Dog trainer school

[Becky and Bella]

No, not dog training school, dog trainer's school.  Not the one for dogs, but for humans who want to learn to train dogs. 

Has anyone heard of the Tom Rose School?  have you heard of any other good dog trainer schools?  The triple crown academy?  Are any of you professional dog trainers?  I am thinking of going to the Tom Rose school in St. Louis and have yet to get to visit the campus.  I'd really like to do something with dogs as a profession, probably either training or veterinary care and need opinions!!!

Katie Caplan, Kit, Fancy, and Bella

[Adina P]

I think the best test of a dog trainer's ability is if they can train a dog to competition level obedience and earn titles in obedience.  That is the best gold standard in my opinion.  Training is MUCH MORE a hands on thing than a book learning thing.  Triple Crown I imagine is about clicker training.  If that is your preferred method of training then work with Bella a ton, take an obedience competition class that uses clicker training, and get Bella her Companion Dog obedience title or even more!  Then ask to apprentice with a trainer you trust.

 

If you don't have a preferred method of training then start to interview trainers within driving distance and see what they suggest.  Ask if you can sit in on classes.  See the results they get and how students respond. 

 

If you find someone you love, see if any of them would let you apprentice.  It's just my opinion, of course, but I think actual experience training real dogs to a set standard (competition obedience) is more valuable than any training class could be simply because training dogs is a physical thing and timing is a practice thing. NO amount of head knowledge can replace that.  The only other aspect to training others to train their dogs is learning to lead a class and controlling the chaos in a class and being able to motivate and teach others. 

 

I would like to train dogs when all my kids are grown...but I won't even consider it if I can't title at least ONE dog in obedience past the Companion Dog level. 

[Becky and Bella]

I know both schools require you to adopt at least one dog to train during your course and teach you how to teach specialty dogs (ie: shutzhund, service dog, search and rescue etc...)

You are right about the paper versus physicality!  Those are the only two schools I could find in the US that have campus learning and teach you how to handle, instead of just doing online stuff or paper pencil work.

[Becky and Bella]

www.triplecrowndogs.com

www.tomrose.com

 

[Adina P]

Tom Rose's program isn't that attractive to me.  Mostly because I can't see the syllabus without signing up.  Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT a dog trainer, so what do I know...but it seems more geared toward training protection dogs.   Are both of these like full time school for the duration of the program?  I suppose since they BOTH require you to have a dog with you then you'd have some hands on.  But I still think you'd be better off just apprenticing a trainer you admire whose methods make sense to you.  Way cheaper!  I'm sure you'd learn a lot at the schools, but I think even after it's all said and done someone whose extent of dog training experience was limited to training that one adopted dog would still NOT be someone I'd pay to train my dog.  I'd want someone whose trained multiple dogs, of different breeds and temperaments or just had that special 'knack' with dogs.  But that's me.  I don't want to discourage you. 

 

Do you gravitate toward a certain type of training?  Do you have a philosophy of training you believe in?  I ask because I think it's good to have a good grasp of what you believe in ahead of time...because if not you might as well dip your toe in the water attending local classes that espouse different methods of training. That way you can see them in action and develop your own ideas about what works best.  Because otherwise you'll just be made to believe what THAT program believes.  There's also the Karen Pryor academy--not sure if it is live--if you like clicker training. And I'm sure there are other courses too. 

 

In any case there is no required certification to be a trainer in any state.  You can get hired at PetSmar or PetCo with no experience.  You can read a ton and practice and attend obedience trials, talk to trainers, etc. and when you feel confident start a business with NO requirements.  Think about what you'd want from a trainer.  What would you want to know they have experience with and then aim to get that experience.

[Becky and Bella]

What you say makes a lot of sense.  I do have to go there and get a feel for HOW they train.  I got a packet and dvd about the school though and it seems good (the Tom Rose school) just that I worry it will be too forceful and not have enough motivational sides.  I am all for the pack theory and cesar milan's concept of calm assertive pack leaders but I even thought cesar was too rough when he started the show, and much prefer his gentler approach these days.  I do a lot of combining the motivation/positive reinforcement and the pack theory.

I started my hands-on stuff training to dogs for the seeing eye.  Then I recieved one back after flunking and trained her to be my personal service dog.  I started using clickers when I started training all of them in agility.  Now I am hoping to start volunteering with the local search and rescue teams if my health improves. 

 i have a lot of knowledge, I just need someone to show me how to pull it all together and take it to that next level of superb professionalism.  A level where I can make some money and help a lot of dogs get out of the system.  I hope to rescue puppies out of the shelter, train them in every level from family to protection to police work in order to increase their chances at being adopted.  Everyone pays a thousand dollars for a puppy that pees everywhere, why not ask them to pay for a puppy that is trained?

[Adina P]

Good luck to you!  If you like and believe in clicker training then I'd go with one of those schools that teaches that.  The person below posted an academy created by Jean Donaldson...that might be good too.

[Nina]

Hi, I have a friend who went to dog training school with a woman named Jean Donaldson in SF.  She has a new program that isn't in San Francisco.  Here is the link http://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow! That's a great thing to want to do-I wish you all the luck in the world!!

[Adina P]

Have you found any other places or are you leaning in any direction on this?

[Becky and Bella]

Well, I'm still recovering from an illness, so it will be a little while before I do anything.  I am thinking the Tom Rose school, or trying to intern with a special group of trainers.. i forget what they were called.

[Helen & Kirby]

Hi!

In our area there is Animal Behavior College, commonly called ABC College.  You might see if they are in your area.  You do earn a certification.  When I was training my dog, (at a VERY good place) the instructor had a student teacher from ABC.  I considered doing it too.  Part of it is on-line instruction, and part is shadowing a trainer.  The program takes almost a year to complete. 

 It's a start.....

[Tug Dogs]

There are a few good program in North America and then a lot of not so good ones! It's important to look at the curricula and instructors who are teaching the school to make sure you get a quality education. Also check out the graduation requirements. They should be attainable but challenging. If they don't have graduation requirements, chances are they just want to take your tuition and hand you a meaningless diploma!

We own and operate Tug Dog Trainer's Academy, the premire West Coast dog trainer's school. We have lots more info on our website if you want to learn more:

www.teachtraintug.com

 

Being a dog trainer, is an amazing and very profitable career. Good luck in your search!

 

Erin :)