How To Become A Service Dog Trainer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a service dog trainer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Service dog trainers train dogs to perform certain tasks, assisting people with disabilities. They teach the dogs to respond to commands and act a certain way in different situations. Patience and a love for animals are a must for people considering this career path.

Selecting the puppies that show an affinity for the behavior type suitable for the service you are planning to train them is the first step on a long road to training a reliable service dog. Whether you teach them guiding the blind or performing mountain rescues or police searches, building trust with the dog will be an essential part of the job.

You can get started on this career with a GED, but if you want to improve your skills and increase your credibility, you might consider doing a course and getting certified. You can complete an apprenticeship to learn the secrets of the profession on the job. People working in this job typically make around $75,000 per year.

ScoreService Dog TrainerUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,195

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.7

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.14%

Asian 1.66%

Black or African American 4.42%

Hispanic or Latino 14.59%

Unknown 6.96%

White 72.22%

Gender

female 64.28%

male 35.72%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.3

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.3

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a service dog trainer

Explore service dog trainer education requirements

Most common service dog trainer degrees

Bachelor's

50.2 %

Associate

20.1 %

High School Diploma

15.5 %

Start to develop specific service dog trainer skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	11.39%
Safety Procedures	10.97%
Training Materials	10.52%
Training Sessions	8.98%
Food Safety	7.92%

Complete relevant service dog trainer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New service dog trainers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a service dog trainer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real service dog trainer resumes.

Research service dog trainer duties and responsibilities

Manage and calculate daily cash deposits and prepare daily payroll ledgers.
Greet and assist guest in an upscale dining establishment with knowledgeable wine and dinner suggestions to ensure an exceptional dining experience.
Increase restaurant profits by up-selling bottles of wine, wine pairings, cocktails, and after dinner dessert wines and cordials.
Coordinate with doctors and register nurses to develop respiratory care plans for patients and provide necessary health education training.

Prepare your service dog trainer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your service dog trainer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a service dog trainer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable service dog trainer resume templates

Build a professional service dog trainer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your service dog trainer resume.