Humane Training Alliance

Are you interested in becoming a trainer? Are you getting started training and looking for where to go from here? Check out our free resource on becoming a trainer on our website!

To find the guide, scroll to the bottom of our website and click “Become a Trainer” in the footer. https://humanetraining.org/become-a-trainer/

There are plenty of free resources listed, such as YouTube webinars from and

Comment with any essentials that you think are missing from our guide!

Great questions to ask a prospective dog trainer!!

There is a part of this career that I wish I didn’t have to experience…which is often (sadly) job security. It’s being called in for the aftermath of what happens when dogs end up in the wrong hands.

The dog training field is UNREGULATED. This means anyone can wake up tomorrow, declare they are now a trainer, and give you advice that they’ve made up on the go or advice that we used 20 YEARS ago (sigh). They can take your money, and subject your dog to the most inhumane and unnecessary treatment.

Being certified requires…REQUIRES…that I continue to take classes. I’m also required to provide 3 references (from another colleague, a veterinarian, and a client) along with case studies where I go through top to bottom detailing a case, my decisions, reasoning, and the evidence to support it. Not all certifications ask this. Look into the certs a trainer lists.

Here are some red flags to watch for when deciding on a trainer:

🚩tells you NOT to contact them when they have your dog
🚩provides no updates
🚩 took an online certification that doesn’t require them to re-certify or to ever take classes again (or maybe they’ve just never certified ever)
🚩lists having dogs since they were a child as part of their experience (I’d also have 30 years experience if I used that parameter 😂)
🚩unwilling to work with other colleagues in the field, or refer you to others when they are out of their scope of expertise

Last…while reviews are super helpful to read through….remember that sometimes there are unethical trainers that will require a review or ask for a review in exchange for services.

Need more help to figure out a trainer’s methodology?
💡”what will you do when my dog does the right thing?”
💡”what will you do if my dog doesn’t do what you ask?”
💡”what items do you use for training?”
💡”if you can’t help my dog, will you tell me when I should seek additional help or support?”
💡”what classes or certificates have you completed in the last 6 months?”
💡”can you tell me what you specialize in?”

Protect yourself. Protect your dog.

Have a great weekend, trainees!

📸: Malachi 💚

The people have spoken and they want HATS! Check out our new fundraising campaign - we are selling these cool hats to raise money so we can purchase more printed materials to distribute to veterinarians, shelters, and more. Help build a world where all dogs are trained with compassion, buy a hat!

Hats off to Humane Training! | Bonfire Grab your limited edition Hats off to Humane Training! merchandise before the campaign closes. Featuring Black Printed Classic Baseball Caps, professionally printed in the USA.

Come visit us today at this great event in Detroit!

Check out our pup approved merchandise on Bonfire and help support the Humane Training Alliance!!! 🐕🐩🐈

We've been hard at work connecting adopters with certified science-based trainers and always need more funds for informational handouts and rack cards that are displayed at shelters and vet clinics!

https://www.bonfire.com/wear-your-values-help-dogs-thrive/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKb4kJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHg1jGxWpkXdFNEj4uTcnAIvXQc1KDlrBD2FaVCuENRdMTq8oLr5RjRDqqJEF_aem_473e7ofqvd0Ek-KPcQs7gQ

WOW 🤩
We originally set the goal for 25 shirts/hoodies sold and surpassed it on day 3 of the campaign! We raised it to 50 👕 and we are now only 7 items away from that goal, with 6 days still left 🤯
We are blown away by the support for our project!
We also had so much great feedback at two events this past weekend, so we are really feeling the love 🥰
Thanks everyone for making this dream a reality, and spreading the word about progressive & modern approaches to animal training and behavior modification! 😽

Wear your values & help dogs thrive! | Bonfire Build a better future for animals?help fund a directory of qualified and ethical trainers.. By purchasing a shirt or hoodie, you're helping support the Humane Training...

Thanks so much Artsy Abbie for doing this awesome fundraiser for the HTA!

We are here at the Humane Society of Huron Valley Walk, Wag, and Run Event!! Come check it out!!! 🐩🐕‍🦺🐕

Hope to see everyone at the Humane Society of Huron Valley Walk & Wag event tomorrow! HTA will have a table with information, clickers, caricature drawings of your pets, aversive equipment exchange, and a raffle for a free training session with a certified trainer 🎉🐾🐶

The moment you've all been waiting for... the official launch of HTA MERCH!
For every item ordered, we get about 6 bucks that goes directly towards our mission of making humane training the norm. Please snag something for yourself & share it widely 😄

Wear your values & help dogs thrive! | Bonfire Build a better future for animals—help fund a directory of qualified and ethical trainers.. By purchasing a shirt or hoodie, you're helping support the Humane Training...

Can’t wait to participate in these awesome events this weekend!

Walk & Wag - Humane Society Of Huron Valley
Saturday May 17th 8am - 1pm
Rolling Hills County Park
Featuring fun games, performances by the Super Collies, raffles, 1 mile walk, and 5k run!
https://facebook.com/events/s/walk-wag-and-run-2025/687356303695685/

Best Adoption Event Ever!
Sunday May 18th 12pm-3pm
Meadowbrook Amphitheater
Featuring dog and cat adoptions, FREE pet stuff, food, entertainment and more!
https://facebook.com/events/s/best-adoption-event-ever/628584313504011/

Come check them out and say hi to us! 🐶🐾🤗