Your Questions About Dog Training

Where does one obtain a certification as a ‘Corn Dog Consultant’?

It’s a booming industry and I want in. Do any online colleges offer courses or is it hands on training?

Can people who know nothing about dogs be dog trainers?S?

Okay, I know how to train dogs – but I always wondered this question about other people.
Do people who sepnd 3,000 on a college degree at places like ABC (Dog behavior College) and other places, who know nothing about training dogs – are they wasting their money? Or does the program help them?
Im thinking of applying for ABC, anyone had any experiance with it? Its an online course and im skeptical.

I DO know about dog behavior and training, but im just wondering if someone DIDNT how would it help them.
Doest hat make sense?
I made a typo.

Does that** make sense.

Should I take a job as a dog trainer at Petco? Or keep my Union job?

I was bored one day and filled out the online application, after one of the stores trainers recommended I do while I was toy shopping one day. Two days later I’ve got an interview. I have a good job now, some would say really good, I know I was lucky to get it. Railroad job..its union w/ full benefits & a pension & I make about 25$/hr with lots over over & even double time. But I HATE…HHHAAATTTEE my job. The only thing that gets me through the days is I look forward to coming home and playing w/ my pup & I’ve become the local ‘dog‘ guy. Every weekend I help 1-2 people with training their dogs & I have a backyard agility course me and a few people (I’ve trained) run our dogs through…and it seems like working with dogs for a living would be the best thing ever. Heck, I do it for fun & free on my weekends.

Now I realize Petco isn’t the gold standard of dog training, but I figured its a good place to get my feet wet and get some experience on a professional level. I’d taken my pup there for puppy classes because it was cheap and I just wanted to practice w/ distractions … I’ve taught dogs agility and dealt with behavioral problems…I didn’t need someone to show me ‘sit’, but it was good socialization in a learning setting I thought. Anywho, I befriended the girl teaching & am all but guaranteed the job if I want it.

Does anyone know what they make? Is it based on commission in anyway for selling training lessons? Someone said you might have to work on the floor or register too, is that true? The girl I know also works in the grooming department washing dogs (she’s not trained to cut dogs hair), & that seems the ultimate to me, but is that normal? Does anyone know a better way to break into the dog training world? People who I’ve helped for free tell me I should have charged (…though they weren’t offering $$) & some have suggested I just make a web page or hang fliers…but I don’t know if I’d feel right acting like I knew it all…I figured a year or two at Petco and at least I’d have someone to fall back on (the other trainers there) for the beginning of this…its easy to tell someone you can’t help when they aren’t paying you anyways.

Anyone worked there….taken classes there from a new trainer…quit a good job because you thought you’d be happier at another one??

recommendations on what i should look for in a laptop?

Hi, I’m graduating next week, but I am not planning on going to college right away. I have been apprenticing at a local dog training facility and I plan to continue working there to become a certified trainer. I’ll be able to train both Police dogs and personal dogs…. but anyways …

I do want to take online courses in the future. Once I get into the swing of things at work and maybe once I get settled into an apartment I’ll take courses from University of Pheonix or maybe Valporaso University (it’s only half an hour from my house).

There are so many different types of laptops I don’t even know where to start. I’d like one I can use for online courses… but besides that I’m clueless. Can someone out there please help? Thanks a bunch!

Those interested in the dog who was shot by the neighbor?

We have been working on this very hard and action is being taken. I have been told I have to be careful of anything I put online or in print for now, until we see where this is going. A lawyer is working on it, accepted the case without a second blink. I wanted everyone to know that it is being handled.
And I wanted everyone to see the dog so I am posting his pictures…. before he was shot of course.

We lost a wonderful dog when Andy was needlessly shot by a deranged neighbor and SHP.

Andy was going to be enrolled in a program we have initiated in our county with Prisoners. They work with a professional trainer and the dogs are trained as “working” dogs. Some go on to be rescue dogs and we have many therapy dogs that come from this program. Andy was to be a therapy dog. Now Andy is dead, and the reason? He was a “Pit-type.” Andy did nothing to warrant a death sentence, for anyone who may not know the story. He was walking with his owner, who dropped his leash so he could run and see her husband. A neighbor saw her drop the leash and shot him in the rear, stating he was afraid for his life. The neighbor was an off-duty state highway patrol officer who used his service weapon to shoot the dog. He bragged to others that he “hit the bull’s eye” because the dog was shot in the anus.
Andy never stood a chance though our local vet tried very hard.
And since I must post a legitimate question here after thanking everyone who responded to my first question:

What are some ideas for memorials for this dog who was well on his way to being one of our better therapy dogs? His death has already left a very deep void in the lives of his owners (whose names I cannot post here) and those who were starting to work with him in training. They have stated that Andy was one of the most “responsive” dogs they have ever worked with.
So…suggestions for a way to memorialize this wonderful dog?

http://pbckt.com/sL.0Ci

@Cougar: Last I heard there was a bounty on your head. Careful.

And thank you Pinka… We ae going to set up a memorial at the Original Rainbow Bridge for Andy. His owners have been devastated by this.
He was half on his own property and half on [roperty owned by someone else when shot. Not the officer. The dog owners in the area had permission to walk their dogs on a very nice wooded trail behind their homes. Andy was on the trail and right at his backyard so his owner dropped the leash so he could run and greet her husband. The neighbor shot him from his back porch and YES… had he missed, he could have hit one of three people and another dog that were close by.
@Divapom: TY so much. Your info was well-used and helped immensely.