Dog Health Questions: Where can I get certified to be a dog trainer?

I have been taking many courses in dog training and would like to look into becoming certified....how do I go about doing that? I work for Petco now as a certified dog trainer but I want a certificate from my state(NM)...Is there a test or something I'm supposed to take? I have been studying dog training methods and taking courses for years so I would appreciate some help. Thank you.

The Dog Training Things You Should Do and the Ones You Shouldn't

Recommended Answer:
Ask your state dept of education.

Most states don't regulate dog trainers, but trainers do have a national organization: http://www.nadoi.org/

That's the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. They have a program.

Dog Training - How to Train Your Dog Effectively

• Most of the "best" trainers I have come across do not have a "certificate" from some place that states they are a "trainer".
  
  I have known a couple of people who have gone through an "online" national program (I will not mention the organization) to get a "trainer certificate". Both had badly behaved dogs I would not tolerate with lots of issues.
  
  There is great difference between reading, memorizing, answering questions to get a piece of paper, and having common sense, experience and plain "a knack" with understanding and working with dogs.
  
  The best education is actually working "with" a good trainer.


• Check with the AKC ( american kennel club) . They have an e-mail address on their link. They will answer your question as to what you have to do to be certified and how to get certified.


• There is no such thing as a central certified trainer.
  If U graduate from someone's program such as Petco, then U can say U R certified from that institution. Same with any other dog training course.
  There are no state required requirements, which is why anyone can set themselves up as a dog trainer, whether they are good or not.
  When someone hires a dog trainer, it is "buyer beware".
  Reading different books on training is very helpful, no matter who taught U to train dogs I the first place. If I read a whole book on dog training and only learn one new thing, I consider it worth it.
  When I started training dogs 45 years ago, there were only two dog training books ( basic obedience ) in the library of a huge downtown library. Now U can go online and find hundreds of books on dog training. Wow. Some of them are better than others.
  Just remember that the best dog trainers in the world never think they know it all --- they realize that there is always something new to learn, if they keep an open mind. As much as I already know, I am open to learning a better way to accomplish certain dog behaviors. A good trainer is not afraid to go back to the basics with any dog that needs a reminder of something it already has been taught.
  As a dog trainer of experience U create your own clientele, and advertise your own talents. There is no government regulator of dog trainers --- yet.
  Let's pray they stay away from us for a while longer. When they find out a way to tax your services, they will. Good luck.