Do you feel you should take a dog training course? Well, who certifies dog trainers? Nobody, officially; this is an unregulated field. At this time, the only credible organization certifying trainers is the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). NADOI has an extensive evaluation process, and only certifies experienced trainers. A NADOI certification is a definite feather in your cap, but that option isn't available to new instructors.

At this time, NADOI and the APDT are the only organizations recognized by professional trainers and veterinarians.

What qualities do you need in order to be a good trainer? First of all, you should be aware that your primary job will not involve training dogs; it will involve training people! Most of your time will be spent teaching the owner how to train his or her dog. Good communication and people skills are a top priority. You will need a great deal of flexibility, as well as the ability to see other people's point of view.

If you are looking to get your first puppy or your first dog or if you have a dog that has a particular problem then you may want to look at using the services of a professional dog trainer. A trained dog trainer will have a great many tricks under his or her sleeve that can help in even the most difficult of circumstances.

For the first time dog owner, a dog trainer will not simply train your dog to perform the actions you want because it will be you who will take on this mantle when you return home. For this reason, a good dog trainer will teach you to how to train your dog. However, there are a number of dog trainers available who can help with training you and your pet. You will want to find the best available and the first decision you should make is whether to have one on one dog training or group sessions.

Until the creation of the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers in 2001, there was no nationally available certification process for dog trainers. The CCPDT's certification program is the first national certification for dog trainers.

Many schools teach dog trainers and offer certification for their specific programs. These certificates, therefore, reflect the teachings and quality of a specific school. Other organizations offer take-home tests for "certification." These tests are not monitored, nor are the testing processes standardized.

Candidates who pass the exam earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation, "CPDT," after their names. As creators of the examination, the task force members have also earned the use of the CPDT designation.