Dog Training certification: Should your trainer be certified?

Dog Trainer Certification Logo issued by CATCH Academy

Did you know that in the United States, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer without any certification? This might be surprising, but it's true. While dog training seems like a simple concept, there is a lot more research and hands on experience behind the scenes. Something I learned on my journey of training dogs is that dog trainers do not have to be certified in the United States, (kinda crazy, right?). Since it is an unregulated profession, anyone can do it and claim they are good at it. And who's to tell you the truth with no mandatory qualifications or laws? I'm sure their dog being trained and well behaved in public would be a good start but maybe you should dig a bit deeper when looking into your new dog's leader and best friend. 

Having a certification does not only help with the basics, but also keeps trainers updated on the most current research and techniques. They also should attend seminars and workshops in dog training, behaviorism and nutrition.

Sure, knowing dog training methods and techniques is crucial, but what happening inside your dog is just as important. Meaning nutrition plays a big role into having a happy, trained pup. For example, a fully trained dog that is experiencing stomach pain, may be acting out like digging at doors or having accidents in the house. The dog is not a bad dog, just feeling sick and either trying to get outside or can't hold it anymore. Sometimes a simple probiotic can help this issue, but it could also be a sign of a bigger issue, so I always recommend consulting with your vet, but a certified dog trainer should be able to observe the behavior and point you in the right direction.

Since there are no laws, qualifications or education requirements to be a dog trainer, anyone who demonstrates the ability to teach dogs desired behaviors and address undesirable ones can be a dog trainer.

Dog Training Certificates to Look for, but not limited to:

• CPDT-KA (Certifications Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed) is a national certificate that requires 300 hours of training and passing a written and skills exam. 

• CDT (Certified Dog Trainer) is extensive program that offers a certification by International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), certification council for professional dog trainers (CCPDT), and dog training colleges.

• CGC (Canine Good Citizen) is a program offered by American Kennel Club that registers experienced evaluators to test dogs on demonstrating good manners and responsible ownership. Service dogs have to pass this test before going further.

• FEAR FREE animal trainer certification program that  helps alleviate the stress and fear of veterinary visits/care. One of the best things about this, is that it requires trainers to renew their certificate annually, keeping them up to date with their new methods and research. You do have to have a previous certificate from an approved organization to take the course. Organizations recognized are listed below:

  • Academy for Dog Trainers Graduate or have Academy for Dog Trainers Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) from former SF SPCA program

  • American College of Veterinary Behaviorists Diplomate (DACVB)

  • Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer or Animal Behavior College Certified Cat Trainer

  • Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB)

  • Canine Training Technician (Accredited) (CTT-A)

  • CATCH Canine Trainers Academy Certified Dog Trainer

  • Certified Behavior Consultant through IAABC (Certified Behavior Consultant Certified in the Dog, Cat, Horse or Avian Species or Certified Shelter Behavior Professional

  • Certified Behavior Counselor Canine (CBCC-KA)

  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA or CPDT-KSA)

  • Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB)

  • Delta Institute Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training

  • Dogma Certified Behavior Consultant (DCBC)

  • How Behavior Works: Living and Learning with Animals (Dr. Susan Friedman)

  • Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)

  • Member of American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)

  • Pat Miller Certified Trainer (PMCT)

  • Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (Accredited) (PCBC-A) through the Pet Professional Accreditation Board

  • Professional Canine Trainer (Accredited) (PCT-A)

  • Professional Development Diploma in Canine Behavior Analysis and Counseling through the American College of Applied Science

  • Veterinary Technician Specialist with Specialty in Behavior; VTS (Behavior

  • Victoria Stilwell Academy Graduate or Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training approved member 

(Fear Free)

Above is listed all the institutes that teach the basics about dog training and behaviors. Certificates from the list are a great start to completing the hours and requirements for the internationally known certifications. 

There are different training methods that these institutes cover, so whether you are training or looking into your trainer, make sure to look into whether the type of training aligns with you and the dog. The primary learning theory used in dog training is operant conditioning including positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment and negative punishments, also known as the four quadrants. View illustration below to learn more.

Illustrated above is an informative diagram of the four quadrants with examples. (Smith)

Dog training is one of those things that is constantly evolving, new techniques and viewpoints are being introduced. When dog training household pups started it was in the 1900s with negative reinforcement and positive punishment being the method most used. Which makes sense if you think back to that time during WWII, using these traditional methods (like choke, pinch and shock collars) just made sense due to training dogs for war. Then there was the Dominance based training that was based on studies of wolves, which has since been proven that dogs do not have much in common with wolves. Positive Reinforcement was introduced in the 1940s, but did not really take off until 20 years ago, growing more and more popular nowadays, (for good reasons, that I will go over in another blog post). My training techniques focus on getting a dog to behave the way you want AND building a lasting relationship with your new best friend. While this approach may take more dedication, effort and time, it is worth it in the long run.

In addition to your Dog Trainer being certified, there are certain characteristics that make up a good trainer. Not only does your dog need to have a strong trusting relationship with the trainer, so do you! It is very difficult to communicate and be successful with a dog trainer that doesn't hear you out or explain things thoroughly. Here are a few other characteristics you might want your dog trainer to have; A deep and genuine respect for dogs, great observational skills, thorough understanding of canine behaviors, positive and can do attitude, patience, empathy and consistency. 

When working with animals, there is a language barrier that can be difficult to decipher if you have never been around or worked with animals. Training dogs requires a high level of patience and hands-on experience. When looking for a dog trainer, consider the different types of training, their certifications/experience and how much effort you are willing to put into it. So make sure to ask as many questions as you can when searching for a trainer, in the hopes of meeting your level of wants and needs for you and your dog!

Works Cited

Fear Free. “Fear Free Animal Trainer Certification Program Overview.” Fear Free Pets, https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-animal-trainer-certification-program-overview/#1538065781828-74230f14-71ec. Accessed 28 April 2025.

Smith, Ali. “Understanding Dog Training Techniques, Styles and Methods.” Rebarkable, 14 August 2023, https://rebarkable.com/dog-training-styles-methods/. Accessed 28 April 2025.