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Dog trainer qualifications...

2 replies

Flowerface · 17/07/2011 19:57

I would like to become a dog trainer. I don't really have experience, other than the generic experience of having owned some dogs in the past... And I have no idea about the industry. Is it completely unregulated? Or are there some qualifications which are widely recognised and worth having? Any advice would be very gratefully received!!

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silentcatastrophe · 17/07/2011 20:58

You can do courses in animal psychology. There is COAPE which runs courses. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers might be able to get you started. www.apbc.org.uk/ may be helpful too. You would benefit from working with a trainer whose methods you find helpful.
I think it is pretty unregulated, and there are lots of ideas flying around, and new research. There are some very good people out there. Your Dog magazine often gets asked your question, so it may be worth taking a look at that. Some trainers are so dog focussed at the expense of the owners, which may suit some people. Other trainers enjoy training the people.
If you start with APDT or APBC, you will find trainers belonging to all sorts of associations and with different qualifications. It may be worth looking at as many classes as you can, and different methods, then you will be in a good position to know better which way to move forward.
Is there anything you particularly enjoy?

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Flowerface · 18/07/2011 17:24

Thanks. That's really helpful.

I wanted to do some kind of trouble-shooting thing, involving travelling to people's homes to try to address problems in their original context. I think I need more experience with problem dogs before I start, but I am not sure how to get it... (other than purposefully acquiring a problematic dog, which I don't really want to do with a 19mo about!!)