What is the difference between a dog trainer and a behaviorist?
When trying to find the right dog professional to meet your needs, all of the titles thrown around can be confusing. Here is a run down of the most common terms in behavior and training to help you understand the different, and sometimes overlapping services that these professionals provide.
Let’s start with two terms that don’t require professional schooling or experience; behaviorist and trainer.
Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviorist. When it comes to the term behaviorist, there is an unwritten rule — a respect in the field among professionals — to reserve that title only for those who have gone through the required education, experience, and testing to earn a specific certification. It is frowned upon for those that have not gone through that schooling and certification to use the term behaviorist, even if their primary focus in their profession is behavior-focused. I’ll explain further momentarily. The point being, there is not a legal regulation on this term, so buyers beware when enlisting the help of someone who calls themself a “behaviorist,” as there is no measure (unless they are certified) of their experience and abilities. Are they a certified behaviorist or someone simply using that term to separate themselves…
