It can be confusing to understand the differences when comparing dog trainers and behaviorists. In simple terms, dog trainers typically focus on teaching obedience, while behaviorists specialize in evaluating and treating behavioral problems. One of the easiest ways to understand who is a trainer and who is a behaviorist is by looking at their training credentials.
Dog training credentials can be confusing, especially when presented as acronyms like CAAB or CPDT-KA. In this blog, we will discuss the differences between a dog trainer and a behaviorist, so you can understand the differences and why this would matter with your dog’s training. Let’s first discuss what a behaviorist is.
What is a Behaviorist?
Behaviorists are scientists who study measurable actions and behaviors. They focus on the function of behavior and how different methods can influence it.
One of the most famous behaviorists is Ivan Pavlov, known for “Pavlov’s bell.” In his experiments, Pavlov paired the sound of a bell with feeding dogs. Over time, the dogs began to salivate at the sound alone, having learned to associate it with food.
Modern dog training applies the same principles of classical conditioning. For example:
- Rewarding a dog with a treat when they sit encourages them to follow the command.
- Feeding puppies in their crate helps them form positive associations with being in the crate.
Anyone can claim to be a behaviorist, but a few organizations provided formal accreditation to become a behaviorist. For example, the Animal Behavior Society has certified our Co-founder, Dr. Echterling-Savage as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). But what is a CAAB, let’s discuss what a CAAB is in more detail.
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
To become a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), you must a doctorate in a science-related, with a minimum of 30 credits in behavior science and animal learning. They must have a minimum of five years of experience, and contribute to Animal Behavior Society presentations.
Our co-founder, Dr Echterling-Savage is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, with a PhD in Behavior Psychology, specializing in animal behavior. She has over twenty years of experience and has conducted research, including a 2014 study that demonstrated behavior modification is highly effective in correcting dog aggression.
Now that we understand what a behaviorist is and what a CAAB is, let’s discuss what a dog trainer is and some formal credentials.
What Is a Dog Trainer?
Dog trainers typically focus on teaching dogs obedience commands, good manners, and sometimes more specialized skills such as agility, sports, or service dog tasks. Unlike behaviorists, who evaluate why complex behavioral problems occur, dog trainers are focused on teaching what behaviors a dog should perform.
Many dog trainers pursue professional credentials to demonstrate their experience and knowledge. One of the most common is the Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). Our Co-founder, Sean Savage is a CPDT-KA, with over 20 years of experience. But what is a CPDT-KA? Let’s discuss this some more.
Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
The CPDT-KA credential is offered through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). To earn this certification, a trainer must:
- Complete at least 300 hours of hands-on dog training experience
- Have their experience verified by another CPDT-certified trainer
- Pass a comprehensive knowledge-based examination
This credential is widely recognized in the dog training industry and demonstrates that a trainer has hands on experience and training to handle a variety of training cases.
What is the difference between a dog trainer and a behaviorist?
In summary, a dog trainer is focused on obedience training or more speicalized training such as dogs sports including agility and dock diving. While a behavior consultant may provide obedience training, but will also be focused on addressing problem behaviors. Problem behaviors can include reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, resource guarding, touch sensitivity and fearful behavior.
A behavior consultant is especially useful in recognizing potential behavioral problems in puppies. For example, they may notice early signs of resource guarding or reactivity before these behaviors have fully developed. This is important to address this behavior early before it escalates.
We are here to help
Do you need help teaching your dog obedience, manners or addressing any behavioral challenges? All of our training programs are conducted through one-on-one training sessions, with a personalized training plan to address your dog’s unique needs. You can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team to discuss your training goals and receive a personalized recommendation.
