Be a Dog Trainer!

Enroll today in one of the nations top Dog Training Schools!

Join the ranks of a growing Dog Training Industry as a professional dog trainer!

• Have you been wondering how to become a dog trainer?
• Are you looking to become a Professional Dog Trainer and launch a dog training career?
  Check out our our ABC Certified Dog Trainer Directory – Click Here!
• Are you interested in getting “hands on” dog obedience training and experience?
• Do you want to be a Certified Professional Dog Trainer?
• Would you like to start your own business training dogs or work as a professional dog trainer for an established business?
• Are you searching for a Dog Training School owned and operated by Professional Dog Trainers?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions you’ve come to the right place.
We invite you to click through our site or speak with an ABC Admissions Counselor at:
 
1-800-795-3294

or Request Information on Becoming a Professional Dog Trainer

 

Animal Behavior College (ABC) is one the most highly recognized Dog Training Schools for Training Dog Trainers in the United States.

Do you love dogs? Why not be a Dog Trainer and start an exciting career in dog training? As an ABC Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), you will possess the dog training skills necessary to make a difference in the life of every dog that you work with. Graduation from this program affords you the ability to open your own dog training business or work for an established business as a professional dog trainer. ABC Certified Dog Trainers reap the benefits of a rewarding career that allows them to work either full- or part-time anywhere in North America.

I finally decided to do what I always wanted – work with animals. ABC was my first choice from the beginning. I now train basic obedience classes seven days a week! I would advise anyone who is on the edge and undecided about a dog training career to follow their dream and live their life getting paid to do what they love!
Andrea Collashaw, ABCDT
ABC Certified Dog Trainer

Animal Behavior College gives you the tools you need to become a successful Certified Dog Trainer!

• Hands-on Training from dog trainer professionals – You learn from the experts!
• Personal & Expert support system for each student
• Flexible & Convenient school schedule
• Located near you – In all 50 States & Canada!
• Recognized ABC certification
• Affordable tuition & financing available

If it wasn’t for ABC, to be honest, I don’t know where I’d be. Learning about dogs is a daily activity and each day takes you to a different level, not only in training but in life! I am proud to have been a student of ABC and I wear my card like a badge. People respect it! (Angela has become famously known as the “Dog Whisperer of Venice Beach”)
Angela Ade, ABCDT
Owner of Doggie’s Ade – Venice CA, ABC Certified Dog Trainer

Animal Behavior College is founded and operated by TOP dog training professionals

With over 20 years as a professional dog trainer and personally training thousands of dogs, Mr. Steven Appelbaum, President and CEO of Animal Behavior College (ABC), founded ABC after successfully establishing the largest independent dog training company in the US, Animal Behavior & Training Associates, Inc. (ABTA). While searching for qualified dog training professionals to fill ABTA’s rapid growth, Mr. Appelbaum recognized the need to have a quality dog training school for trainers in order to test and qualify experienced dog trainers to meet ABTA’s professional and quality standards.

Debbie Kendrick, Vice President of Animal Behavior College and former Southern California Dog Obedience Trials “Top Dog” Award winner, successfully owned and operated a successful dog training business before joining Steven Appelbaum’s first company, ABTA. As the head trainer overseeing hundreds of dog trainers for ABTA, Ms. Kendrick also recognized the necessity to start a dog training school that could equip their trainers adequately during their expansion.

With their leadership, combined professional dog training experience, and strict selective process in hiring only the most qualified mentor dog trainers, Animal Behavior College has become the premier animal career vocational school in the U.S. All Program Managers are graduates of the Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program at Animal Behavior College and pursue continuing education as they strive to be the best dog trainers they can be.  Many of them still actively train dogs in their community by conducting group classes, doing private trainings or consultations, or volunteer at their local animal shelters to help save dogs by training them to become more adoptable. As one of the top dog training schools in the United States, ABC has trained over 8,000 successful Dog Trainers and helped save countless dogs! With over 78 million dogs in the U.S., there are numerous opportunities for graduates. Dog training jobs are in need!

