Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor - Penn Foster Career School

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Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor - Penn Foster Career School

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Become a Professional Dog Trainer with at-home training from Penn Foster Career School.

If you want to teach pet owners the art of handling their animals, prepare dogs for security or law-enforcement work, work for an established training center or even start your own business, the Dog Obedience Trainer Instructor Program from Penn Foster Career School is for you.

You'll learn:
* To understand dog behavior, communication,
and use of the senses
* How to influence dog behavior using conditioning and reinforcement
* Housetraining, crate training, hunting training,
and basic veterinary issues
* How to deal with behavior problems and teach competition obedience

Flexible, Convenient, Self-Paced!
There is no going to class, no need to rearrange schedules. You choose the time and place to complete your coursework, and you work at your own pace. There's no one to rush you or hold you back.

You work independently, but not alone. Expert instructors and support staff - dedicated to helping you complete your coursework — are just a phone call or an email away.

Respected and Accredited
You'll earn your Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor Career Diploma from Regionally and Nationally Accredited Penn Foster Career School. Over 13 million students have enrolled in our training programs, making Penn Foster one of the world's largest and most respected distance learning institutions.

NADOI Exam
Penn Foster graduates are eligible to sit for the NADOI (National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors) exam. After 2-5 years of training experience, students may become a full time member.

PROGRAM OUTLINE
Instruction Sets
Your program consists of 11 Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you'll use in your new career.

Here's how it works
Your first Instruction Set will be sent immediately after your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with. Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

Instruction Set 1
Learning Strategies
Identifying and implementing a successful study method; planning when, where, and how you’ll study; creating effective and efficient study tools; using study tools to improve chances for success.

Introduction to the Dog Training Profession
Structure of the dog; types of training; history and ethology of the dog.

DVD: Introduction to Dog Training and Instruction

Instruction Set 2
Sensory Abilities of the Dog
How dogs see, hear, taste, detect scents, and use touch; using knowledge of a dog’s senses in the training process.

Social Behavior and Communication
How and why dogs communicate; evaluating a dog’s demeanor by watching “from head to tail”; a dog’s relationship with its human “pack.”

Instruction Set 3
How Dogs Learn
How dogs learn; identifying and employing scientific theories of psychologists and behaviorists; using a dog’s learning abilities to teach and motivate.

Conditioning
Conditioning and how it relates to dog obedience training; difference between classical and operant conditioning; drive theory and its application.

Applied Dog Behavior
Applied dog behavior; punishment versus reinforcement; nature versus nurture; effects of genetics; clicker training and the scientific principles behind it.

Instruction Set 4
Testing and Selection of Dogs
Temperament testing and using it to evaluate puppies; selecting the best dog for a particular client.

Housetraining and Crate Training
Proper housetraining techniques; training a dog to go on command, in a litter box, or in one place; how to choose and use a crate.

Dog Selection (Graded Project)
Pairing the most suitable breed with a prospective owner.

Equipment: Dog poster

Supplement: Testing and Selection of Breeders

Instruction Set 5
Canine Equipment
Food bowls to leashes to safe toys

Commands
Basic obedience training

DVD: Educate Your Dog

Instruction Set 6
Puppies
Ensuring a positive human-dog bond at an early age; puppy house training; socialization and how to prevent problems in adult dogs.

Teaching Tricks
Instructing clients to teach tricks to their dogs; positive reinforcement techniques for the dog and handler; fun and useful tricks.

Training Through Play
Understanding play behavior; play in the context of obedience training; increasing the dog’s motivation for training.

DVD: Puppy Love

Instruction Set 7
Behavior Problems
Common behavior problems; strategies for prevention and treatment.

Basic Veterinary Issues
Recognizing signs of illness or distress; how to respond in the case of an emergency; addressing behavioral problems; reproductive science; medications; care for dogs in old age.

Behavioral Analysis (Graded Project)
Analyzing scenarios to determine if there’s a behavioral problem involved.

Instruction Set 8
Dog Breeds
Origination of individual breeds; physical and temperamental characteristics; the AKC’s seven major groups of breeds.

Competition Obedience
Terminology and requirements of the various levels of competition obedience.

DVD: Open Obedience Training for Dogs

Reference: The Right Dog for You

Instruction Set 9
Hunting Training
Examine hunting breeds; different training methods; hunting and field tests.

