Informal education

• 1). Work at a boarding kennel or grooming salon, or volunteer at a dog rescue or animal shelter in order to gain experience working with dogs. A career as a K9 trainer is very dirty, with long hours, and you should find out if it's right for you before committing to it full-time.
  
  
• 2). Contact local K9 trainers to find out who is willing to take you on as an apprentice, training you on the job to become a part of a training center's team. The amount of time you need to spend under the tutelage of a trainer depends on the training center's preferences.
  
  
• 3). Decide which of these trainers to work with by speaking with local veterinarians, kennel owners, breeders and trainers' clients. Working with a trainer who isn't respected by others in your community will limit your own future clientele.
  
  
• 4). Continue to educate yourself by reading books and periodicals related to dog-training theories. Watch dog-handling practices at dog competitions and observe other trainers in training classes.
  
  

Formal education

• 1). Search for dog-training academies in your area. Some may offer dormitories for enrolled students. Course length varies. The National K-9 Learning Center School for Dog Trainers offers three-week and six-week courses.
  
  
• 2). Speak with former students about their time at the school, and about their current careers.
  
  
• 3). Get opinions of the school from other professionals in the pet industry. With dog-training academies, however, seek recommendations on a more regional or even national scale.