For today’s post, I want to switch gears a bit and highlight some awesome ways that you can delve deeper into the nitty-gritty details of dog training and behavior – for those who are so inclined.

From time to time, I have readers contact me to ask my thoughts on the best way to become a professional dog trainer.  I also have readers (and in-person students!) who simply find themselves fascinated with the science of how dogs learn, and how we can apply this knowledge to teach them what we want and make their lives better.

So as requested, here are some of my favorite educational options for everyone from casual dog owners with an interest in how this “training stuff” works, to serious dog behavior aficionados, and even professionals in the field who want to improve their knowledge base.

And if you’re primarily interested in practical information about how to solve your own dog’s issues, that’s perfectly okay too!  You may still find some worthwhile nuggets here, so read on.

Webinars and online classes (for the casual learner)

Personally, I’m a huge fan of webinars.  They’re usually short presentations (1 – 1.5 hours) by an expert on a specific topic, so you can pick and choose what interests you.  Best of all, you can watch them in your PJs in the comfort of your own home. 😊

Here are a few great online resources for training and behavior webinars:

The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) – This is a professional organization for force-free trainers and behavior specialists.  They offer a great selection of both live and on-demand webinars on a variety of great topics, presented by experts in the field ranging from veterinary behaviorists to skilled professional trainers in various specialized disciplines.  You can find their webinar selection here.

The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) – The main professional association for dog trainers in the United States.  Like the PPG, they also offer a number of webinars as well as some multi-week online courses on various topics of interest to dog owners and trainers.  Have a look at their educational offerings here.

The Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (FDSA) – One of my favorite online educational resources!  Although FDSA’s main focus is on sport dog training for activities like agility, obedience, nosework, etc., they also have some great classes and webinars on the science of learning and behavior.  Great for anyone with an interest in learning how to become a better trainer, regardless of your skill level.  You can find their upcoming webinars here, and a current list of classes here.

Conferences and events (if you’d like to spend a weekend soaking up knowledge in like-minded company)

Clicker Expo – This is a three-day conference packed full of awesome lectures and lab sessions on a wide variety of training and behavior topics.

Truly, I can’t say enough great things about Clicker Expo.  The attendees are always a kind and welcoming bunch, the instructors are fantastic, and there are beginner-friendly sessions designed for newcomers to the training world as well as more advanced offerings for seasoned professionals.  You can come by yourself or bring your dog, as long as he’s comfortable in public places and able to sit quietly without causing a disruption.

Clicker Expo offers an east coast and west coast event in the US every year, as well as one in the United Kingdom.  You can find details on dates, course offerings, and registration info here.

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) conference – This event is a multi-day annual meeting, with lectures on in-depth behavior topics from some of the most knowledgeable people in the field.  Location in the US varies each year, so check the website for details on this year’s city.

Note that the topics at this conference are usually pretty advanced – so may not be the best choice for a beginner or someone with more casual interest in dog training.  But for training or behavior professionals looking to expand your science background, the IAABC meeting is hard to beat.

APDT and PPG also have annual conferences that are well worth checking out, if they happen to be in your area.  You can find more information on these events here, and here.

Professional training academies (if you seriously can’t get enough of dog training, and want to do this for a living)

If you’re considering a career as a dog trainer, completing a good professional program can be a great way to get started.  Sometimes, established trainers may also decide to go “back to school” to brush up on their science and improve their skills.

A good training academy will give you a solid scientific background in dog behavior and learning theory, and should also ensure that you get an appropriate amount of hands-on practice with an instructor or mentor to make sure you understand how to apply what you’re learning.  Many programs also provide assistance with finding a job after graduation, as well as continued academic support and a friendly online community for graduates.

I don’t claim to be familiar with every single training program in existence, but I’m happy to provide some info on a few that are worth your consideration.  All of these programs are run by highly qualified professionals in the field of training and behavior, and will give you a great starting point if you want to work with dogs.

Karen Pryor Academy – Founded by Karen Pryor, a pioneer in the field of clicker training for dogs, this online program encompasses both video review with instructor feedback and hands-on training at one or more regional workshops.  KPA offers both a basic and advanced dog trainer course, as well as several specialized courses on topics like veterinary visits and sport dog training.

The Academy for Dog Trainers – Honestly, this is probably the most comprehensive educational program for aspiring trainers that I’ve seen.  The Academy is a two-year, part-time program that should give any student all the knowledge they need to get started working with dogs as a career.  The curriculum covers both normal and “problem” behavior in dogs (including aggression, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, etc.), and also goes into a fair amount of depth on the mechanics of training.

The course work is all online, so you can apply and complete the program from anywhere in the world.  I have been a past webinar presenter for the Academy on the topic of behavioral medication options in dogs, and really enjoyed the experience.

Peaceable Paws Intern Academies – Unlike the programs discussed above, these “intern academies” are a series of short, intense in-person courses that take place at owner Pat Miller’s training facility in Maryland.  She offers several levels of classes in this format, from basic foundational training skills (Level 1) to specialized courses in advanced training techniques, working with aggression cases, and canine cognition (Level 3).

Each course is six days long – so very doable if you’re able to travel for the week, or if you happen to live nearby in Maryland.

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This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the educational opportunities available for dog training enthusiasts… but if you didn’t know that things like this were available, I hope it gives you a place to start!  And of course, if you know of a great conference or program I missed here, feel free to let me know – I’m always open to new suggestions.