Field Guide · Glossary
Certified dog trainer
Methods and protocolsA dog trainer who has earned a credential from a private organization by meeting its requirements, such as an exam, logged experience or a completed course.
How it works
Dog training is not regulated in the United States. No state requires a license, so anyone can work as a dog trainer and certification is voluntary. Credentials come in two broad kinds. An independent certification tests people however they learned: the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers awards the CPDT-KA for logged training hours plus a knowledge exam, and the CPDT-KSA for adding a recorded skills assessment, and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants awards an accredited trainer credential through a test, a written case discussion and endorsements. A school certificate shows someone completed that school's program, as with the Karen Pryor Academy's Certified Training Partner. Most credentials expire unless the holder keeps up continuing education. Certification shows a tested minimum of knowledge. It does not work as a license, and it does not show which methods a trainer uses or how well they handle a particular problem.
What it looks like
An owner comparing three trainers finds a CPDT-KA, a school certificate and no credential at all. Looking up the first, they find it current on the certifying body's public directory. They then ask each trainer the same questions: what happens when the dog gets it right, what happens when the dog gets it wrong, and whether they can watch a session first.
Commonly confused with
- Behavior consultant
- A trainer's credential covers teaching skills and manners. A behavior consultant's credential covers assessing and treating fear, anxiety and aggression. Neither is a veterinarian, and neither title is protected by law.
Related terms
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