Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor
Become a Professional Dog Trainer with at-home training from Penn Foster Workforce Development.
Penn Foster is affiliated with National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers. Penn Foster will pay for students to take the NADOI exam, after completing the other work experience requirements.
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Instruction Set 1
Learning Strategies
Identifying and implementing a successful study method; planning when, where, and how you’ll study; creating effective and efficient study tools; using study tools to improve chances for success.
Introduction to the Dog Training Profession
Structure of the dog; types of training; history and ethology of the dog.
DVD: Introduction to Dog Training and Instruction
Instruction Set 2
Sensory Abilities of the Dog
How dogs see, hear, taste, detect scents, and use touch; using knowledge of a dog’s senses in the training process.
Social Behavior and Communication
How and why dogs communicate; evaluating a dog’s demeanor by watching “from head to tail”; a dog’s relationship with its human “pack.”
Instruction Set 3
How Dogs Learn
How dogs learn; identifying and employing scientific theories of psychologists and behaviorists; using a dog’s learning abilities to teach and motivate.
Conditioning
Conditioning and how it relates to dog obedience training; difference between classical and operant conditioning; drive theory and its application.
Applied Dog Behavior
Applied dog behavior; punishment versus reinforcement; nature versus nurture; effects of genetics; clicker training and the scientific principles behind it.
Instruction Set 4
Testing and Selection of Dogs
Temperament testing and using it to evaluate puppies; selecting the best dog for a particular client.
Housetraining and Crate Training
Proper housetraining techniques; training a dog to go on command, in a litter box, or in one place; how to choose and use a crate.
Dog Selection (Graded Project)
Pairing the most suitable breed with a prospective owner.
Equipment: Dog poster
Supplement: Testing and Selection of Breeders
Instruction Set 5
Canine Equipment
Food bowls to leashes to safe toys
Commands
Basic obedience training
DVD: Educate Your Dog
Instruction Set 6
Puppies
Ensuring a positive human-dog bond at an early age; puppy house training; socialization and how to prevent problems in adult dogs.
Teaching Tricks
Instructing clients to teach tricks to their dogs; positive reinforcement techniques for the dog and handler; fun and useful tricks.
Training Through Play
Understanding play behavior; play in the context of obedience training; increasing the dog’s motivation for training.
DVD: Puppy Love
Instruction Set 7
Behavior Problems
Common behavior problems; strategies for prevention and treatment.
Basic Veterinary Issues
Recognizing signs of illness or distress; how to respond in the case of an emergency; addressing behavioral problems; reproductive science; medications; care for dogs in old age.
Behavioral Analysis (Graded Project)
Analyzing scenarios to determine if there’s a behavioral problem involved.
Instruction Set 8
Dog Breeds
Origination of individual breeds; physical and temperamental characteristics; the AKC’s seven major groups of breeds.
Competition Obedience
Terminology and requirements of the various levels of competition obedience.
DVD: Open Obedience Training for Dogs
Reference: The Right Dog for You
Instruction Set 9
Hunting Training
Examine hunting breeds; different training methods; hunting and field tests.
Assistance Dogs
Guide, hearing, service, seizure alert, and therapy dogs; dogs in medical emergencies; legal aspects of working with an assistance dog.
Booklet: Field Training: A Guide for Hunting and Sporting Dogs
DVD: Field Training Your Dog
Instruction Set 10
Agility Training
Navigating agility courses as a sport; speed and accuracy in competition; communication between dog and master.
Search and Rescue Training
Techniques in ground and water searches; what dogs are suitable for a particular rescue mission; organizations involved in search and rescue around the world; certificates associated with this work.
Recreational Activities with Dogs
Sharing “down-time”; catch, flying disc, and walks in the park; organized activities for dog and owner.
Agility Handling and Courses (Graded Project)
Build an agility course using standard symbols of agility course design.
DVD's:
Competition Agility Training: Obstacles
Search Dog Training: How to Get Started
Instruction Set 11
The Dog Training Business, Parts 1 and 2
Demographics related to starting a business; developing a plan; obtaining funding; advertising and marketing issues; customer relations; legal issues relative to a small business.
Creating a Business Plan (Graded Project)
Developing a mock business plan using the information gathered from the preceding business units.
Supplement: Work Experience Option
Graduation Set
(Sent to you when all program requirements and financial obligations have been met.)
Equipment:
• Leather leash
• Bait Pouch
• Voucher for National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) Certification Exam*
Textbooks:
• Starting Your Own Business (Textbook and CD-ROM)
• Don't Shoot the Dog (Textbook)
* NADOI has certain minimum requirements which must be met before an application is accepted. These requirements include a minimum number of years experience training dogs. These may be viewed in detail at www.nadoi.org.
We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
A High School Diploma or GED is required to enroll in this program.
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