Basic obedience training is one of the most important aspects of raising a dog. Dog training is not an end but a means to build a better communication with a dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct a dog not only for basic instructions such as eating, sitting or standing but also to prevent numerous potential tragedies.
Besides obedience training, there is agility training, behavioural training, dog show training, and training as guide dogs for people who have visual impairments and also as sniffer dogs for the police.
A trained dog is easier to adopt than an ill-trained one. A trainer must be trained in order to train a dog, which follows that anybody with a dog must be a trainer. There are no bad dogs but bad trainers.
There are a number of training schools abroad that train people to be professional dog trainers. In the Middle East and Asia, the concept of dog training is relatively new and still needs to be explored.
But there is a new and growing demand for dog trainers who can train dogs for basic obedience, advance training gun dog training, and rescue training.
If you are interested in training dogs …
Where you can get trained …
Moorpark College in California, US, offers a programme in animal training and management. The University of North Texas, Department of Behaviour Analysis, offers graduate and undergraduate courses in behaviour modification. But even these courses do not cover all aspects of dog training.
Presently, there aren't universities or institutes in the Middle East that offer dog training as a degree or a diploma programme. But there are a number of private institutes that provide training programmes, including various kennel clubs.
Some of them in the UAE include:
- Arabian Saluki Centre (www.arabiansaluki.ae/)
- Dubai Kennels and Cattery (www.dkc.ae/)
- K9Friends (www.k9friends.com/)
- PAWS Canine Training Centre (www.pawstraining.com/)
- Pets at Home (www.petsathomedubai.com/)
Trainers are most of the time "self trained" and start with it as a hobby and later take it up as a professional career. Education continues throughout one's career. Volunteering with shelters is also extremely helpful to introduce you to a range of breeds.
Dogged determination:
It takes around three to five years of intensive study and dog training to become an expert trainer. No training school teaches everything in a couple of months.
Master dog trainers have experience of 15-20 years and are internationally known. They attend as well as conduct seminars, workshops and conferences. The duration and cost of courses varies. The duration also depends upon the type of training imparted and its quality. The more you train the more you will learn and gain experience. It's a process in which a person evolves over time.
Career scope:
People who take up dog training as a professional career can earn from Dh5,000 per month, depending upon the requirements and breed of dog.
Search and rescue dogs have been trained to find people hidden under the snow, under debris of buildings and during disasters.
Guide dogs help the blind cross roads.
A person who understands canine behaviour and training techniques can think of starting her/his own business.
Experienced dog trainers charge Dh500 to Dh1,500 per dog per month.
Training usually lasts for four to five months, with four to five visits per week.
Basic obedience training won't fetch a trainer as much money as advance training.
Trained dogs can take part in water sports and dog shows. With formal training, trainers can even think of options such as the circus and even movies.
Puppy love:
Dog trainers usually take up the job as a hobby and are self-trained but with time they move on to doing it professionally.
One should be ready to learn from as many sources as possible. Yes, from both two- and four-legged beings!
Besides that there are no qualifications for becoming a trainer.
Even a person with no formal education can become a very good trainer. The only criterion is love and passion for dogs.
If you don't love dogs then you have no business training them. To train a dog it's important to understand its anatomy.
This profession is not for everyone, since at times it gets difficult to control a dog and you need a lot of patience, and you cannot resort to violence.
Not only are dogs incredible friends, but many dogs provide humans with much needed assistance, as well as love and companionship. With your passion and love for dogs, you can seriously think of making a career in dog training.
n The writer is the director of Meccademia, a Dubai Knowledge Villlage based Indian education organisation
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