Do Dog Trainers Need a Degree in the UK?

As an education provider that has taught more than 25,000 people about dog training and behaviour, our answer to this question might surprise you.

No - You do not need a degree to become a dog trainer in the UK… moreover… you don't legally need any formal education at all to call yourself a dog trainer.

There is no compulsory degree, No mandatory diploma, No official certificate that suddenly makes you a dog trainer. Animal trainers and training instructors are not currently regulated by the UK government, which means there is no legally required degree or qualification you must hold before calling yourself a dog trainer.

You could, quite literally, buy a bag of treats, print some business cards and start charging people tomorrow.

But… Being allowed to call yourself a dog trainer and being competent to train dogs professionally are two very different things.

So if I don't need a degree, do I need qualifications at all?

Legally? No

Professionally? We think education matters enormously!

But that doesn't mean we believe every good dog trainer needs to spend three years at university. In fact some of the best in the business never went near a text book.

There are lots of ways to learn, not least of which with a specialist training provider like The School of Canine Science and our courses.

Alongside our courses we encourage our students to learn broadly which can also include.

• vocational qualifications

• online education

• workshops

• mentorship

• practical training

• supervised experience

• conferences

• books

• scientific papers

• and general CPD (continuing professional development).

Given dog trainings practical nature the question shouldn’t really be (and never is from a client) “Have you got a degree?” It should be and is… “Do you have the ability to change canine behaviour through training and are you able to communicate effectively to owners! “

Because dog training requires theory… yes, but also phenomenal practical skills and top draw communication.

You can know everything there is to know about reinforcement schedules and still be terrible at delivering reinforcement at the right moment. (the industry great selection of what I call “arm chair trainers”, they can sit in the arm chair, spot the science and tell owners what to do, but struggle to train the dog themselves)

But equally… you can be fantastic at teaching your own dog tricks while having huge gaps in your understanding of why behaviour changes.

Neither is enough on its own.

Theory tells you WHY

A professional dog trainer should have an understanding of subjects such as

• learning theory

• reinforcement and punishment

• respondent conditioning

• stimulus control

• motivation

• emotion

• canine behaviour

• body language

• welfare

• training plans

• behaviour change

• and how dogs learn.

Theory allows you to understand why something is happening.

Practical skill tells you HOW

Actually training the dog.

Can you:

• deliver reinforcement accurately?

• manipulate criteria?

• recognise when you've progressed too quickly?

• change the environment?

• split a behaviour into achievable steps?

• handle a lead effectively?

• observe subtle changes in behaviour?

• train fluently without confusing the dog?

• adapt when the dog in front of you doesn't behave like the dog in the demonstration video?

These aren't things you learn purely by reading about them. They require practice & lots of it.

But I can train my own dog!

This can be another trap when people first enter the industry. You train your own dog. They're brilliant.

People at the park start asking you for advice and then somebody says it.. “You should do this professionally!”, and maybe you should (it’s a very fulfilling life).

But successfully training one dog a few behaviours isnt the same as preparing yourself for

• dogs who don't want your food

• dogs who are frightened

• dogs who are frustrated

• dogs who become over-aroused

• dogs with extensive reinforcement histories

• dogs living in chaotic households

• owners who struggle to follow instructions

• owners who don't have much time

• owners who accidentally reinforce the exact behaviour they're trying to stop.

And ofcourse, you're no longer just training dogs. You're teaching people to train dogs and that’s an entirely different skill.

So how do I actually become a dog trainer?

This is the bit where we want to give you a clear way forward.

You do not need to know everything before you begin.

You do not need to have trained 500 dogs.

And you certainly do not need to disappear to university for three years before you are allowed to start developing your skills.

What you do need is a sensible route that combines learning the theory with actually training dogs.

That is exactly how we encourage people to approach becoming a trainer at the School of Canine Science.

Start by building your foundations

If you are brand new to dog training, our 30 Days of Canine Science programme is usually where we suggest starting.

It is designed to introduce you to the science behind dog training, how dogs learn, what motivates behaviour and how your training choices affect the outcome.

But importantly, it is not just about sitting and watching lectures.

We want you to start thinking like a trainer and actually applying what you are learning.

Think of it as your first proper step into the industry rather than a three-year commitment before you even know whether dog training is for you.

Puppy training can be a brilliant first professional step

If your aim is to start working with paying clients, puppy training can be a low risk place to begin.

Our Puppy Lab programme was designed around exactly that.

It takes the foundations of learning and behaviour and applies them to puppy development, socialisation, practical training and crucially teaching puppy owners (we even give you a weekly class plan!)

Because as we mentioned earlier, being able to train a dog is only half the job.

You also have to teach the person holding the lead.

For many developing trainers, puppy classes and puppy one-to-ones provide an opportunity to build experience while working preventatively rather than immediately taking on complicated behaviour cases.

Then find the bits of dog training you love

This is one of the best things about the profession, you actually don’t have to be the trainer who does everything.

As your experience grows, you can start specialising and even get picky about the work you take on.

Maybe you love:

• puppy training

• scent work

• obedience

• gundog training

• sports

• tricks

• reactivity

• or behaviour work.

For example, our Scent for Six programme takes trainers through six months of scent-work education and practical development and has created some of the best scentwork teachers the industry has.

And what if I want to become a behaviourist?

That is where the level of education and experience should increase significantly.

Behaviour cases can involve fear, aggression, predation, resource guarding, separation-related problems and other complex issues.

If that is where you ultimately want your career to go, our Behaviour Bible is our much deeper three-year programme.

It starts with understanding why dogs behave the way they do, then develops professional consultation and behaviour-planning skills before moving into more complex cases.

It includes real case studies showing the assessment, practical training, owner coaching and decision-making involved.

So, do you need a degree to become a dog trainer?

No. You don't even legally need a formal qualification.

But if you want to build a career that you can be proud of, we would strongly encourage you to invest in both your knowledge and your practical skills.

There is no single route into this industry, but what I can tell you is printing some business card and taking on clients without at least working through an education program is foolhardy at best and dangerous at worst.

If you are at the very beginning, 30 Days of Canine Science is where we recommend starting. Learn how dogs learn. Start training. See whether you love it as much as you think you will.

And then build from there. We’d love to help you.

This article provides general information about becoming a dog trainer in the UK. Professional organisations may have their own education, assessment and membership requirements even where there is no statutory requirement to hold a degree or qualification.