Become a Certified Dog Trainer
International Dog Training Professional™ | IDTP™
Dog training is a booming industry! Owners need help to turn their dogs into well-behaved members of the family, and they want someone qualified to help them achieve this goal. Whether you want to work in a training school, launch your own dog training business, or freelance as a private dog trainer, you'll graduate with all the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in the dog training industry!
Are you ready to start an amazing career?
Tuition & Payment Plans
Includes everything you need to get started!
- Certification upon graduation
- 21-day money-back guarantee
- Lifetime access
Prices are listed in US dollars.
Included in Your Course
Newest
Course Materials
Your course materials are always available online and are always being updated with the latest science-based industry standards. Refer to your updated training guides throughout your career!
Personalized
Feedback
Just because you're learning online doesn't mean you're learning alone. You'll receive personalized audio feedback from your tutor on every dog training assignment you submit. Use this feedback to improve and succeed!
Lifetime
Access
Once you're a member of the QC family you'll have lifetime access to all the tools and resources available to QC students. This includes discounts on industry products and so much more!
QC Success Stories
Since enrolling in the course, I have successfully acquired several new clients and have acquired some amazing skills. Thank you for this opportunity!
Alexa-Ann Cesari, IDTP™
I really enjoyed both courses and how easy the format was. Having everything in one place with no downloading needed, was very easy and convenient. I also appreciated the added touch of the interactive parts of the reading.
Cheryl Lovette, IDTP™
My experience with QC Pet Studies was awesome! The dog trainer course was very well structured and organized. What was expected of me in my assignments were clear and they were graded very promptly. I would definitely recommend QC Career School!
Loris Tiede, IDTP™
Dog Training Course Outline
The Dog Training Course is split into four parts, each containing individual training units.
Before you learn about how to train dogs, you have to learn about dogs. This includes breed types and characteristics, how dogs communicate with each other and with humans, what constitutes normal and abnormal canine behaviors, and—most importantly—how dogs actually learn. Once you become an expert in canine behavior and communication, you'll be in excellent shape to start working with dogs to teach new behaviors and correct unwanted behaviors!
What you'll learn:
- guiding principles of dog training
- fundamentals of safe training
- ethology
- stages of development
- socialization stages
- canine communication
- calming signals
- fear responses
- problem solving
- learning theory
- applying learning theory
Now that you have a deep understanding of how dogs learn and communicate, you're ready to start applying training techniques to teach new behaviors and address unwanted behaviors. This course teaches scientifically-proven techniques and methods based on learning theory. You'll learn how to apply classical and operant conditioning principles to any type of training situation. Always remember: There is no magic formula that works for every dog, but every dog has a formula that will work for them.
What you'll learn:
- training methods
- luring
- shaping
- targeting
- modelling
- capturing
- mimicry
- motivations
- reinforcement schedules
- training tools
- addressing unwanted behaviors
A dog trainer's job isn't just to train dogs. As a trainer a big part of your job will be to teach people how to train their own dogs! This requires a unique set of skills that you'll have to develop. You have to understand how people learn and how to communicate your expertise to dog owners who are looking for help. This part of the dog trainer course will help you learn those skills!
What you'll learn:
- how to work as a trainer
- facilitating learning for clients
- teaching private lessons
- teaching group classes
- teaching skills
- strategies for teaching people
- communicating with dog owners
- preparing yourself for working with clients
You've learned and practiced all the skills you need to successfully work as a dog trainer. Now it's time to turn your finely honed skills into a business! The business training offered in this course is optional. However, this training will be hugely beneficial to your career if you intend to start your own training business, or if you're looking to get a job working for an established trainer.
What you'll learn:
- how to get your business started
- choosing a name for your business
- business insurance requirements and recommendations
- creating a business plan
- marketing techniques
- selling your services
Many professional dog trainers strive to pass the Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) exam from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. The CPDT is the gold-standard for dog trainers who have the knowledge and skills to train dogs using scientifically-proven methods. Your QC Dog training course teaches you everything you need to know to pass your CPDT exam. As an added bonus, you have access to an extra optional unit to help prepare you to write the CPDT exam!
This optional unit includes:
- Information about the Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT) Exam
- Useful tips to help you prepare for your exam
- A practice quiz to help make sure you're ready!
Learn from Dog Training Experts
QC's dog training course was developed with the assistance of Kim Cooper.
Kim Cooper is the owner and senior instructor at Best Friends Dog Training. Kim pursued her passion to become a professional dog trainer after earning a degree in aerospace engineering and serving as an officer in the Air Force for fourteen successful years. Now, with 35 years of training experience, Kim competes in obedience, agility, tracking, and other sports with her own dogs—all using motivational, reward-based training methods. In particular, Kim loves to foster the special partnership that exists between a working dog and its handler, and specializes in training search-and-rescue dogs. Kim and her dogs have earned many search-and-rescue certifications as well as obedience and agility titles.
Your Dog Training Tutors
Bruno Baker
K9 Search and Rescue Specialist & Canine Educator
Bruno got his first dog over 30 years ago, fulfilling a lifelong yearning for a canine partnership. He views working with dogs as an ongoing study of canine ethology, with the goal of becoming a better human teammate. After retiring from distinguished careers in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Royal Canadian Air Force, Bruno decided to bring his passion for dogs to a professional level. Today, he and his current partner, Mikaw, are dedicated to K9 Wilderness Search and Rescue. In addition to this full-time endeavor, Bruno finds great joy in sharing his knowledge with fellow dog owners and trainers, watching their partnerships with their canine companions grow. His teaching is deeply informed by years of experience as a civilian flight instructor, military pilot trainer, flight training program director, military flying school commander, and search and rescue trainer.
Susan Read
Certified Dog Trainer
Susan has been training dogs for over 35 years. She specializes in Search and Rescue (SAR) work, but Susan's experience extends to competitive obedience, rally and agility training as well. Susan has been teaching tracking for many years, and conducts workshops across Ontario. She has been involved with K9 SAR since 2000, and is now the head K9 trainer and handler with Georgian Bay SAR. Susan is also the Provincial K9 Coordinator and sits on the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association (OSARVA) Board of Directors. Susan is currently the only OPP/OSARVA certified dog handler in Central Ontario with her live find dog, Zena. She has also worked with Human Remains Detection K9 with her dog, Zappa, since 2014. As a former school teacher and a highly experienced dog training instructor, Susan looks forward to using her significant teaching experience to benefit QC's dog training students.
QC Pet Studies' Guarantee
QC means Quality of Course, and we stand behind that promise. That's why QC Pet Studies offers a money-back guarantee.
The 21-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Try the course risk-free for 21 days. This gives you time to receive your course materials and evaluate whether the course is right for you. If you decide it's not a good fit, simply contact QC and request a refund. It's that easy!
Questions about the guarantee ? Contact Us
Access an Exclusive Virtual Community Where Creativity Thrives
Become a member of QC's supportive Virtual Community where pet care enthusiasts and professionals connect with mentors, share insights, and grow together. Tap into free webinars where top pet care experts reveal industry secrets, and participate in engaging discussions on everything from your latest training to your next career move. We're here to inspire and enhance your journey in the pet care field.
Join us in shaping the future of pet care.
