A Closer Look: Dog Training Schools

Today we will be taking a closer look at dog training schools! This post is helpful for those looking to get started as a dog trainer, as well as those who are vetting the dog trainers they hire to ensure they will provide them with accurate and up to date information. 

As we’ve discussed previously when we looked at independent dog trainer certifications, there is no regulation in the dog training industry. Schools, certifications, and memberships are not required of any trainer. Trainers are also not required to adhere to any professional requirements in the United States. 

Many trainers do choose to attend a school, earn a certification, or hold membership with an organization. Each school, certification, and membership can tell you a little about the trainer’s philosophy and guiding ethos. Let’s break down some of the more common dog training schools!
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Animal Behavior College
The ABC offers courses to help trainers develop the basic knowledge of dog training. Graduates earn their ABCDT (Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainers) designation. The organization focuses on (but does not limit it’s curriculum to) teaching positive reinforcement training methods. It also doesn’t hold graduates to continuing education or to using a specific method after graduation. ABC is a place that many trainers can start their education, but a lot of professional trainers should pursue additional education or certification as well.  
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The Academy for Dog Trainers
The Academy, as it’s often referred to by dog trainers, was formed by an exceptional trainer by the name of Jean Donaldson. This school provides a comprehensive curriculum on the education of dog training and behavior, both through online lectures and live video coaching of hands on training. Graduates earn the designation CTC, for Certificate in Training and Counseling.  

Karen Pryor Academy
Also known as KPA, this school is high on many trainer’s lists for education in the field. Combining in-person and online work, KPA ensures their certificants receive a full and thorough education in positive reinforcement dog training. Karen Pryor is known for her work popularizing clicker training with a wide variety of animal species and her popular book, Don’t Shoot the Dog, is applicable to both animal-human and human-human relationships! Someone who has gone through KPA earns the designated KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy - Certified Training Partner) and this school is a great place to begin a trainer search as well. 

Starmark Academy
This program is 4, 8, or 12 weeks at the very longest. I am of the opinion (along with many other trainers) that this is not nearly enough time or experience to become a professional dog trainer. In addition, Starmark does not hold graduates to positive reinforcement based methods (which are recommended by the leading animal behavior organizations) and graduates may choose to use correctional collars. The company itself is known for making its own correction collar, effectively a plastic prong collar designed to pinch the neck. They designate their graduates as “Canine Training Specialists” or “Canine Training and Behavior Specialists.” I’d encourage those looking at trainers to further speak with Starmark graduates to ensure their philosophy aligns with recommended practices of positive reinforcement based training methods. 

National K-9 School for Dog Trainers
Even shorter than the Starmark options, National K-9 offers to train someone to be a dog trainer in either 3 or 6 weeks. Upon graduation, they designate graduates as a “Certified Professional Trainer.” This is just one example of how similar certifications can seem. In comparison to National K-9, offering a “Certified Professional Trainer” designation to those who have spent only 6 weeks learning (275 hours total) about dog training at their own school, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers offers an independent certification of Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) to those passing a comprehensive exam on learning theory after having already 300+ hours of hands-on dog training time (outside of earning an education). As with Starmark, I’d recommend further vetting your trainer if they are a graduate from National K-9. 

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How Do I Ask Trainers About Their Training Philosophy?
A good rule of thumb when interviewing dog trainers is to ask two simple questions.

1. What happens when my dog gets it right?
2. What happens when my dog gets it wrong?

The answers from these two questions will let you know a lot! For example, responses to number 1 should include “they are rewarded with a favorite toy or treat!” or “we mark and reward the dog’s behavior to encourage them to repeat it in the future.” Answers that send up red flags include “they are praised only, we don’t use food or toys,” or even “pressure/stimulation is released, performing the behavior stops the correction.”

Question two is best answered with something like, “When your dog doesn’t do what we want, we evaluate the situation and try again, setting the dog up for better success the second time.” Any response to question 2 along the lines of “a correction is delivered” or “the dog is physically forced into the correct response” should be red flags to tell you that the trainer isn’t necessarily focused on setting the dog up for success. 
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With so many options, this is not a comprehensive list of schools, but it contains those I see most often when helping clients in other locations research their local trainers. Feel free to reach out or drop a comment below for assistance in finding a qualified trainer! 

Don't forget to also check out our post about independent dog trainer certifications for more information!