Becoming a dog trainer doesn’t necessarily mean attending classes in person or putting your life on hold while you go back to school. If you’d like to work professionally with dogs, it’s possible to get your education from home and build the knowledge and skills you’ll need to pursue dog training as a career or as a side job.
Learning from home can be especially helpful if you’re currently working, have family responsibilities, or want to explore a career in dog training without committing to a traditional school schedule.
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What Do You Need to Learn to Become a Dog Trainer?
Professional dog training involves much more than teaching dogs basic commands. You’ll need to understand canine behavior, learning and communication, training techniques, and how to work effectively with dog owners. You’ll also need to be able to watch a professional dog trainer applying what you’ve learned with real dogs.
Get My Free Dog Trainer Checklist
I’ve created a free checklist, 10 Steps to Becoming a Professional Dog Trainer, that you can use as a simple roadmap as you begin planning your new career:
Two Dog Trainer Schools You Can Consider
If you’re ready to look at professional training programs, there are two online options I recommend to aspiring dog trainers.
Doggy Dan’s Dog Trainer Academy
Doggy Dan’s Dog Trainer Academy provides online education for people who want to become professional dog trainers. Because the program is online, you can study from home and work through the training around your existing schedule.
When you visit the site, you’ll get to watch a free webinar from the academy’s founder and teacher, Doggy Dan. He’ll guide you through exactly what the dog trainer academy is all about.
Learn more about Doggy Dan’s Dog Trainer Academy, or read my complete Doggy Dan’s Dog Trainer Academy review.
Western States K9 College
Western States K9 College offers another path for people who want professional dog trainer education. The program combines remote learning with professional instruction and mentorship, making it worth considering if you’re looking for a more structured route into the profession.
PeopleLovingAnimals.com readers can receive a $500 discount by using coupon code peoplelovinganimals.
Learn more about Western States K9 College, or read my complete Western States K9 College review.
Start Becoming a Dog Trainer from Home
You don’t have to wait until you can attend an in-person school to start working toward a dog training career. You can begin learning from home, practice your skills with dogs, and build the knowledge and experience you’ll need to work professionally.
Take the time to compare training programs and choose the one that best matches your goals, budget, preferred learning style, and the kind of dog training career you hope to build.
If you’re just beginning to explore this career, my complete guide to becoming a dog trainer explains the steps involved in getting started.
For More Information on Becoming a Dog Trainer
- Is Dog Training a Good Career?
- Is Dog Training a Good Side Hustle?
- How Much Do Dog Trainers Really Make?
- How to Become a Dog Trainer With No Experience
- How Long Does It Take to Become a Dog Trainer?
- Do You Need Certification to Be a Dog Trainer?
- Best Dog Trainer Certification Course for Beginners
- Can You Become a Dog Trainer Online?
- Dog Trainer Schools Online
- How to Become a Dog Trainer From Home
- How to Become a Dog Trainer on a Budget
