Who licenses dog trainers?

[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.