Becoming a Dog Trainer
Become an Associate Member
Before you read further, we invite you to join CAPDT as an Associate Member. This membership ($45 in the first year) provides you with information and training on becoming a dog trainer.
Our members portal offers access to a business plan template for dog trainers, sample curriculum, links to videos on how to train a variety of behaviours, free webinars and more. Our Associates are also able to get discounts on a variety of products and services, including a special cost-effective offer to create your website.
Dog training is a skilled profession grounded in science, ethics, and animal welfare. It requires far more than a love of dogs — it requires education, practical skill, and accountability.
If you are considering dog training as a career, it is important to understand both the current landscape in Canada and the national standards now being implemented to strengthen the profession.
The Current Landscape
At present, dog training is not regulated across Canada. Individuals may advertise themselves as dog trainers or canine behaviour consultants without standardized education, assessment, or oversight. This creates challenges for the public, veterinarians, and allied professionals when attempting to evaluate qualifications and training methods.
National Momentum Toward Humane Standards
National standards in education and training are quickly on their way to the industry. There is a growing consensus across veterinary, welfare, and education sectors: clear, humane, evidence-informed standards are necessary to protect dogs and the public.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has publicly recognized the need, stating:
“The CVMA supports the development of a national certifying body to establish acceptable standards for accreditation of all dog trainers. The standards should be based on humane training methods that are evidence-based and reward-based… This inconsistency leads to difficulty with assessment of trainers and their methods.”
What CAPDT has Implemented
CAPDT has completed and put into motion a National Dog Training Curriculum Standard, developed through extensive collaboration with educators, industry professionals, and CAPDT members.
Key elements include:
- A comprehensive national body of knowledge
- Defined core competencies and ethical expectations
- Ongoing quarterly review to ensure the curriculum remains current and evidence-informed
School accreditation
CAPDT is actively accrediting dog training education programs that align with the national curriculum standard.
- Curriculum-contributing schools are being prioritized in the initial phase
- Additional schools, colleges, and universities will be invited to pursue accreditation
- Accreditation is designed to support transparency, consistency, and quality — while allowing flexibility in delivery models
Professional pathways under development
In parallel with school accreditation, CAPDT is developing:
- A legacy pathway to recognize the education and experience of established trainers
- A national assessment framework to support future professional recognition
These pathways are being developed carefully to ensure fairness, integrity, and public trust. Details will be shared only when structures are finalized.
Choosing education responsibly
Prospective trainers are encouraged to seek education that includes:
- Learning theory and behaviour science
- Humane, reward-based training methods
- Ethics and professional responsibility
- Supervised practical experience
- Clear assessment of knowledge and skills
CAPDT’s national curriculum standard exists to help clarify what responsible professional preparation should include.
Finding a School
Feel free to have a look at this list of dog training schools across Canada and U.S.
In addition to dog training schools, you can connect with local dog trainers in your area and ask if they are taking interns or looking for employees. You can contact CAPDT to ask if they are aware of any other specific training or mentoring opportunities in your region.
Each school program has voluntarily completed the survey used to gather information for this matrix. This information has not been verified by CAPDT, and they recommend confirming any and all information before acting on it. Inclusion in the listing does not imply endorsement or recommendation by CAPDT. To have a dog trainer education program listed, use the Contact Us form to request a survey you can complete and return.
CAPDT vs. CCPDT
What's the Difference?
It’s important to understand the difference between CAPDT and CCPDT. This website is operated by CAPDT, the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers.
The CCPDT, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, is a U.S.-based organization that sells exams and certifications (for example, the CPDT-KA).
CAPDT is an education-focused organization of members. Members are individuals with an interest in the goals of the organization who pay annual membership dues to participate. Members continue to be part of the organization as long as they continue to pay their annual dues. Becoming a member of CAPDT does not make you a qualified or certified dog trainer, but it does give access to benefits like discounts on dog products, access to a member discount on insurance, a quarterly newsletter, a private members’ Facebook page, lists of how to train behaviours, free webinars, and more. CAPDT also requires members to meet certain continuing education requirements to maintain membership, use humane training practices, and follow a Code of Ethics.
Recommended Reading for Aspiring Dog Trainers
Here is a selection of books that can help you understand the BUSINESS of training, Material on the SCIENCE of HOW TO TRAIN A DOG can be found through a CAPDT Membership:
- Coaching People to Train Their Dogs 2nd ed. by Terry Ryan. Considered by many to be the single most important book new trainers should read.
- The Human Half of Dog Training by Rise Van Fleet.
- The Teaching Dog by Nicole Larocco-Skeehan. How to partner with “teaching dogs ” to improve aspects of your training classes.
- How to Run a Dog Business by Veronica Boutelle.
- One on One – A Dog Trainers Guide to Private Lessons by Nicole Wilde.
- So You Want to Be a Dog Trainer by Nicole Wilde.
- Gamify Your Dog Training – Training Games for Group Instruction by Terry Ryan.
- The Ethical Dog Trainer by James Barry.
More Resources
Information links listed on the page include CAPDT.ca, Speaking of Dogs, DogWise, Doggonesafe, Doggone Crazy, Therapeutic Paws of Canada, CanuckDogs, DOGSAFE Canine First Aid, Whole Dog Journal, and Dog Star Daily. The page also lists association links including APDT Australia, APDT UK, APDT USA, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the Canadian Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, and The Kennel Club.