Who licenses dog trainers?

[applesmom]

Applesmom,
There are no LICENSED trainer. You can be certified. You do need to pass a state course for working with Service animals for the BLIND, and Police K9 training.

Those courses are both worthwile, if you plan on training these types of animals as a carreer. In the case of Police work, it is a no brainer that learning the craft helps cut down on injuries. To animal and human.

So in answer to your question, for an average trainer 99.9 % NONE for the few that do police K9 in all 4 states that I trained it was state certified from other K9 trainers that had established themselves. AgilityK9 would be better equipped to answer more in depth than I as it has been more than 10 yrs since I have trained a Police unit.

And as for Serivce animals the only proof or liscence required is for the
Blind. That is done through passing the certification process. State run but mandates come from the suggestions in ADA requirement of what tha animal should do as a guide dog.

Great! It took 5 pages but we finally got those questions answered!

[DrKym]

Tried to answer them earlier!

[applesmom]

Tried to answer them earlier!

I heard ya all along!

[borzoimom]

Okay- lets see if I have this right- do not go to a dog trainer in Arizona or Ill. because none of their trainers are certified or licensed or bonded.. Good thing to remember- thank you!
So if I went to Arizona- and someones dog attacks my dog, the trainer is not certified to teach,by admission never taught dogs before, and nor licensed or bonded to pay for damages.. Hmm good point- TRUST ME I will never go there..

[caseysmom]

Who mentioned Arizona or Ill??? I am totally confused now....

[borzoimom]

Who mentioned Arizona or Ill??? I am totally confused now....

applesmom lives in arizona according to profile ,and kym lives in Il.

[DrKym]

applesmom lives in arizona according to profile ,and kym lives in Il.

Or any other state.Certification is not required in any state.

[caseysmom]

applesmom lives in arizona according to profile ,and kym lives in Il.

So what does that have to do with the cost of tea in china?

[agilityk9trainer]

Okay- lets see if I have this right- do not go to a dog trainer in Arizona or Ill. because none of their trainers are certified or licensed or bonded.. Good thing to remember- thank you!
So if I went to Arizona- and someones dog attacks my dog, the trainer is not certified to teach,by admission never taught dogs before, and nor licensed or bonded to pay for damages.. Hmm good point- TRUST ME I will never go there..

You'll find the same thing in Virigina, so watch out!!

Actually and seriously, this is why I spend so much time and money putting titles on my dogs. Titles DO prove I have a level of training experience. The certifications, etc., really don't mean much, but titles do prove something. It's even better when my STUDENTS get titles on their dogs. Then, it proves I can not only train my own dogs, but teach others to successfully compete with their dogs.

Personally, I wouldn't want government stepping into dog training. They would require us all to conform to their cookie cutter methods of training. As it stands, we are able to provide a wide variety of methods to train. A potential student who knows what they are looking for can find the right trainer to fit their dog and their training philosophies. However, by allowing this freedom, you will run into trainers who are ill-equipped to do the job - certifications or no. As long as training methods don't run into the abusive, the government should allow the wide variety of methods available.

That doesn't mean that I don't get "up in arms" about some of the methods out there, but I also wouldn't want the government involved in regulating training beyond the powers to make areests for abusive treatment.

As for insurance and bonding, as I have said, if it's a concern of a student, just ask to see the trainers insurance/bonding papers.

[mike001]

Well, let's just say I'm glad I don't live in the states if that's the way things are. If I needed a trainer in the states, it would mean that I'm on my own...unless I look for borzoid mom who is bonded. I wouldn't want my dogs or myself mauled because someone decided that being a trainer would be fun.
So who do these trainers pay taxes to if they aren't licenced, is it all money under the table?
Well, that also answers my question about the ADA and why Canada doesn't recognize their laws....they're self made.

[NicoleLJ]

Just so everyone knows there is no regulatory certifaction or lisensing of trainers in Canada either. A dog trainer here does not have to be liscensed or certified with anyone. If I wanted to right now I could go out and purchase a business liscense form my town and start training dogs. In fact I have considered it on many occasions. You do not have to be school trained here to train dogs or certified to train dogs proffesionally. Just thought I should clear that up.
Nicole

[Ceph]

I just wanted to put something out to agilityk9trainer -

some of us dont have the luxury of obedience clubs near us...so what do we do? All we can do is take the learning we can get and work with it until we are ready to do our own thing. I did my training in conjucture with the equine training and behavior class last semester (they only teach horse behavior at mny school, not companion animal, but alot of the basic theories are the same, though equine training is by far the more dangerous), plus a companion animal class this semester....and helping out with a friends dog....but I cant drive the hour to roanoke to find an obedience club...so I took the other avenue available to me. I feel like I have learned alot, but I know need to learn more (still not done though), which is why I dont intend to just randomly start out on my own...its why I buy books, ask questions and attended classes with my own puppy myself.

please dont make those up us that chose to go with a cert. program sound like fools that got taken advantage of....its obnoxious.

[applesmom]

Well, let's just say I'm glad I don't live in the states if that's the way things are. If I needed a trainer in the states, it would mean that I'm on my own...unless I look for borzoid mom who is bonded. I wouldn't want my dogs or myself mauled because someone decided that being a trainer would be fun.
So who do these trainers pay taxes to if they aren't licenced, is it all money under the table?
Well, that also answers my question about the ADA and why Canada doesn't recognize their laws....they're self made.

mike001 you missed the point, there is no such thing as a "licensed" dog trainer in the USA except as Drgoodnow mentioned above. Being a law abiding business person (which the majority of successful dog trainers are) is a whole other kettle of fish. They pay taxes and have insurance just like any other business owner.

[DrKym]

Well, let's just say I'm glad I don't live in the states if that's the way things are. If I needed a trainer in the states, it would mean that I'm on my own...unless I look for borzoid mom who is bonded. I wouldn't want my dogs or myself mauled because someone decided that being a trainer would be fun.
So who do these trainers pay taxes to if they aren't licenced, is it all money under the table?
Well, that also answers my question about the ADA and why Canada doesn't recognize their laws....they're self made.

ADA of 1990 is a FEDERAL law, hardly self made.

You may want to finish the research you haven't done from the service dog thread before spouting false information YET again.