This guy has NEVER trained a dog before

What does a dog trainer do?
A dog trainer shows owners how to teach their dogs to obey commands. Trainers can also help owners stop unwanted pet behaviors such as jumping on furniture, making noise late at night or urinating in inappropriate places. They often work with dogs that are hyperactive, fearful or anxious when away from their owners. Some dog trainers only work with specific dog breeds, while others only work on obedience versus behavior modification.

How to become a dog trainer
The following steps will help you learn the skills you need to become a professional dog trainer, in addition to demonstrating to employers that you work well with dogs and their owners.

1. Learn more about dog training
Dog training requires knowing animal behavior. Learn as much as possible about dog behavior and training methods by reading books, attending seminars and workshops or taking behavior and obedience classes. If you own a dog, work on training them first.

2. Gain experience
Once you have completed your own training, you’ll need to gain experience. Even if you have trained your own dog, you will need experience teaching other owners how to train their dogs. Consider volunteering with a local animal shelter or rescue, or participating in an apprenticeship with a local dog trainer.

Many apprenticeships last from six months to a year and will provide you with hands-on experience. As you learn different methods of training and become more skilled, you can begin to interact more with clients and their pets under limited or no supervision.

3. Acquire a dog training certification
While you don’t need federal or state certifications to become a dog trainer, getting certified by an independent organization can demonstrate your knowledge and skill to employers and clients.

Many training programs offer certification programs to those who want to strengthen their credentials, including the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers (NADOI). Many dog trainers also are certified in common programs that demonstrate obedience and optimal dog behavior, such as the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program.

4. Join a professional organization
Joining a reputable dog training organization, such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), is an ideal way to expand your professional network and learn new skills. Many organizations host seminars and other events where dog trainers can learn new methods for training and share their own knowledge.

5. Write an effective dog trainer resume
When you have completed your training and gained experience training dogs and their owners, you can begin to apply for dog training jobs. If you want to capture the attention of employers and set yourself apart from other candidates, make sure you write an effective resume that demonstrates your knowledge, skills and credentials.

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