The ABC program helped me in many ways. I learned to work with different people, and was able to experience working with a variety of different dogs and problem solving situations. It opened doors before I even finished the program. I’ve been able to help my clients better in building their relationships with their own dogs.
Debbie Salmons, ABCDT
Field Trials Competitor and ABC Certified Dog Trainer

Affordable Tuition

Tuition for the Certified Dog Trainer Program is $3,290 – $4,045 depending on payment arrangements and available discounts. The tuition price covers ALL materials, as well as the hands-on externship with an ABC Mentor Trainer. Competitive programs offering this type of one-on-one training can cost up to $10,000 or more! Click here for more information

Financing Available

100% financing available with $0 down to qualified individuals. Please contact us directly at 1-800-795-3294 to discuss eligibility requirements and payment arrangements customized to fit your needs.

Financial Assistance

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Financial Assistance program (MyCAA) offers eligible military spouses FULL scholarships to attend ABC. Consult an ABC Admissions Counselor to find if you are eligible for this FULL scholarship today! (Click here for more information)

I was thrilled that the tuition was free through the MYCAA program and I loved that I could study at home at my own pace for this certified dog training course. Working a full time job and handling the home front on my own, there would have been no other way that I could have accomplished it. Everything worked out perfectly and I am so impressed that I was given good quality proven tools on how to create a business.
Pamela Wiltgen, ABCDT
ABC Certified Dog Trainer & Owner of 2 Businesses:
Far Fetched Tales Agility and Labor of Love Therapy dogs

 

ABC is available to anyone in the U.S. or Canada who is 18 years or older with a high school degree or GED equivalent.

Excellent Income – Get Paid for Doing What You Love!

The ABC Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program, in my opinion, is the best. When I visited a new Petco store in the neighborhood, I was instantly hired as a staff dog trainer. I only showed them my new ABC Certified Dog Trainer ID card. Now I am approaching a new career I always dreamed of.
Gerard Alblas, ABCDT
ABC Certified Dog Trainer

The only thing better than having a job that you love is earning a great income! Professionals in the animal industry can earn a significant salary working with animals while simultaneously helping the people who love them. Imagine being able to make an excellent living while working in a field that you are passionate about. There is a tremendous opportunity to thrive in this occupation, and your potential client base is practically limitless, especially considering that according to the 2011/2012 National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 72.9 million homes.

Flexible Hours & In-Home Training – Bring the Classroom to Your Living Room

By choosing to enroll in ABC’s unique course of study, you can keep your current job while studying for your new dog training career. All programs provide flexibility to busy, working adults. The ABC program brings the classroom to your neighborhood and living room, meaning that you avoid additional expenses such as housing at a remote location, and you will not waste time and money driving to a classroom every day.

Being a military spouse, the in-home study program was great because it fit into my daily schedule whenever I had the time.  With young kids at home and a military spouse deployed, I was still able to make the time to complete the program.  I could take it with me when I went home to visit family on vacation or when we went to a new duty station.  It easily fit into my day no matter what demands I had on my time. Now with all my hands on training experience and dog behavior knowledge I have started my dog training business. I am not only enjoying the freedom to work with my clients unrestricted, but I am looking forward to accomplishing my other goals as a trainer in the future.
Christina Kenyon, ABCDT
ABC Certified Dog Trainer, Owner of Easy Dog Personal Pet Training

Hands-On Training – Learn from the Experts

Research indicates that employers are more inclined to hire applicants whose schooling included hands-on training. ABC offers this valuable component as an essential aspect of the program.
After students successfully complete the in-home study portion of the course, they are authorized to move on to the vital hands-on externship. This gives students the opportunity to learn from dog training experts in an actual working environment. Once there, students are given the chance to utilize the knowledge acquired during the home study element and apply it to real-life occupational situations. The externship is a priceless component of the ABC course, and having experienced on-the-job training will set you apart from the competition in the eyes of future potential employers.

I cannot express enough, my satisfaction with the training I received and how incredibly comfortable I feel doing this on my own. I knew the moment I walked into the home of my first client that this was my destiny.
Ashley Simon, ABCDT
Stay at Home Mom and ABC Certified Dog Trainer

Locations in All 50 States and Every Canadian Province

Training Facilities in Your Neighborhood anywhere in the United States or Canadian Province.

