In an industry where no one is required to have education in dog training to take your money for their services, wouldn’t it be nice to know your dog trainer has been educated or at least formally assessed in their knowledge and skill in dog training?
If not… what are you really paying for?
What credentials does your potential trainer have and can you verify them on an educational website?
Click on the logos below to verify my credentials on the educational website of the body that granted them.
~ Linda Ross, BA, CPPS, LSHC-S, Elite FFCP (Veterinary), FFCP (Veterinary – Avian), FFCP (Veterinary – Equine), PetTech PetSaver™ Trained, AKC Good Citizen® Evaluator, AKC Temperament Test Evaluator
It is very important that the public know that the dog training industry is NOT REGULATED. There are no minimum education requirements, no skills assessment requirements, and no laws about what a person can do under the umbrella of “dog training.”
Absolutely anyone can call themselves a “dog trainer” and collect money for the service. They’ve grown up with dogs… isn’t that enough to know how to train them?
Of course not. So why do we accept this from service providers that are working with animals who could potentially bite someone?
As more and more consumers are asking for credentials to value what they are paying for the most professional dog trainers are continually educating themselves in the most recent research and skill sets. These professionals need continuing education to keep up their certifications. Because of the need for transparency in the industry many educational and association bodies are now allowing consumers to verify their professional’s credentials on their websites.
I believe it is important to you and your family that I know what I am doing as a professional! I have education in dog training basics and specialties and have been assessed by a the educational body who educated me. And I will continue to educate myself for my safety and to provide more value to you.
For full disclosure and for your information on what I have studied, the various certification curriculums are listed here.
Primary and Specialty Studies:
2024
8/30/2024 AggressiveDog.com – Master Course – Aggression in Dogs – Certificate of Completion 6/11/2024 AggressiveDog.com – You Don’t Know Jack! Troubleshooting Complex Cases – Certificate of Completion Primary and Specialty Studies: 2023
11/29/2023 Fear Free® – Mitigating Fear, Anxiety, and Stress for Dogs In Isolation and/or Quarantine – Certificate of Completion 10/25/2023 DogNostics – Dog Training Journeyman Level – Certificate of Completion 10/7/2023 Neighborhood Cats TNR Workshop – Certificate of Achievement 9/21/2023 DogNostics – Happier Healing Certification 9/10/2023 Fear Free® – Fear Free For Humans – Certificate of Completion 9/10/2023 Fear Free® – The Neurobiology of Toxic Stress – Certificate of Completion 9/9/2023 Fear Free® – Next Level Nail Trims – Certificate of Completion 9/9/2023 Fear Free® – A Close Look At Canine Enrichment – What, Why, and How – Certificate of Completion 7/22/2023 Fear Free® – Trainers Proactive and Preventative Training – Certificate of Completion 6/2/2023 Fear Free® – Animal Trainer Certification 3/11/2023 Pet Tech® – PetSaver™ Pet CPR / First Aid & Care – Certificate of Training (Review training)
Primary and Specialty Studies: 2022
12/7/2022 Suzanne Clothier – Maddening to Maturity Webinar
11/5/2022 DogNostics – Dog Training Apprentice Level – Certificate of Completion
11/1/2022 DogNostics – Certified Pet Care Professional (DN-CPCP)
8/18/2022 Suzanne Clothier – Anatomy of Attention Webinar
7/30/2022 Fear Free® – Finesse The Chin Rest: The Basics and Beyond For Cooperative Care – Certificate of Completion
7/23/2022 Fear Free® – Veterinary Certification (Equine)
6/18/2022 Canine Principles – Senior Dog Care Course – Certificate of Completion
6/6/2022 Canine Principles – The Dog Rescuers Guide – Certificate of Completion
6/5/2022 Relationship Centered Training – Better Handler Habits – Awareness is Step One – Certificate of Completion
6/4/2022 Jessica Wheatcraft CDBC, CPDT-KA – Leash Reactivity Webinar (Completed )
6/4/2022 AggressiveDog.com – Treat – Retreat with Suzanne Clothier – Certificate of Completion
Primary and Specialty Studies:
2021
7/8/2021 RESCUE® – Veterinary Infection Preventionist – Certificate of Achievement
3/23/2021 IACP – Helping Your Dog In a Post COVID World Award
2/13/2021 Pet Tech® – PetSaver™ Pet CPR / First Aid & Care – Certificate of Training (Review training)
