Are you thinking about turning your passion for animals into a career choice?
Lettecha Johnson | Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 5 days, 11 hours AGO
The Academy of Pet Careers, the Academy for Dog Trainers, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, and Penn Foster all make the list for best dog trainer certification programs. Diverse career access, specializations such as dog sports, support, scientific curricula, and budget are among the criteria used in this roundup.
Animal lovers who want to work with them need to find the right dog training program. While there is a short time between completing your dog handler education and being able to start this career, people don't want to waste their time or money on the wrong program.
Why Is Dog Training Worthwhile?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that animal care employment will grow 11% from 2025 to 2035. More people are looking at alternative employment and starting businesses doing something they love.
Americans love their pets, especially dogs, and there is a high level of personal satisfaction when working with them. Most trainers operate as independent business owners who set their own hours away from office-hour restrictions. They get to enjoy the outdoors or work from home.
From assisting owners with disabilities by training service dogs to the high-octane energy of competition, one can use professional pet skills in many areas.
Best Career Options: The Academy of Pet Careers
The Academy of Pet Careers is the best option if you want one-stop shopping for a range of pet-related careers. When you select the Academy of Pet Careers for your dog trainer education, you can specialize in competitive and recreational dog sports across over 10 disciplines. Or focus on animal care jobs that enable the pup to help others, such as service dog training. No matter your path, you will learn to train with the most modern, positive reinforcement training methods.
The education helps you build a business of your own, but the company has some impressive direct connections who hire graduates such as:
- Petco
- Petsmart
- Zoom Room
- And hundreds more...
With direct placement assistance and other guided support, you can immediately start your new career.
What if you want to enhance or pivot away from dog training? The company rounds out its pet skills with dog grooming and veterinary assistant training as well.
Best Science-Backed Education: The Academy for Dog Trainers
The Academy for Dog Trainers continuously raises the bar in dog handler education with its intense science-based curriculum. Its founder, Jean Donaldson, created her company to simultaneously address dog behavioral counseling and training while moving away from often violent techniques used to get the animal to listen.
That's why she developed this step-by-step program based on behavioral science that progresses through four levels. This dog training program requires all applicants to complete these levels:
- Freshman
- Sophomore
- Junior
- Senior
- Graduate
The behavioral science approach also applies to how people learn. That's why it also includes strong community support through Academy Cafe and Study Buddies. Here, students can get peer support from potential future colleagues.
Best for Dog Sports: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is the best option for those ready for a sport-based dog career.
The program prepares you for animal industry opportunities in the dog sports world by covering the fundamentals of conditioning, fitness, agility, and loose-leash walking. The team sports class covers foot targets, backing up, and scent articles.
You'll become an expert on keeping your canine in top shape from puppyhood into senior years through conditioning, massage, and other techniques. If you're interested in scent sports, there's a course that covers both tracking and nosework for all dog breeds and temperaments.
There are set course schedules and flexible training options, including self-study courses to take at your own pace.
These fall under the pillars of:
- Health and Fitness
- Obedience and freestyle
- Electives
- Workshops
- Prerequisites
Best Mentorship and Support: CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
When it comes to the best dog trainer certification programs that highlight mentorship and support, CATCH Canine Trainers Academy gets top marks. You're never alone in your next career step here, thanks to a built-in student support team. Talk to certified trainers who provide comprehensive assistance even on the weekends.
As one testimonial said, "They are so caring and so thoughtful and are always there for you when you need help."
There's hyper- personalized learning from your dedicated program director. You also have a local mentor trainer and ongoing access to instructional videos.
The support doesn't stop after your certification is complete. The program also helps newly trained dog professionals with job placement. Having a state-approved license from a company with a good reputation helps.
Best Hands-On Experience: Animal Behavior College
Animal Behavior College has the best hands-on experience you need as you start this new animal career. Students work under a hybrid model that successfully combines online coursework with supervised local mentorship under an "externship" nearby.
Get expert-level experience working with real dogs to build instincts and skills only developed in the field. If dogs aren't enough, you can enhance your skills in cat training as well.
When you graduate and move on to one of your many career options, from veterinary hospitals to pet retail stores, you'll have the confidence you need to get rolling immediately. Many students start working in this field within 6 to 12 months.
Best Budget-Friendly: Penn Foster
If you're worried about the financial cost of starting your dog training career, consider your best budget-friendly option, Penn Foster. Currently, your program only costs $749 due to a huge sale.
Can't put all that money up front? Penn Foster can help you budget for your education with a monthly auto-paid plan. Use credit or debit cards to pay about $59 per month on this plan and start for as little as $20 down.
There's another option called the Monthly Mail Pay Plan where the final cost is $989, but you have to mail in your monthly installments.
Working with Pets Can Start a Thriving Career
Finding the right dog training facility can be the start of a thriving career with major growth ahead. Help manage unruly dogs or give them special capabilities to work with disabled people as your own boss, or work with respected pet services from veterinary hospitals to Petco.
Learn more about animals and relevant content by checking out our website.
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