To become a dog trainer, you'll usually need a high school diploma and hands-on experience with dogs, which you can build by volunteering at shelters or working at kennels. There's no required licence to train dogs, but BLS says certification can help, and many states require self-employed animal workers to hold a business licence.
Dog training is one of those careers where experience beats paperwork. There's no exam you have to pass before you can take your first client, which is good news and bad news. It's easy to start, but it also means owners will judge you on results and reputation. Here's what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) handbook says about getting in and what trainers earn, read in October 2026.
Dog trainer requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What BLS says |
|---|---|
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent, usually |
| Courses | Dog trainers may take courses at community colleges or vocational and private training schools |
| Certification | Not required, but offered by professional associations and private vocational and state-approved trade schools |
| Business licence | Many states require one for self-employed animal care and service workers |
| Experience | Employers prefer people who've worked with animals; volunteering is an excellent way in |
How to become a dog trainer, step by step
- Get time with lots of dogs. BLS says many employers prefer people with animal experience. Shelters, kennels and daycare centers expose you to different breeds, ages and temperaments, which is what you'll meet with clients.
- Take a course. BLS mentions community colleges and vocational and private training schools. Look for one with supervised practice, not only theory.
- Learn on the job. Most animal care and service workers learn through on-the-job training, so working alongside an experienced trainer is the fastest way to improve.
- Decide on certification. It isn't required, but it can help you establish your credentials when owners are comparing trainers.
- Set up the business side. If you'll work for yourself, check your state's business licence rules before you take bookings.
The catch: most trainers work for themselves
Here's what shapes this career more than anything. BLS counts about 47,800 animal trainer jobs in 2025, and self-employed workers are the biggest group at 39%. That's far more than any single type of employer:
| Employer type (US, 2025) | Share of animal trainer jobs (%) |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 39 |
| Other personal services | 19 |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 17 |
| Animal production and aquaculture | 7 |
| Retail trade | 7 |
So for many people, becoming a dog trainer means becoming a small business owner. You'll need to find clients, handle bookings and keep records, as well as train dogs. That's why I'd treat the business licence and a simple way of getting found online as part of the training, not an afterthought.
What dog trainers earn
BLS reports pay for animal trainers as a group, which includes dog and horse trainers. As of October 2026, the median annual wage for animal trainers was $39,990 in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $29,600 and the highest 10% more than $75,490.
That wide gap is the point. A trainer who builds a strong local reputation can earn far more than the median, and one who's just starting out will usually earn less. Pet stores and other retail employers paid trainers a median of $36,240, and other personal services paid $39,990.
Looking further afield for work? The step-by-step veterinary assistant guide covers a different option.
Job outlook
BLS projects animal trainer jobs to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from 47,800 to 49,700. That's slower than the 12% growth projected for animal caretakers, the people who feed, groom and exercise animals. BLS says demand for pet care is growing because many people treat their pets as part of the family and are willing to pay more for their care.
If you want steadier hours while you build a client list, caretaker work at a kennel or daycare can be a useful bridge, and it gives you the dog experience employers ask for. Grooming is another route into the same world, covered in my guide on how to become a dog groomer.
What the work is like
Most animal trainers work full time, but part-time work is common. Schedules can include evenings, weekends and holidays, because that's when owners are free. The work is physical too, and BLS notes that people in animal care can face upsetting situations, such as working with animals that have been neglected.
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You'll also be coaching people, not only dogs. Owners have to keep up the training at home, so explaining things clearly and patiently matters as much as your timing with a lead. Some owners use apps between sessions, and my roundup of the best dog training apps shows the kind of tools your clients may already be using.
Questions to ask yourself first
- Do you want to work for someone else or run your own business? With so many trainers self-employed, it's worth deciding early.
- Which dogs do you want to work with? Puppies, rescue dogs and working dogs all need different approaches.
- Are you happy working evenings and weekends, when most owners are free?
- Can you teach people as well as dogs? Owners will do most of the practice at home.
My verdict
You don't need a licence to become a dog trainer, which makes it one of the easiest animal careers to start. The harder part is the business. With 39% of trainers self-employed, plan for finding clients and your state's business licence from day one, and use volunteering to get the experience owners will ask about.
Some jobs need a licence and others a degree, and our guide to the animal control officer route sorts it out for a different one.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be a dog trainer?
There's no licence required to train dogs, according to BLS, but many states require self-employed animal care and service workers to have a business licence.
Do you need certification to be a dog trainer?
No. BLS says certification isn't required, but professional associations and private vocational and state-approved trade schools offer it and it can help you establish your credentials.
How much do dog trainers make?
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $39,990 for animal trainers, including dog trainers, in May 2025. The highest 10% earned more than $75,490.
How do I get experience as a dog trainer?
Volunteering at shelters and working at kennels or daycare centers are good ways in. BLS says many employers prefer people who already have experience with animals.
Is dog training a growing career?
Slowly. BLS projects animal trainer jobs to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 12% for animal caretakers.
