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What is dog trainer "certification"?

N.H. Sunday News - Dog Tracks Column - 7/25/10
By: Gail T. Fisher

Last week I wrote about a colleague’s experience with two dog trainers who claimed experience and credentials they did not possess, one calling herself a “Master Dog Trainer.”

To quote from American Dog Trainers Network on becoming a professional dog trainer:

“It generally takes at least 3-5 years of intensive study and hands-on dog training and handling to become a good novice trainer. No trainers' school is going to teach you everything you need to know as a dog trainer, in just a couple of months. So if you have aspirations of becoming an experienced "Master Dog Trainer" after only a few months of study, dream on.

“In my opinion, most true "Master Dog Trainers" have trained dogs for at least 20 to 30 years, are internationally known, highly respected, have written numerous dog books, published many articles, know an enormous amount of information about almost every aspect of dogs and dog training, and keep their knowledge up-to-date by attending seminars, workshops and conferences.”

In response to my last column, I got an email from a dog trainer who wrote in part: “As a professional dog trainer, I must admit I found your article on Sunday a bit disturbing. Not that I don't agree there are people out there saying they are trainers that haven't earned it. I just caution about "generalizations" that could be damaging to the capable trainers out there who may have gotten their certifications by venues other than your program.”

This brings up an interesting point about “certifications”—which I did not claim to bestow on our Academy graduates. I wrote: “... even with “credentials” from our Academy, [our graduates] recognize (and we stress to them) that they have more to learn, more to practice, more to experience and far more knowledge to gain as they “practice” their profession. Becoming an experienced, skilled professional dog trainer requires training dogs—lots of dogs.”

So what is “certification,” and what does it indicate? Many trainers market themselves as an “’X’ Academy Certified Dog Trainer,” which simply means that a student has completed the requirements to receive that school’s certificate. A former employee in our daycare was a “certified” graduate (with honors) of a popular distance learning course. Despite this “certification,” she had little hands-on dog experience in any field including training, and knew she had a great deal to learn to be a trainer.

We are often asked by potential clients if our trainers are “certified.” While it seems like a simple question, there is no independent, nationally recognized certification body that assesses and certifies a dog trainer’s skills. The one independent credentialing organization, the Council of Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) (formerly the Council of Certified Pet Dog Trainers) offers a standardized, written exam that assesses knowledge of topics such as learning theory, husbandry, ethology, and the like. However, the Council does not assess hands-on dog training skills or actual teaching. Their certificants use the letters CPDT-KA, which stands for “Certified Professional Dog Trainer—Knowledge Assessed”— “knowledge,” not “skills” or “ability.”

The only national organization that I am aware of that assesses training or teaching abilities as a prerequisite for membership is the National Organization of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). I was a NADOI member for a number of years, being accepted after an assessor visited my classes, unannounced, and watched me teach for several hours to ensure I had the requisite skills to meet their requirements. NADOI’s website “endorses” its members, noting “Endorsed was the term chosen by NADOI’s founders to indicate certification.”

While several membership organizations “certify” their members, to be truly objective, a testing/credentialing body must be independent from the educational institution or membership organization. That’s what makes the Council of Professional Dog Trainers potentially significant—if they institute a test of training skills as well as “book larnin’.”

In the meantime, to find a dog trainer in your area, start with the Trainers’ Search section on the Association of Pet Dog Trainers website. (In the interest of full disclosure, I’m the Vice President of the Board of Directors of APDT). Member trainers adhere to a code of conduct, and generally use positive reinforcement methods. But don’t stop there. APDT membership is not “certification” or “endorsement.” Talk to your veterinarian, friends and colleagues that may have used the trainer. The best endorsement comes from satisfied dog owners ... and dogs.