The Best Dog Training Schools: Top 5 Pet Training Certifications in 2025
Looking for the best dog training school to become a professional trainer? If so, finding the right program is crucial. Demand for certified dog trainers is increasing, meaning there are new opportunities for animal lovers to transform their passion into a fun career. However, selecting the ideal certification can be challenging. Factors like cost, curriculum, location, training methodology, and personal preferences are important to consider.
This guide explores the best schools for dog trainers in 2025 to help you to make the right decision for your future career. Whether you want to work with puppies, shelter dogs, rescue dogs, pet parents, or train in a specific niche, selecting the right school is an important step in your journey.
What is a dog training school?
A dog training school is a specialized educational program designed to train individuals in professional dog training. Students should learn the essentials, such as canine training theory, obedience, tricks and basic skills, and pet and handler safety. The curriculum should be well rounded, typically combining theoretical knowledge with practical, real world experience. Although, most classes are now offered online, making the practical part more difficult. Depending on the dog trainer program, this could be a paid, online course or an in-person, brick-and-mortar school. For the purposes of our ranking, we will only be discussing dog training organizations that use force-free, positive reinforcement training methods.
What makes a dog training school the best?
When we look for quality dog training schools, we consistently search for the same criteria:
- Curriculum: What will students be learning during the program? How long is the course?
- Cost: How expensive are the courses? Are there financial aid options available?
- Experience: What is the class structure like? Does the organization have a positive reputation?
- Bonus features: What makes the program unique?
Overall Best Dog Training School
The Academy of Pet Careers
The APC offers everything a student would need to become a dog trainer: hands-on training, experienced instructors, high quality facilities, job placement assistance, and force free, pet empowerment methodology.
Curriculum:
The program hits all the marks, from canine learning theory, applied animal behavior, body language, 20+ skills and manners, Pet CPR and First Aid, client communication, and business resources. Students can also learn specialized skills like service dog training, dog sports, nose work, and more. The in-person dog training course lasts 5 months and goes beyond typical lectures into practical experience, working with a dog in our training arena. The online dog training school also requires hands-on training, but it is completely self-paced for busy students.
Cost:
The online course tuition ranges from $4,100 to $5,100. The in-person program tuition ranges from $10,512 to $21,900. Financial aid, scholarships, loans, and state-funded programs are all available to prospective students. Additionally, we offer various discounts and promos throughout the year, providing options for those with monetary concerns. We even have housing options for students who may have complications getting to and from class. If a student wants to continue on to one of our other programs, they can do so with our multi-program discount.
Experience:
Our dog training program is one of the few with in-person classes. However, The APC also has an online dog training school for students who need more flexibility. Regardless of whether they are online or in person, students get real-time guidance from qualified instructors, giving them a chance to gain valuable, hands-on experience. Our expansive 35,000 square foot facility provides an open space to work, and class sizes are kept small so in-person students (and online students who are visiting) get personalized instruction. Additionally, APC students receive all-inclusive toolkits with the latest equipment to take with them through their course, and later, out into the workforce.
Bonus features:
The APC helps students and alumni with job placement, ensuring all their hard work pays off in a rewarding career. For those who want to start their own pet training business, this includes access to business startup resources and entrepreneurial guidance following the completion of the program. Graduates are also welcome to come back at any time if they would like to refine their skills at no additional cost.
Start a career as a dog trainer at The Academy of Pet Careers
Fill out the form to receive a program guide for our online dog training school or click here to learn more about our in-person program.
Best Online Dog Training School
CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
For students who need flexibility with their education, CATCH's online dog training certification is a great choice. There are no time or location constraints, so participants can learn on their own schedule from anywhere in the country.
Curriculum:
This dog trainer school covers the foundations of dog behavior, tools and equipment, how to lead your own training sessions, and how to launch a career as a dog trainer. Participants in the program are required to complete an externship at an animal shelter, where they can gain hands-on experience. At the end of the course, students can get their Pet First Aid and CPR certificate.
Cost:
Catch's program tuition ranges from $1,324 to $6,467. Additional costs may apply, like registration fees, books and tools, and exam fees. Flexible payment options are available to students, like their In-House Payment Plan. Their Extended Loan Financing option starts with $200 down and monthly payments vary.
Experience:
The programs offered are tiered, meaning prospective students can choose how in-depth they want to go with their education, from "Core Skills" to "Master Class." Student Support is available Monday - Saturday to help students through phone calls, email, or video chat. Each student also gets a Personal Program director to guide them throughout their entire course.
Bonus features:
While and integral part of CATCH's dog trainer school is to teach you how to start a trainer business, they also offer complimentary job and business development consulting to graduates. "Master Class" graduates get one-on-one coaching via phone with their experienced dog trainers. CATCH's connections can also be leveraged to coax their students into their new careers.
Best Service Dog Training School
Atlas Assistance Dogs
Atlas Assistance Dogs is a great dog trainer school for anyone who already has a solid training foundation. Professional dog trainers who want to advance to service dog trainers can easily benefit from the Atlas Trainer Academy.
