I was having a conversation yesterday with a lady about different sorts of certifications that trainers have. For some owners, especially those who’ve been burned in the past by trainers they feel are sub-par, trainer certifications, titles, schooling, and accreditations are very important, and this is understandable. However, delving into that world of titles, schooling, accreditations, and certifications, is far from simple and easy to understand. Today’s topic will attempt to break this information down for you so that you can be an educated consumer of training services.
Trainer Schooling
There are many options for a trainer when looking to go to school. Some schools are online, and other schools require the student to travel there for instruction. Each school will teach in a slightly different manner with slightly different emphases, and produce a wide range of trainers. It’s important to know that just because someone has gone to school doesn’t mean that they are a good trainer, and just because someone hasn’t been formally educated doesn’t mean they aren’t a good trainer. (On the flip side, trainers who have been schooled aren’t neccesarily bad trainers, and trainers that haven’t been schooled aren’t neccesarily good, either.) Many trainers are still self-educated or apprenticed under another trainer with more experience, rather than attending formal schooling. What’s important is that the trainer has a basic knowledge of learning theory including classical and operant conditioning and that they understand motivation and its uses in dog training. Ask your trainer questions beyond “Where did you go to school” or “Who did you study under”. Also inquire about their knowledge of basic psychology and see if they seem to understand these basic concepts.
Trainer Titles
Just as with schools, a title by itself does not mean a whole lot. Lots of schools will give their students titles (“Master Dog Trainer”, etc), but that doesn’t mean that the trainer is good or bad at what he does. Besides that, any trainer could just make up a title for themselves. The world of dog training is not a protected field- anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behavior expert.
Certifications and Accredidations
CDT, CPDT, CPDT-KA, CDBC, PDT, KPA-CTP, etc- before long, it all jumbles together and looks like alphabet soup! A dog trainer (good or bad) does not need to have any sort of certification or accreditations, but many opt to get one. Sometimes it seems like it gets addictive and you end up with a person who has more letters after their name than they have in their name! This is neither good nor bad- just as with schooling and titles, most certifications don’t mean a thing. They merely mean that the individual met the requirements needed to gain that string of letters. Sometimes it’s attending a one hour seminar. Other times it’s simply paying a sum of money. The trainer’s actual skills and knowledge may or may not have been tested at all.
The only standardized, independent, nationwide testing of a trainer’s knowledge and skills is done by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). They administer a test for Certified Behavior Consultant Canine- Knoweldge Assessed (or CBCC-KA), for Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assesed (or CPDT-KA), and for Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA). The first two require the trainer to meet certain requirements in order to apply to take the test, including having a set number of hours of experience and paying a fee. Then they must be accepted to take the test, and then pass that test before being able to use this certification (and the letters behind their name). The last one assesses the trainer’s skill as well, so the trainer must submit video of their handling skills and be approved. In order to keep their certification, the trainer must accrue a set number of continuing education credits from authorized sources.
The other string of letters that generally means something is AAB, which stands for Applied Animal Behaviorist. These people have gone to school and graduated with advanced degrees in the study of animal behavior. They have a Master’s Degree (an Assosiate Applied Animal Behaviorist will have this), a PhD, a DVM, or VMD degree (these last three would be a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist). They write journal articles and professionally study animal behavior utilizing research and hands on experience. They must maintain liability insurance as well, and in order to be accepted as a AAAB or CAAB, they must pay a fee and submit three letters of recommendation to the Animal Behavior Society from members of that organization. These letters of recommendation are then reviewed, and if the trainer is accepted, they then are able to add that string of letters after their name, although they will have to apply for re-certification again in 5 years. Note: Many people calling themselves “behaviorists” or “behavior experts” are not a member of this organization. The nearest applied animal behaviorist to here is Patricia McConnel from Black Earth, WI.
So, what does all this mean for an inquiring owner?
Choose your trainer with care. Don’t get dazzled by a string of letters after a person’s name or by a long list of certifications and accreditations. Look into the professional organizations (if any) that the trainer belongs to and investigate the requirements to join and the philosophy of that organization. Talk to the trainer you’re thinking about using and inquire into their knowledge and past experiences. Why are they a trainer? How long have they been at it? How many hours have they put into this profession? How did they learn what they know?
Some of the most important questions to ask your trainer are about their philosophy and their methods. How do they go about training the pet? Do they train you as well? What is their philosophy and goal behind the training (not all are as obvious as you’d think!)? If their methods don’t suit you (and especially if they are not humane) do not go to that trainer. If you are at odds with your trainer about methodology, the training will not stick and you will have wasted your money. Find someone to educate you as well as to train your dog, and find someone who cares that you and your pet will have success in the training.
Have fun training your dog!