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Post by alice001 on Jan 20, 2006 10:36:24 GMT -5
Hi everyone! Could any certified dog trainers offer a quick bit of advice? I would like to becoem a trainer but am wondering if paying $4K and up to get certified is actually necessary. Did you go to school? How did you get started?
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
Alice
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Post by Laura on Jan 20, 2006 13:28:22 GMT -5
Hi Alice and welcome to the board . First off, what schools have you looked into? There are two, maybe three very good, reputable schools in the US for dog training so be cautious in choosing. While schools are good, nothing beats hands on, real world experience, apprenticing under an experienced trainer is the best way to go, and one who uses EVERY method of training available, not just correction or positive based only. Once you have some practical experience under your belt, then start using it by volunteering at your local shelter, even a little bit of training goes a long way in making a dog more adoptable. You'll be doing a good thing and getting priceless experience with a variety of dogs and temperaments. And remember, certification means nothing, there is no governing body or laws for dog trainers, anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves one (behaviorist too), so be wary of anyone who tries to sell you "certification".
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Post by willow on Jan 20, 2006 15:30:58 GMT -5
I agree with Laura and my experience all through the years has been that the best trainer's are not certified.
Guess they don't care about a slip of paper saying they are a trainer, because if they are a good trainer, word of mouth and giving references is what really counts. Plus, trainer's train people (unless what you have in mind is having a training facility where people bring their dogs to you to train), and that is the hard part! Not saying that trainer's don't train dogs too, but you can be a wonderful dog trainer, and if the owner's don't listen and do what you say, they will not have well trained dogs.
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Post by alice001 on Jan 20, 2006 16:03:26 GMT -5
Thank you Willow and Laura. Both responses answered my questions. I wasn't sure if a trainer had to be certified or not, and I am happy to know that I don't have to spend big $$ taking courses. I like your suggestion of learning hands on - I will start by going to schools around here and volunteering so I can get experience first.
Thank you!
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Post by gsdmom on Jan 21, 2006 14:57:00 GMT -5
Just a thought Petsmart has it's own program to Accredit Trainers thru their own people, they hire and OTJ train you. You have to read and pass test and work with dogs and such, it depends on your Area Trainer how well and what you learn, I have met bad trainers with Petsmart and some excellent ones that have 30 yrs working with dogs and know all kinds of methods, (actually know more than the Area Trainer training them) and tricks of the trade. So if you work with dogs yourself and have some real life experience you might be an asset to the company. And it doesn't cost you anything to get Accredited, they hire you and pay you.
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Post by sibemom on Jan 21, 2006 21:18:32 GMT -5
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Post by Aussienot on Jan 21, 2006 21:55:09 GMT -5
I became a dog trainer when I met a dog who needed more training then I knew how to give. In my fumbling attempts to find answers to help him, I discovered a world of training techniques and styles, and slowly figured out what works for me.
Then I took a class offered by my dog training club in how to be a class instructor. I have been an instructor for over two years, and learned in a hands-on way that most dogs can be easily trained, but the humans usually take at lot longer. I have also taken on private consults, and somehow through attrition of more experienced trainers have become the person in the club who gets the hard cases, the beginners classes and the incorrigable dogs paired with the untrainable people.
And starting Easter this year, I will be taking the Delta CGC Dog Behavioral Training course, and get a college level degree in Dog Behavior and Training. A combination of hands on and book learning.
My advice is to spend some time simply watching other trainers and learning as much as you can on your own. Find every opportunity to start hands on training. Many SPCAs are happy just to have people do anything to amuse the waiting dogs. Read as many good books as you can, and make up your own mind as to which trainers get the results you want to be able to achieve for yourself.
Accept that there is no one right answer. What works for one dog will not work on another, and what works today may not work tomorrow. You will never know everything and there will always be another way. Aim to be a trainer with a full tool box of ideas. At some point, you will have to decide if corrections are part of that tool box.
A good trainer is always learning, and the best teachers are the dogs. And by best, I mean humbling. Don't go into dog training for the glory.
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Post by ripley on Jan 22, 2006 2:03:59 GMT -5
I am far from an expert trainer, but by having a " difficult" dog who required me to really work at exploring different approaches, training tools and schedules, I have learned more than I ever expected to. I strongly second Aussienot's suggestion of watching other trainers, and volunteer training for animal shelters is an excellent way to get hands-on with a variety of dogs and learn how to train in a variety of situations. I have a trainer who has been very much a mentor to me, even though our views on training methods and approaches have grown quite far apart. I still learn a lot from her, whether it be a great idea and a wonderful thing to do in a situation; or something that I make a mental note to avoid.
As far as courses go, I figure they can't hurt but IMO nothing beats what you learn while working with the dogs. Dogs can teach you things that no book ever can.
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Post by willow on Jan 22, 2006 9:16:30 GMT -5
I got my start waaaaay back up in North Bay, Ontario. My husband was in the USAF and we were stationed up there for three years. This was my first time of being out of the US.
I went to one American Wives Club on base and that was my last. It was a bunch of women sitting around whining about how much they missed home and how different every thing was there.
I went home, saw an add in the local paper that the local CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) was starting training classes and called. I didn't even have a dog at that time, but I asked the head trainer if I could assist her in her classes. She agreed and thoroughly took me "under her wing" so to speak. What a wonderful lady!
The very first day, first class I even got bit for the first and last time!, but since it was my fault for doing what Loie White told me not to do while checking to make sure collars were on correctly, I didn't let that deter me.
I joined the kennel club, and eventually was able to instruct classes on my own. I also got my first Lab and trained and entered him in a CKC OB trial and took the highest scoring sporting dog trophy. He was 9 months old.
That was enough OB competition for me, so my husband and I then joined a local Retriever Club and trained our Lab to compete in field trials....and the rest is history, as they say. I had the "bug" for training and have kept it up from then on. My latest and last professional training was for a local Tech. college, but I am totally "retired" from "people" training now and have concentrated on volunteering for several breed rescues for the past 6 years or so, but now I am down to one and don't do much fostering anymore either. I mostly just concentrate on taking care of my two dogs, which takes most of my time and energy. ;D
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Post by alice001 on Jan 23, 2006 15:46:28 GMT -5
Thank you again for all your informative and helpful responses.
Have a great week!
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