Who licenses dog trainers?

[applesmom]

How about this as an explantion- maybe it will help you. I teach classes twice a week at a highschool. In order for me to be in that building- if I were a teacher- I would have a diploma- as a trainer- I have to be licensed with a traceable certification in order to be in a state run school. Stupid?? I agree- but that is what they require. They do allow anyone with a 'degree/certification" " unlicensed " to teach at the school.
I have no clue what they do out where you are, or even where Kym is- thats the way it is here.

Perhaps I could understand better if you could post what your license says.
Leave out everything personal of course.

[borzoimom]

Perhaps I could understand better if you could post what your license says.
Leave out everything personal of course.

I will make a copy of it- but most of it is personal information and I am not going to put that on a public forum including my certification number with. And you know EXACTLY why...

[applesmom]

I will make a copy of it- but most of it is personal information and I am not going to put that on a public forum including my certification number with. And you know EXACTLY why...

You don't need a copy. Just type what it says. There aren't that many words on a license of any kind.

[borzoimom]

You don't need a copy. Just type what it says. There aren't that many words on a license of any kind.

State of Virginia
Name -address- certification number- .. received from.. on date, last renewal -- , licensed by number ( state number) certification for following --- ( sch./ puppy/intermediate/ advanced/ handling-show, police training of corp/ tracking/ seach & rescue. Subject to re-certification on - ( date), subject to license - ( date). This license is granted only under items listed with no further action granted. Bearer of license is currently bonded, and insured, with certifacations as listed above. Signed- issuer date. Verification of certication by - ( name of person on file or last checked person) on date -

[caseysmom]

State of Virginia
Name -address- certification number- .. received from.. on date, last renewal -- , licensed by number ( state number) certification for following --- ( sch./ puppy/intermediate/ advanced/ handling-show, police training of corp/ tracking/ seach & rescue. Subject to re-certification on - ( date), subject to license - ( date). This license is granted only under items listed with no further action granted. Bearer of license is currently bonded, and insured, with certifacations as listed above. Signed- issuer date. Verification of certication by - ( name of person on file or last checked person) on date -

So what this a certificate from a class or issued by the government?

[borzoimom]

So what this a certificate from a class or issued by the government?

The certification came from a 10 week course. They give you a certificate with a number on it. It was involved when I did it. They didnt take just anyone.

[caseysmom]

The certification came from a 10 week course. They give you a certificate with a number on it. It was involved when I did it. They didnt take just anyone.

I am sure they didn't...no doubt you had to come up with some money

[applesmom]

State of Virginia
Name -address- certification number- .. received from.. on date, last renewal -- , licensed by number ( state number) certification for following --- ( sch./ puppy/intermediate/ advanced/ handling-show, police training of corp/ tracking/ seach & rescue. Subject to re-certification on - ( date), subject to license - ( date). This license is granted only under items listed with no further action granted. Bearer of license is currently bonded, and insured, with certifacations as listed above. Signed- issuer date. Verification of certication by - ( name of person on file or last checked person) on date -

That is a business license, possibly required by the school. Agilityk9trainer is correct, none of the states regulate dog trainers other than those I posted earlier which is guide dog trainers and sentry dog trainers.

[caseysmom]

You don't need a copy. Just type what it says. There aren't that many words on a license of any kind.

I am curious what that says too.

[applesmom]

Dog trainers do not have to be licensed or certified in any way to call themselves professional dog trainers. Unlike professions
such as doctors, teachers, or dentists, there is no body governing
all dog trainers and requiring standard techniques or qualifications.
Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, regardless of their level
of experience, methods, or skills. Most dog trainers have
no formal education in canine behavior but instead acquired
knowledge and experience through hands-on apprentice/internships
with established trainers, working in animal shelters, boarding
kennels, or doggie daycares, attending seminars, and training
their own dogs.

Choosing a good dog trainer

Q- What are licensed and certified dog trainers? Q- What are licensed and certified dog trainers?
There are only two types of licensed dog trainers. They are: Guide dog trainers, who train Seeing Eye dogs and Sentry dog trainers who train Police dogs. Only these two types of dog trainers are licensed by the state. ALL other trainers are not licensed. A certified dog trainer is a bit ambiguous at this time. By this, I mean that there are many trainers who just decided to become a dog trainer, who have little or a lot of experience, and who went to a school and got certified. Since there are no requirements to become a pet dog trainer, the field is wide open to anyone who feels they have some knowledge of dog training to call themselves a trainer.

There are only two types of liscensed dog trainers

Hiring a Dog Trainer

How can you know who you’re hiring?
There are no licenses required to call yourself a dog trainer. State and national governments do not regulate the industry. There is no group that looks at what’s covered at a school for dog trainers to make sure it’s accurate and adequate.