ABC is a viable option for students anywhere in the United States and Canada. That’s because ABC has over 1000 instruction locations nationwide and throughout Canada. Training for your new career has never been more convenient! Call 1-800-795-3294 for information on training facilities near you.

Not All Dog Trainer Training Schools Are Alike

Thousands of students have successfully completed the Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program at Animal Behavior College to become professional dog trainers. ABC’s Certified Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program Managers and Mentor Dog Trainers are committed to giving each student the very best opportunity, experience, and support possible to succeed as a Professional Dog Trainer.

I chose ABC because of the convenience of the online program, the in-depth curriculum, and the hands-on portions of the program….The externship and the volunteer work were my favorite steps in the program because the hands-on work you do with the dogs, is extremely valuable.
William Allocco, ABCDT
Dog Walker and ABC Certified Dog Trainer

Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program Curriculum

Animal Behavior College’s highly detailed 11 stage curriculum for their Certified Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program is one of the most comprehensive in the nation.

• Stage 1 – Basic Study of Canines – Includes detailed instruction on basic canine knowledge to provide a foundation for more advanced learning. -more-
• Stage 2 – Learning Theory – Explains scientific principles about how animals learn and explores numerous behavioral training strategies -more- 
• Stage 3 – A Trainer’s Toolbox – Introduces a myriad of professional dog training tools and equipment -more- 
• Stage 4 – Training Basics – Covers the history and evolution of dog training techniques and their contribution and relevance to today’s training methods -more- 
• Stage 5 – How To Teach Basic Obedience Cues – Outlines step-by-step instructions for teaching dogs the most popular cues that clients request for their dogs to learn -more- 
• Stage 6 – The Art Of Effective Problem Solving – Outlines step-by-step treatment plans for addressing the most common behavioral challenges -more- 
• Stage 7 – Safety – Describes how to conduct safe and stress-free lessons with clients and their pets -more- 
• Stage 8 – Public Speaking and Teaching Group Courses – Teaches public speaking methods and techniques, which are vital to clearly and effectively conducting dog training lessons -more- 
• Stage 9 – Business Building – Provides coaching and guidance from the president of ABC on how to start your own dog training business -more- 
• Stage 10 – Hands-On Externship & Shelter Volunteer – Hands-on training experience is provided by a local ABC-Approved Mentor Trainer. Shelter volunteering is also part of this stage -more- 
• Stage 11 – Final Exam & Graduation – The successful completion of a cumulative final exam awards certification as an ABC Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT) -more- 

The outlined curriculum was everything I was looking for, it provided a new insight on training techniques that I thought I knew about and how to solve behavior problems that I never heard of…This has become my full time job and is going strong with the help of the curriculum’s business portion.
Kristin Crestejo, ABCDT
Business Owner and ABC Certified Dog Trainer

Get Started Today

The Better Business Bureau not only recognizes ABC but gives ABC an A+ rating!

Speak to an ABC Admissions Counselor Today!
Call (800) 795-3294

Become a Dog Trainer!

After years of working as a social worker, I wanted to put effort into my other passion: working with dogs. I am forever thankful that I finally made the decision to become a dog trainer. ABC gave me the resources I needed to start my own dog training business, and I am excited to watch that part of my life grow!
Bonnie Hess, ABCDT
ABC Certified Dog Trainer, Owner of Faithful Companion
Dog Training, LLC

I wanted to further my education so I signed up with Animal Behavior College. All the people I talked to were very friendly and helpful. Through ABC I gained a very good knowledge of dogs. I very much enjoyed my hands-on experience with my Mentor Trainer. It was an invaluable experience. I am now staying at home with my two kids and doing dog training as my income. I hope to have a kennel one day and board and train. As for now I am teaching group classes and doing private lessons.
Amy Amos, ABCDT
Stay-at-Home Mom and ABC Certified Dog Trainer

“I made the right choice! I am thrilled to say that after a 30-year nursing career, I decided to become a dog trainer. I am now the proud owner of Happily Ever After Dog Training, LLC.”
Maureen Leach, ABCDT
ABC Certified Dog Trainer