If this is in the wrong category, please by all means move it......

Who would you rather be trained by, someone who used the Leerburg tapes to teach themselves or a Dog College and was Certified???

I have heard the pluses of both sides and wanted opinions.

Thanks!

sending your dog off for training doesn't sound like a lot of fun. if your dog "flunks out" you are still out your "tuition". Leerburg tapes and group or individual training would be a good way to go. You develope a strong bound w/ your dog and meet nice people. I'm just pet owner with two GSD's that are the envy of the neighborhood <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I didn't word my post clearly....I want to be a dog trainer. There is a training school 2 1/2 hours away and in all total, it will take 9 weeks and $9000.00 dollars. I will be able to take my female Xena, but will be away from home and out ALOT of money (to me at least) for 9 weeks.
Xena is trained well, but I just want to fulfill a dream of mine.
But I guess my question was aimed at a client type perspective.....
"would you want the dog trainer training you to have a Certificate or to be trained themselves through Leerburg tapes?"

Are you looking to train dogs for a living? I hate to squash your dreams but 9 weeks is not going to make you a trainer. Not saying you won't learn something you don't already know, just don't rely on that "Certified" Dog Trainer certificate to be other than that, a certificate.

Look at it like this, would you rather take your dog to someone with a 9 week crash course or 10 years of proven experience?

Exactly, but to the general public, who will be paying for the training, what would they trust more....in your opinion???
I would much rather use the tapes, BUT if they people don't recognize the Leerburg tapes, well then why should they go with me over a "Certified Trainer"? What could I tell them to convince them the training provided to me by the Leerburg tapes is much better???? Have I met Ed Frawley? NO, Have I ever been to one of his and Bernards Seminars? NO, How do I know Ed is Ed? WELL I DON'T EXCEPT EVERYTHING HE SAYS AND DOES AND SHOWS IS CONSISTENT, Well yeah, but Joe Schmoe here is a "Master Trainer" from Blee Blah Blue School, are you a Master Trainer?? NO, BUT I TRAINED WITH THE LEERBURG TAPES....


See?

and I wasn't trying to yell when I wrote the above in capitals, just distinguishing my voice from anothers.

You could get a lot of good information with 9000 dollars worth of video tapes, but you have to put it into practice. I say no to the school as well. Get a basic tape, join a training club and muddle your way thru it like the rest of us. It is a lot of fun. I have a friend who took a course at home, but feels she doesn't have enough experience to teach a class. With a school what are you gonna do if you get stuck? go over your notes? LOL

I have been researching the same thing, and have thought about the same scenarios. From the schools I have looked at, I agree with Will, go with either the Tom Rose School or Triple Crown Academy. I think they both offer job placement after graduating (often times requires relocation) from certain programs as well. TRS offers tuition assistance and accepts the GI Bill. Triple Crown offers tuition assistance and is working on getting GI Bill acceptance.

I think experience is a great thing, but for folks with little experience wanting to get into a career like this, it seems logical to start off with a school. Otherwise we have to be independently wealthy while we get experience, or have to do it as a part time job and hope after 20 yrs of partime working at one job and dog training on our off time that we will know enough to be considered a master trainer. I dont know how people get started into something like becoming a professional dog trainer unless they are mentored or received training in the job through the military or police work, or go to a school that teaches it. Someone reading this that is a professional trainer, that is not prior military or police, please share how you got started and how you got enough experience with so many different dogs that you could make a living, and what you did to provide income while you were learning these skills.

As far as the schools offer certifications, I think they are only state recognized. Their is no federally recognized certification for dog training. TRS and TCA both offer certifications, but it is only for a state board and even then I dont think it is a requirement in their states.

Wow!!!
Thanks for all the information. Very helpful.
I know what you mean about certification being "meaningless", but anymore to Joe Public, it is something.
I know it's only a dream to me, but I am not going to work as a nurse all my life.....if I am going to get urinated on by someone who is mad at me, I'd rather it be a dog than a crazy naked 88 year old man with his Attends falling off!