I have decided to study dogtraining.An academy just opened in my country and i will begin courses in november.Any good books for a beginner? Books on dogtraining techniques, breeds, breeding, anything will be helpful. Also what does it need to become a good dogtrainer besides the passion for dogs?

thanks, Stella

I would be very careful. There are alot of 'dog trainers schools' out there that are a con job.
Research them before you take them seriously.
I can send you info (web addresses) on a couple of good schools in the US just so you can compare and see what you should be looking for. And what you shouldn't settle for...

Are the teachers at the school you found certified pro dog trainers?
And I don't mean if they've been to a couple dog trainers seminars. If they are not then they have no business opening such a school. Ask them to see their certification and check to see that they have spent at least 6 months in a dog trainer's school in another country (this is the BARE minimum you should look for in a teacher).
You can also ask to see what points they have been given in working trials (Schutzhund)although this will only show that they trained THEIR dog -or bought him ready. It says NOTHING about how they could train dogs for clients (with behavior problems for example) unless they have titled many other people's dogs in SCH or BH (obedience). If you get that far, then ask to visit a few classes and 'customers' and talk to 'graduates'.

Anything less than the above and you should prefer to go on your own with the help of a 'real' pro-dog trainer as a mentor. Not only will it cost you less but you will learn something and definetly become a better trainer.

A school such as you discribed opened last year in Greece (I hope you don't mean the same one). Nobody on the premises was certified yet they gave YOU 'certification' in only 4 weeks of lessons (and very few hours). Nobody can become a dog trainer that fast even in the hands of the BEST trainers in the world. The strange thing about these people is that they had an article in a magazine (Kynologia) announcing their school but 'forgot' to write a phone number or adress OR name their trainers. I practically had to hire a detective to find out about them. Be very careful. You could really end up paying to teach THEM a lesson or two in dog training <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

An interesting book that will help you is "Top Working Dogs" by Dietmar Schellenberg. Also, Dr. Nicholas Dodman's books on behavior are very educational : "Dogs behaving badly" and the older "The Dog that Loved too Much". These are just some of my personal favorites.

I was in your shoes almost 9 years ago and have been training in your country ever since (after a whole year at a canine college in the U.S and working in a dog training school in Germany). I spent a small fortune on my certification but the 'paper' doesn't really mean much -the experience was priceless. Anyone can train dogs without any certification. And you can actually get 'certification' over the net for enough $$!

Call the president of the Greek SCH club. He will tell you directly if this school you've found is up to par. He is an excellent trainer and very helpful man. He may even agree to train you!

If you really want to be a dog trainer, be a good one -I will even help you all I can and I am actually a certified instructor! Greece is swimming with amateurs and con artists, please don't join them or give them your money.

stella thanks for the reply
check your pms

Anyone interested to give me more advice???

I agree mostly with Stella M.
Experience is the best teacher. Going to seminars...belonging to clubs...watching trials...etc.
It is also going to depend on what type of training you want to do. You have SchH trainers, SAR trainers, Police trainers, pet obediece trainers, AKC trainers, agility....I think you get my point. All use different methods to a degree to reach a specific goal for what they want. If you are talking about basic obedience, Come, Sit, Down, Heel, Stay....that doesnt take much, but then you have to find the method you want...training in drive is best but some "trainers" are just out for the pet crowd ( because of $$$ ) and they primaraly use compulsion to teach because for a pet they dont care how it looks as long as they do it.
You wont see this without experience. Then you get into fixing problems that you encounter when training.....it is not always black and white.
I mean you have to decide what you want. You can find a school and get a piece of paper that says your a certified trainer but that wont make you a dog trainer by any means.....you can probobly get some obedience lessons with the pet crowd though.
The best trainers are by reputation....they show their ability in the performance of their dogs.
So I say.....experience....go to seminars, read books, join a SchH Club, join an AKC club (I didnt mean that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )....pick good trainers brains, watch trials, etc.
Good luck...I hope this helped.
Pat

So do you believe the best way to become a dog trainer is hands on experience and then any dogtrainer schools?
Any good books?

When you're learning how to fly,
I do not recommend just reading a book or finding a rescue league or club of older planes and just try and fly them.

I reccommend having a formal education.
Yeah, there can be schools out there with poor reputations. But thats in any industry.
It may take you a little longer to find a good school, but they are out there. And when you find a good school dive in and learn what you can.
No, you won't be a (as others have said) seasoned master pro dog trainer guru, but you will have more skills then when you went in. And above all others you may learn how to keep yourself, your client and the dog safier.
And you will probably have a deeper understanding of different techniques taught by a diverse school. It may even be a bit deeper then shooting the shit after a shutzhund club work out.
And if you have the blessed opportunity to find an older dog trainer with old world skills and patience, a person that shows the dogs and you respect, my reccomondation would be just sit right down and listen. You will learn more from his mistakes then you ever will from your own accomplishments.