What exactly is a "CERTIFIED" dog trainer

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by LAVK-9 on 19 May 2010 - 16:05

Just because someone has "certification" in dog training doesn't mean that they know how to deal with all breeds or all temperaments. You can't learn all that is needed in a short course of some school. Training a dog isn't mechanical. You might be able to use a certain method but sometimes that has to be varied to some degree depending on the dogs temperament. Most of those places only teach one way and don't variy the method for the dog.I wouldn't waste my time going to a place that tried to cram some bs way of training that I don't agree with just to have some useless piece of paper.
For example: I had a neighbor that i would have fix my car if something were to go wrong.He didn't have any certification or plaques on the wall.It was word of mouth from people I knew that trusted him. I rather go to him and save me $$ and still do it right then some mechanic that is certified and going to charge me more $$ cause they have that piece of paper.
I think that the "certification" and schools that teach dog training are just some way to make a buck and then put someone out there that might have the mechanics but not the natural feel for training. There for causing more harm then good for training someones dog. JMO

by ruaidhri on 19 May 2010 - 17:05

If anyone wants to be certified just send me your money, I wont even make you do the 300 hundred hours, and I'll be the one examining you anyway so don't worry to much about the test.

by Keith Grossman on 19 May 2010 - 17:05

"I wouldn't waste my time going to a place that tried to cram some bs way of training that I don't agree with just to have some useless piece of paper."

I think you'll find that these certifications require adopting a purely positive reinforcement training approach, i.e., there is never an appropriate reason for any type of correction. I'm sure they also shun prong collars in favor of wrenching a dog's neck with a so-called 'gentle' leader, you know, because it's so much more humane and whatnot.

by Vixen on 19 May 2010 - 17:05

On a well known Dog Obedience Site in the UK, there is a regular Certified Trainers' Seminar based on people who are already in this field, but wish to expand their knowledge and abilities and obtain an appropriate grade of Pass. Part of their instructions is that their own dog cannot be left in the hotel room, so should be left in a car while they are conducting their theory work in a Classroom setting. I contacted this well-known group, and suggested that as these people are already Trainers, who are instructing clients and their dogs, would it not be helpful to have their dogs with them in the Class-room setting, demonstrating that they are well-behaved and that they know how to manage them. (What is the point of having a Trainer gain a certificate if they are not able to control their dog appropriately in various situations)? The Organisation did not respond.... perhaps the opportunity for a fee outweighed the expectation of good dogs with good Trainers.

Vixen

by barbnjason on 19 May 2010 - 17:05

There are many varied organizations and schools now offering "Certifications" for dog trainers. I think potential clients who want a good trainer need to do their homework and find someone they feel comfortable with, "Certified" or not.
I am a trainer in the US and have trained for 20 years off and on, depending on my personal circumstances. I sought to increase my knowledge and understanding of training and methodology and attended The Tom Rose School for Professional Dog Trainers. It is an intense course of study averaging 5 months for Professional Certification. It was a good learning experience, but in 5 months you cannot expect to learn nearly enough to be prepared for all possible scenarios.
I spend hours working dogs, watching training videos, Reading books and always look for ways to expand my mental toolbox.
Certification is only a small part of a trainers world and any person accepting a certification as a guarantee of quality training would be well advised to do their homework.

IMHO a Certified dog trainer is simply someone who could afford to spend money to have someone agree that they can train dogs. Not that their neccessarily good at it, or able to problem solve or even work well with owners, just that they have some knowledge or money to pay for certification.

That being said, there are organizations that do ask for quite extensive infomation to become certified. NADOI, CCPDT are two I can think of. They have intensive problem solving scenarios which they require you to define in detail how you would handle the situations, they require video evidence of you working with clients and dogs to teach specific skills and they test your general knowledge of animal husbandry and training.

I would not say getting a certification is useless, it helps a trainer prove to joe public that they know what they are talking about, but I would caution Joe Public to look beyond a "Certification" and ask the trainer to see their dogs work, what titles they have earned and how active they are in the dog world as a training competitor.

by Two Moons on 19 May 2010 - 17:05

doesn't mean a thing.

by 1doggie2 on 19 May 2010 - 19:05

Wallmart Special

by rbud.rm on 19 May 2010 - 21:05

I know people that have attended schools to become a dog trainer, and certified. Take the Tom Rose School for example, people attending there work for that piece of paper that states that they are indeed a Certified Dog Trainer. At that school you have to do the work and pass the performance exams and written exams, but if you don't pass the performance test you don't get that piece of paper. That school is 20 weeks, right at 6 months. The first month was lecture, 8 hours a day. Then we began to work with our dogs. Oh, and if you think we all got there with trained dogs think again. You are required to get two puppies to go through school with. I personally had two pups and one adult but he wasn't titled so it was ok. I advertise myself as a Certified trainer. I worked for it and I have my piece of paper, 6 days a week, 16 hours per day inorder to get finished.
Now, there are alot of people/trainers out there that have been training dogs for years and years. They didn't attend a school but learned over the years what works and what doesn't. So there is a lot to be said for those folks, and if they choose to get certified through one of those groups then more power to them. But for the people that have no formal training and no experiance then certification for them is not saying much.
There are several groups that will certify trainers as some of you have listed, but a quality school will do more for the to train the person. Thats what I woulod look for if I were looking for a trainer. The next question is the dog being trained is it being trained as a pet or schutzhund or maybe AKC stuff. I learned how to compete some in schutzhund and AKC/UKC and do well.
Good Luck,
rbud

by apoArmani on 19 May 2010 - 21:05

Correct me if I'm mistaken here friends...but reading these posts (to which I'm seeing much sense in); my attention has automatically focused on those figures - the figures which make me think that almost any one who feels like flogging themselves off as a "certified" dog trainer, all they have to do is invest little - VERY LITTLE money and worse still VERY LITTLE time to become one!!

According to my calculations and this you may correct me; but this where it doesn't add up for me, because if a working day has say 8 hours, one can become a "certified" dog trainer in the space of five years by learning the 'trade' in aprox. 2.5 working days in that 5 year period?!!!

If that's not cramming what is?

Even if my math is wrong ( I wouldn't bet against that) I am sure that it would take more like 5 years minimum with intense weekly theory and daily practical work for someone to begin to say that they can now help someone train their dog!!

Apart from the dog training knowledge; an instructor, has to have PEOPLE skills to deal with the varied array of new comers who have the desire but lack the 'composure' to work with their dogs. Now added to that they must learn somehow in this short time; how to deal with dog and owners too!!

How any academy can profess to achieve these tasks in that space of time beats me.

by rbud.rm on 29 May 2010 - 01:05

Ok, You aremost wrong in my case. I spent 10,000.00 for the school and another 8,000.00 rent, food, supplies. Toms school is 20 weeks plus. If you don't do the work (peformance) with your dogs you will not recieve that piece of paper saying you finished all reqwuired work. We had some 25 different peformance test, and we had to start with two 8 week old pups.
I own and operate my business where I live training pet dogs for the most part. That is the reason I went to school, To learn a new profession.
rbud

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