Howdy all,

I currently live in Oregon, but am considering any school within the US.

I wish to take pretty much every course most schools offer, though I know it is unneccesary for some courses as there is overlap.

I wish to take protection training/decoy courses, SAR/scent discrimination and just for good measure as I love to learn, obedience courses. I would like to take any police service training courses available to non-police, and I am aware that I must pass background checks as I am not a police officer. That doesn't bother me, I am squeeky clean

I have looked into Tarheel K9 in NC, and of course the Tom Rose School. Money isn't an issue, I will pay whatever it takes as I wish to become a professional trainer (assuming I have the potential) with a focus on PPD and sport dogs in my own future breeding program (American Bulldogs) but will also be training basic and advanced obedience, SAR, and service/therapy dogs and rehabilitation/fostering of shelter dogs.

I am also willing to attend multiple schools to learn as many theories and philosophies/methods in training as I can.

I have heard great things about the Tom Rose School but haven't run across anybody with anything to say about Tarheel. I am also open to suggestions for other schools, as long as they are in the US.

Thanks all!

~Jenn

I've heard good things about Triple Crown in Texas.

 Quote: jennifer marshal

but haven't run across anybody with anything to say about Tarheel.


~Jenn

Jenn,

I have a great bitch out of Tarheel, but the classes..... I am unfamiliar with. You may want to email Jerry and ask him to send you some more info than what is on his website though.

I think it is great that you are wanting to go to "school" to be a dog trainer.

I never went to school, but I did find a good Master Trainer and I also work with other Master Trainers as well. I also attend lots of seminars, workshops and train daily. My kennel and training business is doing well regardless. If I had time to go to school I might think about it. I think that would be great.

Experience and the dogs that you have trained speak volumes IMHO. A lot of the people I work with have never been to a school per say, but they have worked hard and trained tons of dogs (of all different breeds) and they are great.

Good Luck with your venture.

Thanks, both you, for the comments and suggestions

Carol - I have a fair amount of experience for someone my age, but my age is what gets in my way. Not to say, of course, that I have a lot of experience, as in comparison to most others on this forum I most definitely do not hah. But I wish to focus on PPDs, and I can get a loan for going to school but I can't survive not working as much as I do(avg 68hrs/wk) and not being able to get a loan to live on, in order to work with other trainers. I would just try to build up more experience and learn that way, otherwise.

Not to mention once again my age coming into play, people either think I am lying, or do not take me seriously, it is difficult sometimes for an older person who has certain thoughts and ideas in regards to dogs and dog training (as EVERYBODY "knows there way around a dog" ) being younger often means I am not taken seriously, but had I a "certification" and had I gone to a school to learn these things, I would have a better chance. People like paper, even if they really don't understand what is says, they are impressed with "certifictions."

I just love to learn, too!

Anyhow, sorry to rant! Thanks again

 Quote: jennifer marshal

I do(avg 68hrs/wk)

Whew...someone else who is a workaholic like me.....COOL

 Quote: jennifer marshal

Not to mention once again my age coming into play, people either think I am lying, or do not take me seriously,

I hear you. I went through a year or so of that. But, when I got over being "nervous" around the "elders" and worked my dogs, that is when they started taking me seriously.
At times it was difficult, especially when a "seasoned trainer" s there with arms folded and the "poker face" and watches you when you are first starting out, it can be a bit nerve-wracking....I agree.

 Quote: jennifer marshal

Not to mention once again my age coming into play, people either think I am lying, or do not take me seriously...
...
People like paper, even if they really don't understand what is says, they are impressed with "certifictions."

I just love to learn, too!

Anyhow, sorry to rant! Thanks again

I was definitely in this boat. When I started working at my current company I was 16. When I became the Director of IT(upper management) at 23 with no college degree, a few people turned their noses up. Going out and getting my degree to appease them might have been helpful (to them) but for me it wasn't a good investement of my time. Instead I let my work show my value.

I'd recommend the same for you; let your dog show your value. A degree without any proof of quality is next to useless, but proof of your quality without a degree (or certification) goes a long way. If you've got a good, solid dog that loves the work and loves you, who can deny your talent? Push for greatness. Defy the people that would look down on you because of your age. Make them eat crow by being phenomonal.

David -

Thanks for the comments!

Currently I have no dog to prove my ability with. My dog, Cajun, 2 year old American Bulldog, was being finished as a PPD (by me) prior to my move cross-country in July, and I was trying to find a decoy in the area when he was stolen in the very beginning on September. I will not be able to get another pup to raise and train for PPD for about 9-10 months (waiting on the perfect litter, that is already planned)

All I currently have are references for OB dogs and some basic behavioral/rehabilitation. A lot of these are dogs owned by family, which is handy but not so much if I want to prove experience in sport/ppd training. I am still fairly new to the training, and would not at this point consider training an outside dog without further experience.

I saw attending a school to be the best way to get some great experience (which I would otherwise struggle to find), and I wish to learn methods and theories not only for PPD/PSA training but for PSD. I am particularly interested in learning more about scent discrimination I.E. Narcotics detection and have an idea I wish to pursue regarding teen(and adult) drug usage.

Thanks again!

Hi Jennifer,

I've been OB training since I was 19 so I certainly understand where you're coming from. People don't take your abilities as seriously at that age. A certification, in most cases, doesn't meen squat. However, since at your age you're lacking in the things that do really matter...experience and results, then I understand wanting a certification to back you up.

And I REALLY applaude your willingness to spend the time and money necessary to go to get a certification from a school that actually does teach you something. It's easier and cheaper to get a cert from some random online school and your clients will almost never know the good schools from the bad. But you obviously want both a cert AND a quality education.

When I started out, I trained my friend's dogs for free while I was still working with various other trainers. I did it for the experience and the word of mouth. There is no better advertising that when someone sees a friend's dog that used to be a monster and now is well-behaved...no kidding.

I started getting unsolicited calls quicker than I ever thought I would, and was able to start training for profit. But all the while, I was seeking out other trainers to see what I could learn and reading and working. I also volunteered my services at animal shelters. I get to help make dogs more adoptable, AND I get some really valuable experience working with some tough cases. A lot of dogs end up there from lack of training or because other trainers have failed (good luck not getting attached! This is how I wound up fostering! ).

And I have to tell you, if there was some way I could pull off going to the Tom Rose School (my personal first choice), I would in a heartbeat. It's still on my 5-year plan, actually. Because while I know that I'm good at what I do, there's a limit to my ability and I just want to learn more. It's not even about getting clients anymore...I just want to learn more for me.

So it sounds like you're the kind of person who doesn't need this advice but I'll give it anyway: Even if you go to a great school and get all of the certifications you can and you find yourself up to the eyeballs in clients...never stop seeking out more information. Like Carol said, go to seminars, seek out excellent trainers and bug them until they agree to work with you. There is always a TON more to learn...no matter who you are, OR how old you are.

Good luck...you've got the right attitude and I think you'll wind up doing really well.

Fly over to Belgium, pay me the bargain price of $3000, I'll let you work my dogs, teach you a few things and print you out a really snazzy certificate

Tom Rose, Triple Crown and Tarheel are the only ones that have any kind of reputation. I haven't heard much about Tarheel, but they seem like decent people from the limited communication I've had with them.

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

Fly over to Belgium, pay me the bargain price of $3000, I'll let you work my dogs, teach you a few things and print you out a really snazzy certificate

I'll do it....seriously.....

I would love to go train over there......and sneak Lyka into my suitcase......