Individuals who love working with and training dogs can become dog obedience trainers. Dog obedience trainers interact with canines closely to identify and correct behavior problems as well as train dogs to interact socially with humans and other animals. Future dog trainers must possess compassion for animals and a tremendous amount of patience. Future dog trainers must be sympathetic to animals with a wide range of behavior issues and must possess insight in order to address behavior.

Learning to become a dog obedience trainer can begin while an individual is still in high school. Students can prepare for a future profession as a dog obedience trainer by taking courses in biology, psychology, mathematics, English, and physical education. Volunteering within an animal shelter or private veterinary practice allows individuals “hands on” experiences with animals to perhaps assist in meeting professional goals of becoming a dog trainer. High school students can then go on to advance studies in certificate or college level educational programs.

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Certificate programs to become dog obedience trainers are offered through trade or technical schools, traditional community colleges, and sometimes through online programs. Students enrolled in dog obedience trainer programs take courses focused on expanding understand of dog behavior, physical abilities, and canine health. Students study courses like: canine health, veterinary science, dog breed characteristics, canine development, disease prevention, canine behavior, canine husbandry, training basics, public speaking, and canine communication. Students learn to identify and respond to behavior problems, develop behavior correction methods, as well as learn the physical abilities, sensory systems, and basic veterinary sciences of canines. Most certificate programs culminate with a clinical experience or externship within an animal shelter. Students usually volunteer 10 hours at an animal shelter, humane society, or rescue organization to practice training techniques and develop experience working with canines. Externships have the added advantage of assisting the dogs within the shelters become better candidates for future adoption. Completion of course and externship programs allows individuals to sit for licensing examinations offered through the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. Candidates are allowed to demonstrate their proficiencies in classroom and clinical training through an extensive written test, personal interview, observation period and sometimes video taped training exercises. Successful completion of a certificate program, clinical experience, and licensing requirements allows individuals to gain entry level employment as a dog obedience trainer or advance studies to higher degrees.

An associates degree in animal training allows an individual with the professional goal of becoming a dog obedience instructor advance studies to meet career and educational goals. Associates degree training programs offer individuals the opportunity to specialize educational training in a variety of areas including dog obedience. Students enrolled in an animal training program participate in courses like animal behavior management, animal care and handling, record keeping, canine health, veterinary science, dog breed characteristics, canine development, disease prevention, canine behavior, canine husbandry, training basics, public speaking, and canine communication. Courses instill skills necessary for students to identify and respond to canine behavior problems to develop correction methods. Students also learn canine sensory systems and canine communications, as well as how to care for, groom, and assist animals in a variety of settings, including crisis situations. An associates degree program also requires students to perform a clinical experience, internship, or externship under the supervision of a certified dog obedience training instructor within an animal shelter, rescue organization, boarding kennel, veterinary hospital, or private veterinary clinic. Upon completion of coursework and clinical experience, students are required to fulfill licensing requirements as determined by state or facility regulations. The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors allows students to demonstrate proficiencies developed through classroom and clinical instruction. Most licensing exams consist of an extensive written test, personal interview, observation period, and often a video taped training exercises. Successful completion of an associate degree program, clinical or externship program, clinical experience, and licensing requirements allows individuals to gain entry level employment as a dog obedience trainer or advance studies to higher degrees.

A bachelors degree in animal training with a specialization in dog obedience training instruction allows individuals the opportunity to expand educational and professional goals. Students enrolled in a bachelor degree program focused on animal training with the specialization of canines participate in a variety of courses designed to expand understanding in the field of dog obedience training. Students take courses like: animal behavior management, animal care and handling, record keeping, canine health, veterinary science, dog breed characteristics, canine development, disease prevention, canine behavior, canine husbandry, canine training basics, public speaking, and canine communication. Students who specialize in dog obedience training must fulfill a clinical experience, internship, or externship within an animal care facility, animal shelter, zoo, wildlife preserve, kennel, animal hospital or private veterinary practice under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or registered dog obedience trainer. Classroom and clinical experiences offer students the ability to care for, train, and assist canines in a variety of situations, including emergencies. Students who complete course and clinical work go on to licensing examinations offered through the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). The NADOI examinations allow students to demonstrate skills acquired from classroom and clinical experiences. Candidates complete a written test, personal interview, observation period, and often a video taped training exercise to gain licensing required to find employment as dog obedience trainers within boarding kennels, veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, laboratories, or as private dog obedience trainers.