your dog the 10 CGC skills on your own, with the help of a CGC trainer, or by enrolling in a CGC training course where the test is administered at the end.

Careers in Dog Training

Once you and your dog receive the Canine Good Citizen Award, your dog training journey need not be over. There are many more chances to broaden your knowledge and abilities, deepen your relationship with your dog, and engage in rewarding, enriching, and enjoyable activities. You may decide that you want to pursue a career in dog training.

The Role of Qualified Dog Trainers

Trainers who work with dogs must have a thorough understanding of their behavior. They also require a wide range of tools that can be used to change behavior. Changing the environment or giving natural behaviors new outlets for inappropriate behavior is sometimes necessary for dealing with problem behaviors.

Dog trainers typically own their businesses, though some are employed by major companies like pet supply chains.

Who Employs Dog Trainers?

Trainers can work independently or as behavioral consultants. Other employers for dog trainers include vets, the police force, kennels, animal shelters, animal control, and retail pet stores. In the end, trainers may instruct show dogs, hunting dogs, personal protection dogs, assistance or seeing eye dogs, as well as any number of other specialized training programs.

Becoming Certified as a Dog Trainer

Find a course in your area that will give you the certification you need to become a qualified dog trainer. For instance, the Animal Behavior Institute offers a specialized certificate in canine behavior and training. If you're looking to start a new career in dog training or need formal education in the subject, you might benefit from a specialized certificate in canine behavior and training.

To become a successful dog trainer, you will need to learn both basic and advanced training methods, such as:

• Addressing typical behavioral issues like leash pulling and barking
• Developing suitable diets and providing nutritional guidance
• Creating efficient dog training programs and proving that they are effective
• Handling emergencies, administering first aid, and performing CPR
• Understanding how puppies and young dogs develop behaviorally
• Recognizing the body language and communication used by dogs
• Understanding and controlling sexual behavior
• Managing other behavioral issues like aggression and fear

Several online courses may need to be completed to earn a specialized certificate in canine training and behavior. How long they take to complete will depend on how much time you want to invest in your education.

In addition, experience in employment, internships, or volunteer work at recognized organizations is helpful and often necessary, so spending some time volunteering at a local pet shelter may be something you want to consider doing before starting your coursework.

Dog training usually involves the basic obedience training to establish control over the animal and can then progress to more advanced specialist training.

— Wikipedia

The Key to Success in Dog Training 

The key component to being a successful dog trainer lies in the ability to use positive reinforcement. When done correctly, this can greatly enhance both the dog's and the owner's quality of life and strengthen their relationship. The process of structuring an animal's environment to offer positive rewards and encourage natural behaviors is known as "behavioral enrichment." Reduced stress and the promotion of a variety of healthy, natural behaviors are just two ways that such enrichment improves life quality.

Using Your New Skills

After successful completion of dog training, many graduates launch their own businesses and work as independent dog trainers and behavioral consultants. Others who have completed the program find employment in kennels, animal shelters, vet clinics, animal control organizations, service dog institutions, sanctuaries, or other dog-related businesses.

To become the most competent dog trainer you can be, it's critical to stay up-to-date on the most recent research and methods in the field of dog training.

Sources and Further Reading

• Canine Good Citizen (CGC) American Kennel Club
  AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program is the gold standard of behavior for dogs in our communities. One million dogs, purebred and mixed breed, have earned CGC.
• Canine Training & Behavior
  Information on ABI's Canine Training & Behavior Diploma program

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2022 Louise Fiolek