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How to Pick the Right Certifications and Programs to Become a Trainer

Key Areas of Knowledge for Trainers and Behavior Consultants

These are not listed in order of importance, they are meant to provide an overview of topics that I believe are important for a well-rounded trainer/behavior consultant. As you may have gleaned in the presentation, most dog trainers can get through life and their business with an understanding of just a few of these topics. If you are interested in supporting dogs with more serious behavior concerns you will find that eventually, you need to educate yourself in most of these topics in order to fully address canine mental health and well-being issues

  1. Learning theory and its applications

  2. Animal behavior/ethology 

  3. Applied behavior analysis

  4. Canine body language and behavior

  5. Veterinary and grooming procedures

  6. Shelter behavior

  7. Human communication skills 

  8. Empathy 

  9. Business management

  10. Scientific journal reading and analysis skills

Recommended Reading for a Well-Rounded Introduction to Dogs and Training

These books provide a great starting point for anyone interested in canine behavior. In this list are books about learning theory applications, canine genetics, and canine behavior. I also included a fabulous book by ethologist Frans de Waal because you’d be surprised to learn how often having a general knowledge of animal behavior is beneficial.

Don’t Shoot the Dog - Karen Pryor

Excel-erated Learning - Pamela Reid

Meet Your Dog - Kim Brophey

Canine Body Language a Photographic Guide - Brenda Aloff

Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution - Raymond Coppinger and Lorna Coppinger

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? - Frans de Waal

Advanced Academia

Certificate Programs - this may not be a full list but they are the options well-known to me. 

Master’s Degree Fields

  • Animal Behavior/Ethology

  • Animal Welfare

  • Applied Behavior Analysis

Resources - above are the fields of advanced academia that I think are most relevant to potential dog trainers. These resources are groups of canine scientists from across the world. Learning more about the scientists who make up each group is a good way to find universities with canine science programs and those accepting new students for graduate work! 

Trainer Education Programs and Certification

Education - Trainer education and certification programs are great for people who want an introduction to learning theory, its application, and current skills/techniques dog trainers are using. Many of them have the benefit of requiring a hands-on component as well, meaning that you will have to work with an animal throughout the course. 

APDT Dog Trainer Education Program Matrix

Certification - These are the main certifying bodies for trainers and behavior consultants. It’s important to remember that the training industry is not regulated, meaning that these certifications are what most trainers rely on to demonstrate their breadth of knowledge to customers and other professionals. 

CPDT-KA or CCBC-KA, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

IAABC-ADT or CDBC, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

CAAB, Animal Behavior Society


Finding Your Niche with Specialized Certifications

Specialized Certifications - these are examples of programs that educate trainers on advanced or specialized topics. Typically you might find a trainer has 1 or 2 of these in their title.

Continuing Education - trainers must do continuing education (CE) in order to recertify with any of the organizations that you find in their title. CE is also a great way to stay up to date with advancements in the field. These are just a few examples but there are a myriad of CEU (continuing education unit) opportunities available through conferences and even trainer-held webinars.