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Calgary, AB - Local dog trainer, Sarah-Jane Petti, CPDT, of Calgary, Alberta, has earned certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the first national certification for dog trainers. Sarah-Jane now joins 1500 plus Certified Pet Dog Trainers in the United States, Canada, Austria, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, Australia and The Bahamas.

Up until the creation of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in 2001, there was no true certification process for dog trainers. Many schools teach dog trainers and offer certification for their specific programs. These certificates, therefore, reflect the teachings and quality of a specific school. Other organizations offer take-home tests for "certification". The trainers are not monitored to make sure they are completing the test without any assistance or collaboration, nor is the testing process standardized.

This unprecendented process was originally implemented by the APDT, the largest association of dog trainers in the world, founded by noted veterinarian, behaviorist, and author Dr. Ian Dunbar. Early on, the APDT recognized the need for certification for its profession. Pet dog trainers needed a credible means of measuring their knowledge and skill and the dog-owning public needed a credible barometer for choosing a trainer. A task force of approximately 20 internationally known dog training professionals and behaviorists worked for three years to research and develop the comprehensive written examination. The APDT also hired Professional Test Corporation to ensure the process met professional testing standards. I then created a separate, independent council -- the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers -- to manage the accreditation and pursue future development.

Candidates who pass the exam earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation, "CPDT", after their names. All certified trainers must earn continuing education credits to maintain their designations, or take the examination again in three years.

The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers administered its first test on September 28, 2001. The most recent administration was held in various cities in the United States, as well as Singapore, Canada and Ireland, and there will be a major test in Tokyo in 2009. All test sites are professional secured and moderated by Professional Testing Corporation of New York.



	News - Local Dog Trainer Earns Pet Dog Trainer Certification November 20, 2008 Calgary, AB - Local dog trainer, Sarah-Jane Petti, CPDT, of Calgary, Alberta, has earned certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the first national certification for dog trainers. Sarah-Jane now joins 1500 plus Certified Pet Dog Trainers in the United States, Canada, Austria, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, Australia and The Bahamas. Up until the creation of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in 2001, there was no true certification process for dog trainers. Many schools teach dog trainers and offer certification for their specific programs. These certificates, therefore, reflect the teachings and quality of a specific school. Other organizations offer take-home tests for "certification". The trainers are not monitored to make sure they are completing the test without any assistance or collaboration, nor is the testing process standardized. This unprecendented process was originally implemented by the APDT, the largest association of dog trainers in the world, founded by noted veterinarian, behaviorist, and author Dr. Ian Dunbar. Early on, the APDT recognized the need for certification for its profession. Pet dog trainers needed a credible means of measuring their knowledge and skill and the dog-owning public needed a credible barometer for choosing a trainer. A task force of approximately 20 internationally known dog training professionals and behaviorists worked for three years to research and develop the comprehensive written examination. The APDT also hired Professional Test Corporation to ensure the process met professional testing standards. I then created a separate, independent council -- the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers -- to manage the accreditation and pursue future development. Candidates who pass the exam earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation, "CPDT", after their names. All certified trainers must earn continuing education credits to maintain their designations, or take the examination again in three years. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers administered its first test on September 28, 2001. The most recent administration was held in various cities in the United States, as well as Singapore, Canada and Ireland, and there will be a major test in Tokyo in 2009. All test sites are professional secured and moderated by Professional Testing Corporation of New York.