Before you read further, we would like to invite you to join our Association as an Associate Member.  This membership ($95 in the first year) can provide you with a lot of information and training on what it takes to be a dog trainer.  Our members-only portal offers access to a business plan template for dog trainers, sample dog manners, puppy class and tricks 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.

There’s a lot to consider when thinking about becoming a dog trainer – here is a good overview of everything involved. 

Once you have had a look at the overview, feel free to have a look at this list of dog training schools across Canada (and in the U.S.) on how to learn what you need to know and to gain practical experience.  In addition to dog training schools which may offer practical experience as part of the learning experience, you can call local dog trainers in your area and ask if they are taking interns or looking for employees.  (Be prepared to sign a confidentiality and non-compete agreement if you work for one of these firms – it’s not kosher to expect them to train you and then you take their methods and open open near them as a competitor).  You can  ‘Contact Us’ to ask if we are aware of any other specific training or mentoring opportunities in your region.  Each program has voluntarily completed the survey used to gather information for this matrix. This information has not been verified by our organization and we recommend confirming any and all information before acting on the basis of that information. Inclusion in this listing does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by CAPDT. This listing is for informational purposes only.  To have your dog trainer education program listed, use the “Contact Us” form to request a survey you can complete and return.

It’s important that you understand the difference between CAPDT and CCPDT.   This website is operated by CAPDT – the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

On the other hand, the CCPDT – in full, the Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers – offers independent exams across North America to certify that dog trainers have achieved a certain minimum standard of knowledge (or knowledge and skills) and is an organization of “certificants.” Certificants have taken and passed one of the CCPDT examinations, and continue to recertify to retain their credentials (such as being able to call themselves a Certified Professional Dog Trainer or CPDT).  To earn CCDPT certifications, individuals must meet strict requirements, including having a certain number of hours physically training dogs, plus achieving a certain minimum score in a psychometrically sound examination. Additionally, certificants are required to meet certain continuing education requirements to maintain their certification, use humane training practices and follow a Code of Ethics.  The CCPDT is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCA provides impartial, third-party validation that a program has met recognized national and international credentialing industry standards for development, implementation, and maintenance of certification programs.

Our organization – the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers – 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 – yet it does give you access to a suite of benefits like discounts on dog products, access to a member’s discount on insurance and so on, a quarterly newsletter, private member’s Facebook page, lists of how to train behaviours, free webinars and more.  Where the two organizations are similar are that we require CAPDT members to meet certain continuing education requirements to maintain their membership, use humane training practices and follow a Code of Ethics

If you are interested in taking an exam with the Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers, you’ll need to prepare.  Writing the test costs $385 (in U.S. dollars).  Before writing the exam you need to gain a certain number of hours working under supervision training dogs, as well as running classes that you are fully responsible for.  You’ll also need a broad array of knowledge on topics from managing classrooms to sanitation.  Here’s a list to the candidate handbook which lays out what you’ll need to know.