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How to Become a Dog Trainer

Having dogs around your home can be fun, especially when they are well trained. Dog ​​lovers looking to change careers should see dog training as a valuable option and over time, it would prove to be very rewarding. 

As a trainer, you spend the day surrounded by dogs and you are constantly engaged with helping people and their pets to live together happily. However, people engage the services of a dog trainer when there is a situation that has gone beyond their capacity. This could mean working with dogs that are reactive or those suffering from separation anxiety. 

Helping dog owners solve such problems can be challenging, and there is no guarantee of a happy ending. So, if you want to become a dog trainer but your only credential is training your own dog, just bear in mind that you have a tough job ahead of you.

First, you will have to get adequate training that will give you the basics in dog training as well as the signs to look out for when you have custody of the pets. 

If you are so engaged with work and you are looking to get the training online, you can check Geri from Good Dog Academy for more information on the availability of flexible classes that will suit your schedule.

If you need tips that will also guide you in becoming a dog trainer, we have compiled them in this article and you will find them useful for your new passion, and possible career path.

Tips on How to Become a Dog Trainer

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The following tips come recommended if you wish to become a dog trainer:

Start with your Own Dog

To be become a pet trainer, the first step should be training your own pet. If you do not have one, find a dog that you can spend quality time with and create a frequent training routine. While at it, avoid teaching basics like “sit” or “come.”

Try to teach advanced skills like maintaining composure especially in situations where distance and other distractions can be a major challenge. You can come up with different kinds of tests during this period to check the pet’s endurance level and also know the areas to work on.

Additionally, consider going for sports activities with your pet so you can learn the technical aspects of training such as timing, strength, and placement of rewards. While you are out in the field, make efforts to change any behaviors you consider wrong.

In the end, your pet doesn’t have to be perfect. However, your prospective clients need help with all kinds of behavior and this demands that you get hands-on experience with everything you need to teach. All of these experiences will help you improve your skills. 

Training is a mechanical skill and this means that before you can demonstrate it to students, you need to develop a high level of mastery by practicing with your own dog. 

You can check here to see how to understand dogs better.

Learn with Other Dogs

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Having to train your own pet is good but bear in mind that your dog loves you and is forgiving of your mistakes. Mixing up treats or accidentally rewarding wrongdoing will not bother your dog. However, your customers may not be that patient and this might be a problem if you don’t have prior experience. Additionally, a good dog trainer knows more than one behavioral training method. For example, the bait and reward method helps your dog to learn to sit easily, but other dogs may need a completely different approach.

The best way to improve your skills and practice other approaches is by training a dog that doesn’t belong to you. A good way to start might be asking family and friends if you can train their dogs. Alternatively, you can talk to local animal shelters or rescue organizations about handling their dogs. 

You could also try training with a successful dog trainer. With this, you will have access to more dogs and also have someone that will supervise your techniques and guide you through the process. You can check out local dog trainers operating in your area to see if someone will be willing to engage you as an apprentice or a helper.

Train Dog Owners

One secret to pet training is that most trainers don’t train pets. They train people. Your major job as a coach is to teach your customers how to handle the training themselves. This means that pet trainers need adequate people skills. Regardless of what your preference for training is (pet or humans), you should be able to motivate your customers to hone their skills and increase their success rate.

No matter the number of dogs you have trained, you can’t lay claim to having the full package until you have worked with human customers. Additionally, you can collaborate with friends and family and help them with tutorials on how to train their own dogs. Or you do an internship with a professional trainer and gain experience with his customers.

Be careful when you are training dog owners as there are training methods that can affect a dog’s attachment with its owner. You can find some of them here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/canine-corner/201910/how-training-methods-affect-dogs-attachment-its-owner.

Keep Learning

There are many myths about dogs and what motivates them, but modern dog training is purely based on behavioral science and animal learning. Part of the requirements for becoming a dog trainer is educating yourself in these areas. For example, it is important to understand how classical conditioning works or have good knowledge of the four quadrants of operant conditioning. 

You will not be able to solve problems for your clients or adapt your techniques to specific situations unless you understand the principles behind the techniques.

There are so many excellent dog training resources out there that can help you build your knowledge base. Also, there are training schools that offer a variety of dog training courses, both online and in-person. Be sure to check the credentials of everyone teaching the courses to make sure their teaching is scientifically based. At the end of your training, you will be issued a certificate which will indicate that you are now a professional.

Conclusion

Working with dogs every day sounds like a dream come true to most pet lovers. If you find yourself in this category and you enjoy the study of animal behavior, a career as a dog trainer may be the perfect option for you.

Becoming a professional dog trainer is much more complicated than teaching the pets to sit down. You need to be trained and also work with dogs for long hours to have the experience necessary to be considered a professional. 

Finally, you need to get certified if you want other people to trust you with their beloved pets.

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