There’s No Such Thing As A “Certified Dog Trainer”
Dog training has no legal requirements, restrictions, licenses, certificates, or registrations. There is no minimum level of education or standard to be a professional dog trainer. There are certifications available, but none are mandatory, which technically means there is no such thing as a certified dog trainer.
The process of certifying a trainer is not even regulated, so anyone can set up a program that certifies dog trainers. For some certifications, you don’t need to touch, interact, or train a dog. You only need to pass a multiple-choice test. The coursework for most programs mainly focuses on learning the history of dog training, so more reading is being done than actual hands-on learning with dogs. Oh, there’s also no standard for what it means to “train a dog” or for a dog to be considered “trained.”
Being able to change dog behavior and help people with their dogs makes a dog trainer qualified.
There are good and bad certified dog trainers.
As a professional dog trainer who has been working with dogs for over a decade, I want to be clear that these certifications don’t guarantee that a dog trainer is good at their job. A trainer can have all the credentials in the world and still not be a good dog trainer or even qualified to train dogs. Some certified trainers know what they’re doing, and some don’t. Some trainers who aren’t certified know what they’re doing, and some don’t.
What makes a dog trainer qualified?
A qualified dog trainer will have a deep understanding of dog behavior and the science behind training. They will know how dogs learn, how to read their body language, and what motivates them. Training a dog is a skill that can’t be learned just from reading books and watching YouTube videos. It can’t be judged by a piece of paper or the letters behind your name. It takes practice and experience.
Need help with your dog?
Lifeline Dog Training makes getting help with your dog easy in Cleveland, Ohio, providing convenient drop-off, in-home, and board & training programs. Call today for a free phone consultation.