Curriculum:
This dog training school is meant for already experienced trainers who want to enter this specific dog training niche. Therefore, the course covers a wide range of disabilities, task training, and public access skills. Dog behavior, health, and training knowledge are still touched on to enhance the trainer's pre-existing knowledge.
Cost:
The certification fee alone is $3,770. If the trainer wants to get recertified, that's an additional $200 annually. Trainers can test out of certain modules depending on their experience, thus lowering the cost of the program. The maximum discounted cost is $2,889 for highly skilled trainers. A three-installment payment option is available, as well as financial aid options for disabled and BIPOC trainers.
Experience:
The program is hosted online, teaching students through videos, worksheets, quizzes, and written material on their online platform. Many modules include video submissions where students are working directly with a dog or coaching another person. After submitting assignments, individualized feedback from instructors is given. Students are encouraged to complete their program within a year.
Bonus features:
Outside of the Academy, Atlas also offers specialty training courses and a Team Facilitator Certification. The specialty courses are mini classes that cover fitness, service dog foundations, scent detection, and medical, psychiatric, and mobility specialty skills. The Team Facilitator Certification provides free training to staff and Atlas certified dog trainers who want to guide new service dog trainers through their training journey.
Best Dog Training School for Dog Sports
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
If a dog trainer is looking to work specifically in dog sports, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy's online dog trainer program has courses for every discipline. Their Sports Foundation Certificate and their Rally/Obedience/Freestyle Certificate are great credentials for trainers wanting to enter this part of the industry.
Curriculum:
Courses vary based on discipline, including agility, health, behavior, electives, foundations, basic obedience, rally and freestyle, scent sports, and other dog sports. In order to receive a certification, these courses must be combined in a particular way. For the Sports Foundation Certificate, trainers need 40 credits from the Foundations and Electives Course Catalogue and 10 additional credit from any class. For the Obedience/Rally/Freestyle Certificate, trainers need 40 credits from the Obedience/Rally/Freestyle Course Catalogues and 10 additional credits from any class.
Cost:
Tuition is often split into 3 tiers: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Gold is the most expensive option and offers the most perks, with costs and perks dwindling as you move down to Bronze. Gold tier costs $260, Silver tier costs $130, and Bronze tier costs $65. Fenzi Dog Sports Academy offers scholarships for trainers at the Bronze level and covers half the cost of tuition.
Experience:
The Academy is online, so students can learn from anywhere at any time. Students have full control over what courses they want to take and which webinars to attend. If they would like to attend a workshop, they can sign up for a "working spot" to get personalized feedback regarding their training. All tuition levels get access to homework and discussion forums where they can connect with other trainers.
Bonus features:
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy offers numerous resources for dog trainers, including free resources. Free resources include video presentations, e-books, articles, podcasts, and webinars to enhance the learning experience. For $18.95 - $65, you can access their exclusive video series on a variety of pet topics, like animal behavior, enrichment, manners, and more.
Best Cat Training School
Animal Behavior Institute
There are numerous dog trainer schools across America, but cat training schools are fewer and farther between. For those looking to become cat trainers, Animal Behavior Institute's Feline Training & Behavior program is a great online school to attend.
Curriculum:
Students learn training techniques, first aid and CPR, feline communication, nutrition, and how to work with clients. The entire program lasts 6 months, consisting of three online courses and a required hands-on section. Once the online portion is complete, students must track 40 hours of real-world experience training cats.
Cost:
Total tuition for three course programs, like the Feline Training & Behavior Certification, is $3,960. Textbooks must also be purchased, which typically comes out to $75 per course. Other fees may apply, and depending on where the student is in their course, they can withdraw and receive a tuition refund. ABI offers flexible payment plans and a 10% discount to veterans and military personnel.
Experience:
Since the program is mostly online, students can learn from the comfort of their own home. Students regularly engage with instructors and classmates through ABI's interactive online classroom. Here, students get to collaborate with other trainers and get feedback from teachers. The average class consists of 9 people, so participants can get the attention they need.
Bonus features:
Animal Behavior Institute is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). The IACET is a nonprofit association that accredits education providers the meet their standards for continuing education. Therefore, students who complete programs at ABI are eligible for continuing education credits that are accepted by over 200 organizations.
Final Thoughts
There are numerous training certifications available, making it challenging to find the one that best suits your needs. While each dog training school has its pros and cons, The Academy of Pet Careers goes above and beyond. It has a comprehensive curriculum, in-person and online training options, flexible financing options, skilled instructors, specialized programs, and career support resources.
The APC's dog trainer classes are ideal for anyone looking to gain the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to become a professional dog trainer. If you're considering a career in the pet industry, but you aren't keen on dog training, the Academy of Pet Careers also has a vet assistant program and a dog grooming program.
Hope Allen
Hope Allen combines her lifelong passion for animals with her digital marketing expertise. Growing up in a veterinary family, she gained hands-on experience working as an office assistant and sterilization tech at their mobile practice. This foundation, coupled with her degree in design and digital content strategy from Lindenwood University, allows her to bring unique insight to pet-focused content.