how to become a dog trainer for service dogs

DISCLAIMER: WE ENDEAVOR TO KEEP THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE UP TO DATE AND ACCURATE; HOWEVER, WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS, GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, ABOUT THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, OR SUITABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR PROFESSIONALS CONTAINED HEREIN. Most are small and began with experienced dog trainers (some began with training military working dogs, police dogs or other working dogs) who moved into training service dogs for disabled individuals and then decided to help train trainers too. You may already have your own dog, but this experience is not enough. Research Bergin College of Canine Studies's Programs & Degrees, Becoming a School Administrator: Salary, Degrees & Requirements, Forensic Autopsy Technician: Duties, Requirements & Salary, Free Online Bookkeeping Classes & Courses, Medical Technologist: Job Description, Duties and Requirements, Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Retail Management, Best Bachelor's Degrees in Forensic Psychology, How to Become a Radiologic Technologist: Education Requirements, Skills & Salary, Dont Waste Your Money 5 of the Most Useless Dorm Accessories, Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security Management Program Overview, Need a Break From Campus Off-Campus Spots for Study and Fun, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Licensure required in some states; certification is voluntary, Patience, good interpersonal and communication skills, enjoy working with dogs and know how to use common dog training equipment, Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED. For more information, see our Resources. Police Dog Training Schools. Having a love of animals is just the beginning — the most experienced dog trainers understand that often the most difficult part of the gig is working with people! (Certified Service Dog Trainer: Certification & Career Roadmap. You don’t need formal qualifications, but going on an Dog Training Essentials course, like those run by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and finding a ‘mentor’ (another, more experienced trainer) to learn from are likely to be helpful when starting out. To be a dog trainer you will need to be able to show a history of excellence in business, and in your professional or personal life to be qualified. Contact the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers for additional information about the profession and eventual certification. USSDR is an extra step that goes above and beyond the law. USSDR is designed with input from experienced trainers and service dog owners who believe there should be an opportunity for those who wish to voluntarily and knowingly comply with not only the ADA law, but also an additional and specific set of community-defined training and behavior standards. The ADA is written to allow disabled individuals to use their service dogs in public with as few barriers as possible. We have identified 5 simple steps to help you understand how your dog can become a service dog. Your submission has been received! Certification or licensure might be required in some states, and voluntary certification is also available. Apprenticeships at training schools last up to 4 years. An error occurred trying to load this video. While service dog trainers are in high demand, those that are adequately trained are few and far between. Service dog trainers also gain hands-on experience with dogs by volunteering at animal shelters. A volunteer or foster trainer will typically have the dog for 12 to 20 months, depending on the dog’s individual development. Are you interested in a career working with dogs? Dog training is based on the science of animal behavior, so look for schools whose curricula are scientifically sound. 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If you’re really looking for the finest service dog training education possible, Bergin is the hands-down go-to school. Become a dog trainer … - Degree & Licensing Requirements, How to Become a Licensed Dog Trainer: Licensure and Career Roadmap, Business Operations Manager: Job Description and Requirements, Behavioral Health Technician: Job Description & Requirements, What Do Guidance Counselors Major In? Curriculum, relevancy of sample programs, and outcomes will vary by school. Out of this quota, a minimum of 30 hours should include public access skills. Two more great resources are the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Must be a high school graduate or have completed the GED, Adult learners who do not have a high school diploma may apply as mature students, Afterwards, you'll have the option to speak to an independent (2020, Mar 6 of publication). However, international standards prescribe at least 120 hours of training over six months. As a guide dog trainer, you must be able to work with people and dogs, since you are training dogs to interact appropriately with people. See below: With the input from over 100 service dog handlers in America, the United States Service Dog Registry (USSDR) represents the most democratic realization of an assistance animal registry and training and behavior standards agreement to-date. Get a quick view of the requirements as well as... Protection dog trainers require no formal education. Here’s a list of 3 necessary steps to a career as professional dog trainer: Step 1: Get educated. YOUR USE OF CONTENT FROM THIS WEBSITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Aside from basic obedience dog trainers, there are many other specializations. Apprenticeships and volunteering are alternative ways of becoming a service dog trainer. Under the direction of experienced instructors, apprentices train dogs to assist humans in specific functions and teach disabled owners how to control their service dogs. USSDR’s purpose is to allow someone the opportunity to voluntarily hold themselves and their animal accountable to a higher standard by publicly signing a specific set of training and behavior standards that goes above and beyond the law. According to Assistance Dogs International, Inc., programs promising to teach dog training in a few weeks will not provide the level of training required to become a certified dog trainer. If you are eager to be a service dog trainer and work with their handlers, our Service Dog Trainer School is the best program for you. Service dog trainers teach canines to assist in tasks that people with disabilities can't perform on their own. We sent her a short response and thought it would make an interesting blog post. Expert Contributor: Aspiring service dog trainers prepare for the career by enrolling in formal classes and certificate programs offered at community colleges, universities and service dog training schools. Find Schools. Becoming A Certified Dog Trainer Now that you’ve worked with dogs and people, and taken the courses, you’re ready to jump into dog training. All rights reserved. THE CONTRIBUTORS, ADVERTISERS AND ALL OTHER ARTICLES AND LISTINGS CONTAINED HEREIN DO NOT IN ANY WAY CONSTITUTE A REFERRAL OR ENDORSEMENT BY  AMERIDISABILITY, AMERIDISABILITY.COM, AMERIDISABILITY SERVICES, AMERIDISABILITY SERVICES MAGAZINE, OR AMERIDISABILITYSERVICES.COM. At this time no federal or state certification is required to be a dog trainer, although certification is available. Apprentices are also responsible for completing basic tasks, such as running errands, picking up dog excrement and processing paperwork. Trainer ) can be removed or suspended while submitting the form, Council... 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