I've talked to a number of clients and pet care professionals lately who have been trying to decipher all of the dog training titles and certifications out there. I thought I'd go through a few of the dog training and behavior terms you may hear to help guide you when selecting a trainer or behavior expert.
Behaviorist Although some dog trainers describe themselves as "pack behaviorists" or "behavior therapists," to my knowledge there are only two groups that award a certification of "behaviorist" with regard to animal counseling. First, there are board certified veterinary behaviorists that have been inducted into the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. At last count, there were 39 in the country. These veterinarians go through several years of training in dog behavior and are the expert to consult for serious cases of aggression or anxiety. You will know one when you see them because they'll have the words "Diplomate, ACVB" after their name.
The other class of experts appropriately known as "Behaviorists" are Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists or CAABs. A CAAB is a person who has been certified in animal behavior and who holds an advanced degree from an accredited university (either Masters level in the case of an Associate CAAB or PhD level in the case of a full CAAB) in the science of animal behavior. The title of CAAB is granted by the Animal Behavior Society and there are currently fewer than 50 CAABs in the United States.
Certified Animal Behavior Consultant The title of CABC is awarded by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. This organization allows members to apply for associate status while they work toward meeting the requirements for full certification. Susan Smith, who teaches at our dog training and behavior center in Austin, Texas, is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant. I, on the other hand, am an associate member of the IAABC working toward full certification. When determining who to award the certification to, the Standards Committee of the IAABC considers animal behavior consulting experience, philosphy, techniques, knowledge, skills, and ethics. Once certification is granted through the IAABC, the practitioner is required to meet ongoing Continuing Education requirements to maintain that status.
Certified Dog Trainers There are various certificates or certifications granted by dog training schools and courses around the country. The quality of these certifications may vary greatly, depending on the granting organization - some are excellent programs, while others leave much to be desired. Some will completely prepare a trainer for work with clients, while others may only provide a basic foundation that needs to be expanded upon before the trainer is qualified to teach dog owners. It is also important to keep in mind that these are granted by the organization that is teaching these students rather than by an unbiased, third party. Additionally, there are generally no continuing education requirements.
If you are trying to guage the value of this type of certification, I suggest looking up the granting school and asking them about their program, how many of the students who enter each class actually earn certification, and whether there are continuing education requirements to maintain the certification.
Certified Pet Dog Trainer The title of CPDT is granted by the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers, a third party not associated with any school or group. To earn the title of CPDT, a trainer must have been the lead instructor in private or group classes for 275 hours and have an additional 25 hours working with dogs. They must hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED and have a reference from a client, veterinarian, and a professional colleague. They must then pass an examination covering five key areas: Learning Theory, Husbandry, Instruction Skills, Ethology, and Equipment. A CPDT must meet Continuing Education Requirements and must Recertify every 3 years to maintain their certified status.
As you can see, there is great variety in the types and nature of different training or behavior certifications when it comes to dog training and behavior. I hope this list helps you decipher some of these terms when choosing your dog training and behavior expert!
nice blog,thank you for your certification information,now i have some idea about dog trainers,yes, your right.dog trainer selection is important,i have a two German Shepherd pupies, iam giving training using pauls dog training book and dvds,i got from Dog training
Posted by: smith | November 19, 2006 at 11:28 PM
nice blog,thank you for your certification information,now i have some idea about dog trainers,yes, your right.dog trainer selection is important,i have a two German Shepherd pupies, iam giving training using pauls dog training book and dvds,i got from Dog training
Posted by: smith | November 19, 2006 at 11:29 PM