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Originally Posted by Malinois
As far as becoming a dog trainer, there isn't any test you have to pass to call yourself one. Many people just read a few books, go print off some buisness cards, and call themselves a dog trainer. Not surprisingly there are a lot of people who call themselves dog trainers who have no buisness doing so.
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...And then there are those who have spent most of their life working with dogs, and know a few things that simply cannot be learned just from reading books...and there are a lot of books out there!
There are also a lot different schools of thought out there regarding training methods and philosophies. As Malinois pointed out, a lot depends on what purpose, the dog is being trained for. Personally, I recommend reading everything you can get your hands on. Even if it's a philosophy that is out of date or is a method you don't particularly care for. It's interesting to see where some methods originated, where they are now, and where they may be headed. I've seen a lot of changes over the years!
I work almost exclusively in dog rehabilitation and dog psychology rather than training, by teaching owners how their behavior effects their dog. I also help owners understand the ways their dog is trying to communicate with them. I have no "degree" or "certification" of any kind, but have trained and worked with dogs for almost 40 years.
I find I simply can't NOT work with them!
My minimum fee is $50 for a local consultation or $100 if I have to go off-Island. A consultation can last from 1 to 3 hours. Sometimes additional follow up visits are free, and sometimes I charge. It all depends on the circumstances. I give a lot of "freebies" after the initial visit, if the folks are on a limited budget or if they are really making an effort for their dog's sake.
Flyndog gave some information on one training school in a similar thread. She could probably tell you more about the particulars on that specific certification.