Why the Term “Dog Behaviorist” Deserves a Closer Look
The term “dog behaviorist” sounds reassuringly official—and that’s exactly why it deserves a closer look. In the dog training world, titles can be confusing, persuasive, and sometimes misleading, especially in an industry that remains largely unregulated. While you may be familiar with labels such as positive reinforcement trainer, balanced trainer, or clicker trainer, the designation “dog behaviorist” often raises important questions. What does it actually mean? And more importantly, what does it not tell you about a person’s education, qualifications, approach, or integrity?
Let’s examine the titles of “behaviorist” and “behavioralist” in the dog training industry. The answer to the question, “What is a dog behaviorist?” might surprise you. Because the correct answer is that “dog behaviorist” is not a recognized certified or credentialed professional designation. It’s a term which can be very good for marketing, but also very misleading. It is hard to say what a self-titled “dog behaviorist” is. A person who is a certified dog trainer or professional canine behavior consultant, usually will use one or both of those titles.
A true animal behaviorist holds a real graduate degree in that field. This is an important distinction to make – if your pet requires sincere behavioral modification, you want to be sure that the person you are hiring to work with him or her has the education and experience necessary to truly help your pet.
It’s important to state once again that the dog training industry is unregulated, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, dog behaviorist or behavioralist. So, it’s up to you to be inquisitive and ask the important questions.
What schools or programs has the prospective trainer or behavior consultant attended? Veterinary Behaviorists are Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVMs) who have achieved board-certification in the specialty of Veterinary Behavior. That is a very different scenario from a person who ‘learned’ dog training from watching reality TV programs!
What professional groups or organizations does this person belong to? Keep in mind that not all dog training organizations are created equal – there are some that anyone can join, whether they are a trainer or not. Others, such as the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, literally certifies people in areas of both training and behavior. They require exams and letters of recommendation, along with continuing education credits, for maintaining certifications.
Staying Inquisitive When Choosing a Dog Professional
What it comes down to is that trust and honesty are important in any relationship. Trustworthy dog trainers will use transparent, clear, honest and consistent language. On the other hand, jargon can be misleading and can cloud decision making for pet guardians.
Now you’re armed with knowledge of some of the different dog training titles you might come across, specifically what they do and do not tell you about the individual. Our advice, in this unregulated industry, is when looking to hire a pet professional, remember to stay inquisitive and aware. Do your best to be well-informed when making decisions that will impact your family and your best friend.
Staying inquisitive means seeking context, not just answers. For a broader look at behavioral support for canine companions, you can read a related article I previously wrote for Edhat here.