HOW TO BECOME A DOG TRAINER
Do you think you have the guts to be a dog trainer? Are you in for a painstaking challenge that tests your patience and determination? Do you have the time and the commitment? Have you thought about the rewards and the fulfillment in relation to the risks, sacrifices, hardships, and the responsibilities that come with it? So you think you are really ready to become a full pledged dog trainer? If so, then consider the following ways that will allow you to be what you aspire for:
a. Read lots of books and articles about dog training. These days there are many books, which can help you, transform yourself into a dog expert. There are dog training specialization books on almost all types of bookstores and even in some pet shops. You can also find lots of electronic books that focus on training your dog for proper toilet use, crate use, among many others. Apart from the full books, if you have any questions about your dog training but are not found in the book, you can easily find the answers through Internet search engines. Dog training articles are now hot topics over the Internet as well. However, one should be wary about the credibility and reliability of the articles found on the net. As a result, before applying any tip/technique derived from an online book or article, you should first check the author's background. Cross checking the info with the data provided by many reliable websites and/or the advices of dog experts should be done as well.
b. Get yourself an actual dog training experience under the supervision of an expert. They say that experience is the best teacher. So, if you want to be a really good dog trainer, then you ought to try an actual hands-on experience in training dogs, you can do this by joining dog rescue groups and shelters, and participating in their activities. You can try volunteering as an apprentice of a professional dog trainer. By doing so, you'll be able to observe and participate in various dog training programs, report about such activities, and get the advice of the dog experts. Some rescue groups even offer free month-long seminars about dog training.
c. Get yourself a dog training degree program. There are some dog training schools and veterinary schools that offer dog training courses. Such courses will allow you to get both the theoretical knowledge from books and the actual hands-on dog training experiences. Most courses require reading lots of books centered on dog training processes, attending seminars, watching lots of DVDs showing actual dog training procedures, listening to lectures of expert dog trainers, and gaining actual experience in dog shelters or rescue centers.
