How to Become a Dog Obedience Trainer in New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers aspiring dog obedience trainers a direct pathway to start their careers and leverage their skills for a competitive annual income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several successful candidates have already created obedience training businesses in New Hampshire, and the field is ripe for even more significant growth in the coming decades.

Our objective with the guide on this page is to introduce state residents to the key concerns they will need to address before they can start their careers correctly. This includes what to do in the planning phase, where to go for comprehensive training, the learning arrangements they may prefer, and possible certification options, among other things.

Steps to Become a Dog Obedience Trainer in New Hampshire

The outline below shows how to become a dog obedience trainer in New Hampshire.

Self-Training

Self-taught dog obedience trainers can experience as much success on the job as those who attended a formal course. However, they may have to take longer to achieve this goal as formal courses offer certain potential benefits that self-taught professionals may need access to.

Completing a Formal Course

Students are not mandated to complete a formal training program as prospective dog obedience trainers. However, those who do will have an edge over those who don’t because they get to learn under an experienced instructor through a carefully designed curriculum while also graduating with a certificate or a diploma.

What’s more, many training programs offer online training for flexibility, meaning that candidates don’t have to give up other commitments for their education.

Acquiring Training in the Real World

Most training programs begin with online education, teaching theoretical topics. However, candidates must practice with actual dogs before becoming full-fledged dog obedience trainers. For this, they may be paired with professionals in their area for mentorship or have to work as assistants to practicing dog obedience trainers for a while before branching out independently.

Explore careers with similar paths:

• How to become a veterinary assistant in New Hampshire

Top Dog Obedience Trainer Schools in New Hampshire

The entries below are among the best programs to consider for future dog obedience trainers in New Hampshire.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Dog obedience training schools in Maine

Licensure & Certification Requirements

In Hawaii, a dog obedience trainer does not need to register with the state or receive a license before they can start working professionally. They are only required to become certified because most employers and customers gravitate toward certified dog obedience trainers.

For a candidate looking to become certified, there are various options to consider, not only in terms of the certification organization to choose from but also the specific credential to choose from among the options offered by a singular organization.

Some prominent options are the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association of Canine Professionals, and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors.

After choosing a credential, candidates are expected to pass a preparatory course at their certification level and then pass an examination to prove their skills. They will also be expected to maintain their credentials by taking more advanced courses and passing more professional examinations.

Salary & Career Outlook

The total volume of pet-related spending in New Hampshire is expected to increase in the coming decade. This is one reason why the Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains a positive outlook by predicting a significant year-on-year increase in employment for dog obedience trainers in New Hampshire and across the country.

Currently, professionals in this field earn an annual average salary of $41,150 in the state’s median category. In the top 10% category, they earn around $62,589, while in the bottom 10%, the annual average salary to expect is closer to $27,055.

Location is a significant factor influencing these figures, and Salem holds the top position with an annual average salary of $81,881. Dog obedience trainers in Londonderry manage an annual average salary of $54,846.

Of course, other factors come into play. A New Hampshire dog obedience trainer’s experience level, credentials, and business strategy will all affect how much they earn at the end of every year.