If you are passionate about dogs and would love a career that lets you improve their lives, dog training could be it. More than a third of the households in Maine have a dog, so there are plenty of playful pups waiting to be turned into good dogs.
Dog trainers help dogs live their best lives by teaching them the obedience skills they need to be good canine citizens. Learning what it means to come, stay, heel, wait, sit, down, leave it, and wait can mean the difference between a peaceful household and total chaos. Some of those commands are even potential life-savers.
Become a Dog Trainer in Maine
There’s a lot to learn if you want to be a successful dog trainer. You need to understand how dogs learn, study behavior-modification techniques, know how to effectively use the tools of the trade (clickers, training treats, harnesses, crates, etc.), recognize canine characteristics and personalities, master training principles, and learn how to plan problem solving strategies for individual dogs.
Getting certified is a great way to launch your career, but it’s unlikely that you live within driving distance of a brick and mortar dog obedience school. That’s no reason to give up on your dream of becoming a trainer, however. Animal Behavior College has been teaching people to become dog trainers online for over two decades.
With ABC, you can enroll wherever you live, whenever you like. As long as you have reliable internet service, you can enroll and get right to work on the first stage: A Basic Overview of Canines.
The program takes about a year to complete. Once you’re certified, you have the option of working for an established company or hanging out your own shingle–dog training is great if you want to start your own business or have an awesome side gig!
Getting Dog Training Experience
You’re probably asking, “How do I learn dog training without practicing on actual dogs?”
ABC solved that problem a long time ago. We’ve developed a huge network of mentor partners-professional trainers who live throughout the United States. Once a student has finished the online coursework, we pair him or her with a local mentor for invaluable real world experience. The “externship” requires at least 15 hours with your mentor.
Our students gain confidence in their abilities as they practice their skills alongside a professional trainer.
Maine Could Use More Dog Trainers
By becoming a dog trainer you could help dogs become solid canine citizens and foster the lifelong bond between dog and owner.
Check out the ABC Dog Obedience Program today. Call 1-800-795-3294 to speak to an admissions counselor. Just imagine: within a year, you could be working as a certified dog trainer!
