She decided to weigh her options. Becoming a veterinarian would require more years of school. She thought about working as a police officer in the K-9 unit. She found out she would have to be a regular police officer for a few years before she could even apply to be a police dog handler. That is when she decided to go talk to a recruiter. During his tenure, he served 16 years as a dog handler and was the department-assigned agency K9 trainer. In 1991, he created the International Police K9 Conference, a hands-on training program for law enforcement K9 teams throughout North America, ultimately working with over 3500 K9 teams over the course of its 20-year tenure. At A1K9, we offer security dog handler training courses for those wishing to pursue a career within the commercial security sector. A1K9 is an accredited training and examination centre for both the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers & the National Training Inspectorate for Professional Dog Users. These steps are a guide on how to become a dog trainer: 1. Gain knowledge about dog behaviour. A dog trainer requires a good understanding of dog behaviour to perform the role effectively. There are several ways to gain knowledge about dog behaviour such as reading books, attending seminars and workshops, volunteering at an animal shelter Develop the Necessary Skills. When it comes to being a K9 handler, you need more than just a love for dogs. While you may not need to have an excessive amount of experience to break into the field, it helps to have strong communication and leadership skills, as well as a deep understanding of dog behavior and problem solving. The estimated expenditure at the beginning of search dog training is around $2,500-$5,000, depending upon mileage traveled, personal and canine gear required and the cost of purchasing a sound dog to train. The yearly expense to maintain a search dog is around $1,000-$3000, depending on the level of activity and the number of trainings that a I promise to pursue excellence in the dog training profession by learning a wide variety of dog training techniques, theories, and methods. I promise to self-critique to improve my communication and effectiveness with clients. I promise to adhere to certification renewal requirements as put forth by the IACP Continuing Education Units Policy. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) is the most recognized certifying organization. To become certified through the CCPDT, you must first qualify to take a certification exam. For the first level of certification, you need to have at least 300 hours of dog training experience. However, the main prerequisite for becoming a K-9 officer is first becoming a police officer. To become a police officer, most candidates need a high school diploma. It’s becoming more common for departments to require at least 2 years of college, too. In the preliminary phase, police applicants will take written, oral, and physical agility The CATCH certified dog trainer program is designed as a unique, hands-on, distance learning course so you can become a Certified Dog Trainer from anywhere in the U.S. You can study self-paced in your own town, or join us for hands-on workshops on our campus – or do a combination of both. Either way, you will receive the benefits of hands-on LfF7piw.