Herding Dog Breeds: 12 Most Popular Pups

The post Herding Dog Breeds: 12 Most Popular Pups by Rachel Brix, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com. Looking for an active, smart dog good at agility, treibball and flying disc? Try one of the 32 herding dogs — just make sure you give them a job or they will create one. The post Herding Dog Breeds: 12 Most Popular Pups by Rachel Brix, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com. The post How to Become a Dog Trainer & Start a Business by Rachel Brix, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com. Everywhere you look things have gone to the dogs! Earning a living as a dog trainer is fun and doable. Although the dog training industry remains unregulated, certification helps you stand out from your competition and offers many other benefits for networking, marketing and continuing education. How to Become a Dog Trainer While you’re considering certification, or working on completing it, here are the basic steps to become a dog trainer: Become versed in canine body language and emotions Shadow other dog trainers to get hands-on experience Find a qualified mentor. Look local for someone to show you the ropes in person. Focus on training facilities that use rewards-based methods. Avoid trainers who use language about “dominance,” “pack leadership,” offer “balanced training,” and advise “using corrections” to train dogs. Steer clear of those who use shock/e-collars. Try the directories on PPG’s Zip Code Search or CCPDT’s websites for both local and online options. Read the bios and reach out! Most trainers are happy to help newcomers to the profession. Volunteer for a rescue or shelter for more interaction with all dog breeds, sizes and personalities. Gather training supplies. For a start, here’s our list of the top 10 essential dog training supplies. Practice with your own dog, following our top training tips for beginners With permission, work with friends and family members’ dogs Read. Read. Get your paws on relevant dog-training related articles, books and studies. But, be picky. Read books whose authors have credentials and the books and materials have citations and credible sources. Get started at PPG and APDT. Look for local or online courses. Check out the aforementioned professional organizations’ and schools’ websites for online courses and webinars. Start with what piques your interest and branch out. There are a lot of affordable online conferences. Here are some to get you started. Narrow your focus on the types of training you’d like to do. Some types of training to consider are: basic manners, behavioral issues (i.e. aggression, over reactivity, phobias/compulsions, separation anxiety), trick training, sport training (i.e. agility, nose work, treibball, flyball, conformation) or working with certain breeds. Rewards-based training is what modern dog training is about and the future of the profession. Be choosy about your study and mentor resources and select evidence-based practices. Join a professional organization, such as a Pet Professional Guild, Association of Professional Dog Trainers or International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. These groups provide opportunities for continuing education, networking with other pet professionals