Did you know that the dog training industry is not a regulated field? Anyone can say they are a dog trainer and state their experiences, however not have any formal education or certification? Yup! It's true!!!
However, you are in the right place because I am going to share with you places you can find certified professionals in your area! There are a few organizations that certify and assess the knowledge of trainers for various species. I myself am not a certified trainer (yet) however, I always recommend IAABC (iaabc.org) and CCPDT (CCPDT.org) to people with questions or wanting to find a dog trainer in their area! On these websites, you can search for certified professionals in your area. Trainers with these certifications also commit to positive reinforcement practices!
Another online tool to search for individuals that align with +R philosophies is Fear Free. (@fearfreepets) Here, you can find vets, groomers, trainers, pet sitters and daycares that are committed to reducing fear, anxiety and stress for your pets!
SO many people have pets but SO many people have little to no idea that there are certifying organizations for dog trainers or even that there are different philosophies in the dog training world. Beware of red flags on websites such as words like "dominant," "alpha," or if the person explains that they use punishment based tools such as prong and e-collars. If you see any of these, that trainer does not meet the standards of science-based training.
Share with a friend if you learned something new or to help a friend out!💛
