Qualified dog handlers are always in demand. The growing popularity of dog adoption and the increasing excellence of dog adoption agencies has helped foster a commensurate rise in dog owners seeking professional assistance. Dog training is difficult and time-consuming. The need for security and assistance dogs is also on the rise. Dog handling is a diverse, exciting and challenging field. If you want to participate, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and The Association of Pet Dog Trainers recommend the following steps.
Instructions
1. The most basic quality in a first-class dog handler is a love of dogs. Other basic qualities are enthusiasm, people skills, some business savvy and a lot of knowledge about canines. These can be obtained through experience, but a love of dogs is more difficult to learn.
2. You can find out if dog handling is the job for you and greatly increase your chances of success at the same time by enrolling in dog training school. Good dog schools offer a comprehensive course that includes instruction in basic dog psychology, nutrition, training schedules and techniques and tools of the trade.
3. Pick a dog handling school that introduces you to the business side of dog handling as well. Good schools will require that your knowledge of dogs comes through practical experience as much as book learning. If you want to specialize in an area of dog handling such as service or security, a solid grounding in everyday dog training is the best way to begin.
4. Your school will provide you with a certificate that you completed the course. This will give you an advantage over dog trainers with no formal training, but official certification requires a standardized test conducted by a nationally recognized organization such as the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers or the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
5. Consider observing dog trainers in action as a preliminary step to becoming one yourself. Personally observing an average workday for an average dog trainer will serve you better than a week's worth of books and Internet articles. Contact local dog trainers and ask to sit in on a session or two. You have much to gain from their insights and experience, and seeing the nitty-gritty details of dog handling up close will help you develop a more accurate sense of your own potential.
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