IS CIDBT FOR ME?
A million and one questions…
Am I too old, am I too young, is this the right career for me… Yep, we know a million and one questions come to mind. We’ve tried our best to put together a bunch of these thoughts with the aim of relieving those anxieties or queries! This is a not an FAQ page, this is an all-about-you page.
Am I too old?
Am I too young?
What methods will I be taught?
Unlike many other organisations we do not have a fixed ideology – we are open to sharing (and learning) all methods. It’s not the ‘CIDBT way’ or ‘no way’. We know what works from years in professional practice and bring that to the table – you don’t have to adopt it or follow it and we realise more than most that there are so many amazing ways to train a dog and we encourage you to explore every avenue and to add as many methods as possible to your ‘tool box’ of knowledge and methods.
Will I be out of my depth?
We suspect not. With limited experience – you are advised to start on the level 4 courses. If you jump straight to level 5 you may feel swamped and not get the best from the experience. If you are unsure about where to start, feel free to contact us and we can help guide you.
Will I be the only man / woman on the workshop?
So what if you are? Although we highly doubt it – we generally have a wide mix of ages and genders on our workshops. Typically, the workshops will be guided by a male and a female tutor/assistant. After a few minutes in the CIDBT environment – you will be enjoying the experience and company of your peers, so you won’t be thinking of anything other than enjoying yourself and learning!
Will my dog’s behaviour let me down?
Maybe, but only in your mind. We are not here to assess your dog – we have all obtained rescue dogs – had genetically difficult dogs to manage and train and had some inherently easy dogs to work with. We are here to teach – not judge.
Will I get asked questions in front of others?
No way! We operate an open learning environment for you to participate as you wish. Ask as many questions as you like – answer as many as you like and if you just wish to sit and observe, that is totally fine too! You will never have a question directed specifically at you on a workshop with CIDBT.
Can I really make a career out of this?
Yes – have a look at our testimonials page – we have hundreds of students who joined CIDBT with very little knowledge that are now running successful businesses.
I am dyslexic – will I be judged for grammatical errors?
Not at all. Our tutors mark content in relation to dog behaviour and training – spelling errors or misuse of commas/full-stops etc will not be remarked upon.
Why do I have to start with dog training when I want to be a behaviourist?
Because to be a successful dog behaviourist, you have to be able to handle and train dogs of all breeds. Some dogs that you may encounter have serious aggression issues towards people and if you do not have the appropriate handling and training ability it can be very unsafe for you and detrimental to the likely outcome for your clients.
How do you choose your tutors?
Easily! They have to have a minimum of 10 years working full time in dog behaviour and training (and they still do work full-time in addition to tutoring with us!) You can view our tutors here and go on and view their own websites.
What qualifications do I need to start a business?
Officially – you don’t need any at present, you can set up a website and start today – morally this, of course, is contemptible.
Can I speak to people or is it all just online?
It’s definitely not just online! We love to chat. Any questions before enrolment, you can request a call from one of our admin team or a tutor. Once you enrol you will be assigned a tutor and given their contact details, enabling you to schedule a call or Zoom with them directly.
I want to be a dog trainer, which course do I start with?
It somewhat depends on your experience to date. You can discuss that with one of our course advisors or plan your career journey here
I want to gain a Diploma/Qualification, do you offer these?
We do offer Qualifications through the Open College Network West Midlands (OCN) that sit on the national qualifications framework. Not all courses are qualifications and so it is best to check with a course advisor or plan your own journey.
Will I have to buy anything else once I have enrolled on a course?
Sometimes yes – we have recommended reading material and some mandatory viewing, however, the majority of which are subsidised for CIDBT Students.
I live abroad; can I complete your courses?
Of course you can! Distance learning phases are sent via email and you can arrange a call or Zoom with your tutor should you wish. However – you will need to get to the UK for the workshops that many of our courses contain. To date we have had students from Dubai, South Africa, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Norway, Iceland, Australia, China, USA, Singapore amongst others. There may also be an opportunity for a bespoke workshop on our FAST TRACK programme, which may suit you to save on travel.
Do the courses involve essay writing?
Yes, many of our courses do include essay writing, we are looking for good content, referenced where applicable. No need to worry though, clear guidance is given and full support from your tutor(s) if you have any concerns or questions.
How much prior experience with dogs do I need to start a course?
This depends on which course you take, if you take the more advanced courses, experience is recommended, but not mandatory. No experience is necessary on the intermediate or starter levels. If you are unsure CONTACT US
What route do I need to take in order to be able to be in a position to start taking on some actual cases?
Most of our students start working at low levels after 3 or 4 courses. However, each person and their journey is different…start your journey here
Does independent learning from home mean that I am just literally left to get on with it?
Not at all – there is help and advice at your fingertips, your tutor will work with you and support you as much as you need as you work through the course – in fact, the more you use your tutor the more learning you will get out of the course!
There seems to be quite a few course providers offering different approaches to dog behavioural issues, what makes the CIDBT different and how will it help me as a practitioner?
At the CIDBT we do not dictate, we encourage learning in all aspects of dog training and behaviour, we encourage the learner to study all methods to enable them to choose which approach works for them. Our tutors are highly experienced in all methods and approaches and as such are able to give unbiased information, together with working in their own rights within the fields of what they teach, making them well placed to provide up to date information and real life experiences. Our ethos is that you have to keep an open mind and work with the individual dog and person in front of you.
Need more info?
For everything you need to know about enrolment, oversees students access, information about our tutors and more please visit our information hub.