1/16/2021 Canine Principles – Canine Communications – The Language of a Species – Certificate of Completion Primary and Specialty Studies: 2020 11/16/2020 Fear Free® – Veterinary Certification (Avian) 10/24/2020 Fetchfind – Feline Fundamentals – Certificate of Completion 10/22/2020 Fear Free® Shelters – Housing and Environment Course – Certificate of Completion 7/1/2020 Low Stress Handling® University – Low Stress Handling® Certified – Silver 6/24/2020 Canine Principles – Positive Dog Training For Ethical Owners – Certificate of Completion 5/7/2020 Fear Free® Shelters – Intake and Admission Course – Certificate of Completion 5/7/2020 Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) – How to Protect Your Business Before and After COVID-19 – Certificate of Completion 4/27/2020 Canine Principles – Wolf Awareness – Self Study Workshop – Certificate of Completion 3/25/2020 AggressiveDogs.com – Webinar – Understanding Livestock Guardian Dogs 3/19/2020 AggressiveDogs.com – Webinar – When SH*T Hits the Fan Primary and Specialty Studies: 2019 10/21/2019 Fear Free® – Elite Certified (1 of the first 50 in the WORLD!) 8/24/2019 Fear Free® – Shelter Program Core Modules – Certificate of Completion 8/1/2019 IAABC – Trish McMillan – The Shelter Dog Mentorship (Audited) 6/29/2019 Dog Trainers Connection – How to Work Aggression Cases A-Z 5/9/2019 Fenzi Dog Sports Academy – (Webinar) – Peeing on Your Dog’s Toys and Other Myths – Part One of a Two-Part Series on Resource Guarding 5/9/2019 Fenzi Dog Sports Academy – (Webinar) – “Possession Is Nine-Tenths of the…Oh Wait! What Ya Got There?” – Part Two of a Two-Part Series on Resource Guarding 5/5/2019 The Loose Leash Academy – Aggression in Dogs – Defensive Handling/Training (On-site) – Certificate of Attendance 3/3/2019 Fear Free® – Success! Proven Fear Free Strategies 3/3/2019 Fear Free® – The Vital Role of Client Service Representatives 3/3/2019 Fear Free® – The Pathway to Happy Clients, Happy Patients, and Happy Veterinarians 3/2/2019 Fear Free® – Podcast – The Role of Technicians in Fear Free 3/1/2019 Fear Free® – Podcast Series 3 – Fear Free® Pets 2/13/2019 Fear Free® – Companion Animal Euthanasia Course 2/9/2019 Pet Tech® PetSaver™ Pet CPR / First Aid & Care – Certificate of Training (Review training)
2/6/2019 VetFolio – Pandora Syndrome in Cats 2/6/2019 VetFolio – Understanding the Cat 1/30/2019 Pet Sitters International – PSFS Webinar – Feline Behavior and Aggression 1/24/2019 Fear Free® – Feline Destructive Scratching Primary and Specialty Studies: 2018 12/31/2018 VetFolio – Osteoarthritis: Early Recognition and Treatment are Key Course – Certificate of Attendance 11/12/2018 Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) – (Webinar) – Understanding LIMA 10/5/2018 Karen Pryor Academy – Dog Trainer Foundations – Certificate of Completion 9/2/2018 Fear Free® – Level 3 Certified 8/12/2018 VetFolio – 2018 Web Conferences: Leptospirosis: Why Awareness and Diagnosis Is Crucial to Your Patients, Clients & Practice 6/30/2018 VetFolio – Feline Idiopathic Cystitis and The Stressed Out Kitty 6/30/2018 VetFolio – Infectious Disease of Dogs – Certificate of Attendance 6/30/2018 VetFolio – Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Dogs 6/30/2018 Vetfolio – Heroes For Healthy Pets Infectious Disease Certificate Program 7/4/2018 Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Training Academy – Behavior Problems Crash Course 3/18/2018 VetFolio – Communication 104: Effective Online Communication 2/12/2018 VetFolio – From the Trenches: Practical Tips for Dealing with Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease in Practice 2/13/2018 Fear Free® – Level 2 Certified Primary and Specialty Studies: 2017 10/2/2017 VetFolio – Canine Atopic Dermatitis Course 10/1/2017 VetFolio – Let’s Talk Heartworm: Strengthening the Tech to Pet Owner Conversation
9/13/2017 Doggone Safe – Risk Assessment & Safely Handling Multiple Dogs 8/24/2017 Doggone Safe – DogNostics Dog Bite Prevention Educator Certificate
8/20/2017 VetFolio – Communication Certificate Program: Module 1 – Establishing Common Ground With Your Clients 5/31/2017 Maddie’s Fund – Feline Communication: How To Speak Cat 3/18/2017 Vetfolio – Veterinary Shelter Medicine Certificate 3/18/2017 VetFolio – Shelter Medicine Certificate Course – Module 4 – Shelter Vaccination: Why, When and How 3/18/2017 VetFolio – Shelter Medicine Certificate Course – Module 3 – Infectious Disease Preparedness Plan 3/18/2017 VetFolio – Shelter Medicine Certificate Course – Module 2 – Biosecurity in Animal Shelters 3/16/2017 VetFolio – Shelter Medicine Certificate Course – Module 1 – The Unholy Trinity 2/25/2017 VetFolio – 2017 Web Conferences: AAHA End of Life Guidelines Primary and Specialty Studies: 2010-2016 12/7/2016 Maddie’s Fund – Helping Shelter Pets Find Health, Happiness, and Homes with Fear Free – Certificate of Attendance 12/6/2016 Fear Free® – Level 1 Certified (1 of the first 20 in Georgia!) 6/11/2016 Pet Tech® – Pet First Aid / CPR Training – Certificate of Training (Review training) 5/10/2012 Pet Tech® – PetSaver™ Pet CPR / First Aid & Care – Certificate of Training (Review training) 8/7/2010 Pet Tech® – PetSaver™ Pet CPR / First Aid & Care – Certificate of Training