Certified Service Dog Trainers
Service dog trainers teach canines to assist in tasks that people with disabilities can't perform on their own. They teach dogs to respond to voice or contact commands. They get the double reward of working with animals and helping people. They might, however, be bitten or scratched by a frightened or confused dog, though dogs that are prone to those reactions would not be trained as service animals.
While not mandatory for this profession, certification for general dog trainers is available. Some schools offer formal service dog trainer courses. Apprenticeships and volunteering are alternative ways of becoming a service dog trainer.
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | None required |
| Licensure or Certification | Licensure required in some states; certification is voluntary |
| Experience | 2-3 years with an apprenticeship |
| Key Skills | Patience, good interpersonal and communication skills, enjoy working with dogs and know how to use common dog training equipment |
| Salary (2020) | $35,450 per year (Median salary) |
Sources: Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Guide Dogs of America, PayScale.com.
No degree is required to become a certified service dog trainer; however, licensure could be required in some states, and voluntary certification is available. An apprenticeship along with 2-3 years' experience is typically needed. These professionals should be patient and have good interpersonal and communication skills. They should enjoy working with dogs and know how to use common dog training equipment, including clickers, targets, and tethers.
According to 2020 data from PayScale.com, dog trainers earned a median salary of $35,450.
Be a Certified Service Dog Trainer
Step 1: Work with Dogs
Prospective service dog trainers can become acquainted with the profession by attending conferences and workshops in canine behavior and training. Available at vocational schools and community colleges, workshops and conferences last 1-4 days and cover topics in animal learning theory, obedience techniques, and training safety. Service dog trainers also gain hands-on experience with dogs by volunteering at animal shelters. Some service dog training schools offer puppy-raising programs in which volunteers care for puppies until the puppies are old enough to begin training.
Step 2: Complete Dog Trainer Courses
Aspiring service dog trainers prepare for the career by enrolling in formal classes and certificate programs offered at community colleges, universities and service dog training schools. Duration and intensity of training vary by program. Some courses last only a couple of days and present basic techniques, while others entail several months of advanced practice and introduce theories of service dog training. According to Assistance Dogs International, Inc., programs promising to teach dog training in a few weeks will not provide the level of training required to become a certified dog trainer. Reputable programs take 2-3 years and require an apprenticeship period.
Step 3: Serve as an Apprentice
Most service dog training schools only consider applicants who have completed an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships at training schools last up to 4 years. Under the direction of experienced instructors, apprentices train dogs to assist humans in specific functions and teach disabled owners how to control their service dogs. Apprentices are also responsible for completing basic tasks, such as running errands, picking up dog excrement and processing paperwork.
Step 4: Obtain Certification for Advancement
While some states require service dogs to be certified or licensed, no mandatory certification exists for trainers. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) offers voluntary certification for dog trainers. Once an apprentice has completed a minimum of 300 hours of training and obtained three recommendations, he or she is eligible to sit for the Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) certification exam. This 25-question exam covers occupational topics, such as animal husbandry, instruction skills, and learning theory.
Aspiring service dog trainers can complete an apprenticeship and enroll in classes or certificate programs, with reputable programs taking several years of training. Certification or licensure might be required in some states, and voluntary certification is also available.