Hiring a dog trainer

[Blue_Frog]

This is my understanding from reading through the post -- please correct me if i'm wrong

Using examples sort of ...

Ex. 1: If i want to drive a car, I need to get a license because it is a government regulated deal. No license, no car. Dog Training is not controlled by the government, so the gobbment wouldn't have anything to do with issuing a license.

Ex: 2: At my previous workplace, I got a license to drive a Forklift with a 3rd party licencing agency (Hyster), because my company mandated that I had to. This is not an industry recognized license, and would not necessarly be transferrable to another company. The same could be said for dog licensing -- like I get a job at "Dog Training'R'US", and they mandate as a company policy that i get a license from "ABC Dog Training" in order to fullfill my job. I have a 'license', but its not certified against a centralized licensing board like a government standard, or even an industry standard (like Electricians might, using an earlier posted example). This means that my forklift license is only as good as the paper it was printed on, and as resume fodder, so something similar could be said about a dog training license.

Now correct me if i'm wrong -- there is no single entity or dog training industry that would maintain a record of individual licencing practices? This would mean that each workplace, school, accreditation institute, etc. are responsible for handing out licenses, and may work concurrently with each other. However, like in Ex.2, a Dog Training license may not be recognized from workplace to workplace, state to state, or country to country etc.

[DrKym]

This is my understanding from reading through the post -- please correct me if i'm wrong

Using examples sort of ...

Ex. 1: If i want to drive a car, I need to get a license because it is a government regulated deal. No license, no car. Dog Training is not controlled by the government, so the gobbment wouldn't have anything to do with issuing a license.

Ex: 2: At my previous workplace, I got a license to drive a Forklift with a 3rd party licencing agency (Hyster), because my company mandated that I had to. This is not an industry recognized license, and would not necessarly be transferrable to another company. The same could be said for dog licensing -- like I get a job at "Dog Training'R'US", and they mandate as a company policy that i get a license from "ABC Dog Training" in order to fullfill my job. I have a 'license', but its not certified against a centralized licensing board like a government standard, or even an industry standard (like Electricians might, using an earlier posted example). This means that my forklift license is only as good as the paper it was printed on, and as resume fodder, so something similar could be said about a dog training license.

Now correct me if i'm wrong -- there is no single entity or dog training industry that would maintain a record of individual licencing practices? This would mean that each workplace, school, accreditation institute, etc. are responsible for handing out licenses, and may work concurrently with each other. However, like in Ex.2, a Dog Training license may not be recognized from workplace to workplace, state to state, or country to country etc.

EXACTLY

[borzoimom]

This is my understanding from reading through the post -- please correct me if i'm wrong

Using examples sort of ...
However, like in Ex.2, a Dog Training license may not be recognized from workplace to workplace, state to state, or country to country etc.

Exactly!
I am enjoying this because apparently alot of states do not do this. Leave it to Va. to slam us with laws.. lol..

[agilityk9trainer]

Licensing for dogs trainers doesn't exist in any state in the US. Period. You DON'T need a license to open a dog training business anywhere - including Virginia. You just hang out a shingle and go. How do I know? I'm a professional trainer who networks with trainers from all over the country.

Certification can come from "schools," however, it really doesn't mean anything. Many of these "schools" are scams, and charge excessive amounts of money for something you can do in a local training club. The only certification I like and have any respect for is APDT. However, even that isn't monitered. A trainer could sign up with APDT, stating they engage in positive training, and turn around and use shock collars.

Borziomom is wrong on this issue. Hands down. No state requires dog trainers to be licensed. Dr. Goodnow has posted the correct information all along. I find people who say that certification or licensing is important are those who have paid large amounts of money to get these worthless pieces of paper.

Why is it important to know if licensing really exists or not? Simple. Students who don't know put their trust in this worthless piece of paper. They feel it has real teeth behind it, when in fact, it doesn't. So, they are basically being taken for a ride. As far as proving you're bonded and insured, all you have to do is show a student your insurance papers to prove that. You don't need a license. I wouldn't waste my time or money on any of these gimicks.

As far as ABC certification, some certifications do require some training and hands-on. experience. This type of certification would carry more weight than others. However, a person who goes this route is paying thousands of dollars for experience and training they can get at a well-run local training club for free. I'm afraid many would-be trainers are getting taken advantage of in this type of program. Yes, there is training. No, it's nothing you couldn't get on your own for free working in your local dog training systems.

Borziomom, your insistance that Virgina is different is amusing. I remember that one thread where you also insisted that large dogs couldn't do agility in AKC in Virginia only as well. I would be very interested to see any proof of your statement that Virigina requires dog trainers to be licensed. As everything governmental wise is on the web in my state, I'd think you'd find the same in your's.