Assistance Dogs
Guide, hearing, service, seizure alert, and therapy dogs; dogs in medical emergencies; legal aspects of working with an assistance dog.

Booklet: Field Training: A Guide for Hunting and Sporting Dogs

DVD: Field Training Your Dog

Instruction Set 10
Agility Training
Navigating agility courses as a sport; speed and accuracy in competition; communication between dog and master.

Search and Rescue Training
Techniques in ground and water searches; what dogs are suitable for a particular rescue mission; organizations involved in search and rescue around the world; certificates associated with this work.

Recreational Activities with Dogs
Sharing “down-time”; catch, flying disc, and walks in the park; organized activities for dog and owner.

Agility Handling and Courses (Graded Project)
Build an agility course using standard symbols of agility course design.

DVD's:
Competition Agility Training: Obstacles
Search Dog Training: How to Get Started

Instruction Set 11

The Dog Training Business, Parts 1 and 2
Demographics related to starting a business; developing a plan; obtaining funding; advertising and marketing issues; customer relations; legal issues relative to a small business.

Creating a Business Plan (Graded Project)
Developing a mock business plan using the information gathered from the preceding business units.

Supplement: Work Experience Option

CAREER OUTLOOK

Your New Career
When you become a professional Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor, you'll have plenty of career options. Work for a kennel, an established obedience training school, or even start one of your own. Choose the job that fits your needs best.

There is a constant demand for skilled trainers because of the increasing number of animal owners seeking proper training for their pets. This will ensure jobs for the properly trained obedience instructors who are looking forward to a successful career. Apply the skills you learn in your training program diligently for a successful and secure future.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects an increase of nearly 23% in the number of employment opportunities for Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor professionals through 2016.*

Your New Skills
Turn your love of animals into a profitable future. Wherever there are dogs, there is a need for dog obedience trainers and you'll have the skills for the job. Trainers with strong communication skills can reap the benefits of the best job prospects.

You'll learn every important part of being a Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor:

* Facts about canine biology and behavior. The right knowledge can earn the respect that comes with the job.
* Proper equipment and proper voice commands. These are vital to training any dog according to its unique breed.
* Communication skills. It's necessary to communicate clearly with your clients... dog owners.
* Prepare to join a professional association, work toward a valuable membership in the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI).

Your New Diploma
Earn your Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor Career Diploma at home in as little as ten months by studying just an hour a day for your new career. Expert instructors and support staff – dedicated to helping you complete your coursework – will be just a phone call or an email away.

TUITION AND FEES

Enroll now and save up to $385!
Here's how... $300 now before tuition increases and up to $85 more based on your payment plan.

The total price for the Penn Foster Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor Program is $898.00.
(Tuition of $707.00, a registration fee of $106.00, a credit set-up fee of $25.00, a technology fee of $35.00, and a shipping and handling charge of $25.00.) Total prices below include your savings.

Payment Options

* Full Payment Plan: Total price $813.00
You Save $385 Now*.
Enroll Now


* Automatic Payment Plan: Total price $838.00
You Save $360 Now*. Make a down payment and establish easy, interest-free monthly payments that will be automatically charged to a credit/debit card or bank account.
Enroll Now


* Standard Payment Plan: Total price $898.00
You Save $300 Now. Make a down payment and make monthly payments using a payment book that you will receive from Penn Foster by mail.
Enroll Now

*We will waive the technology fee and shipping and handling fee with the Automatic Payment Plan Option or waive the credit set-up fee, the technology fee, and shipping and handling fee with the Full Payment Option. Fees will be re-applied in the event either of these plans are cancelled or you cancel or withdraw from the program.

Tuition Reimbursement
All Penn Foster programs are affiliated with DANTES, which qualifies U.S. military personnel for tuition reimbursement.

Military Education Benefits
Many Penn Foster programs are approved for U.S. Armed Forces veterans education benefits. Reservists may also qualify for veterans education benefits. Check your local or regional VA office for eligibility requirements. Click here for more information.

Monthly Payments
Your first monthly payment will be due 30 days or more after your enrollment is accepted. Other payments will be due on the same day of the month as your first payment. A payment coupon booklet will be shipped to you. Under law, you have the right to pay off the full amount due in advance.

Payment Methods
Penn Foster accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept checks, money orders, and authorized automatic withdrawals from checking and savings accounts from U.S. banks.