Animal Behavior College
Animal Behavior College is the largest animal career vocational school in North America, offering eight hybrid online-plus-externship certification programs (dog training, veterinary assisting, grooming, cat training, aquarium maintenance, zookeeper assisting, service dog training) to individuals pursuing animal care careers across the US and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersNorth Hills, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Animal Behavior College does
Animal Behavior College (ABC) is a private vocational school operating as a doing-business-as name under Peterson's LLC, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Valencia, California. It is the largest animal career training institution in North America, offering eight certification programs: Dog Obedience Instructor (ABCDT), Veterinary Assistant (NAVTA-approved), Grooming Instruction, Cat Management and Training (ABCCT), Aquarium Maintenance, Zookeeper Assistant, Service Dog Trainer, and Continuing Education / Short Term Programs. The company has produced more than 37,000 graduates cumulatively, including over 18,600 ABCDT-certified dog trainers. Programs are priced between $1,399 and $5,647 depending on tier, with pay-in-full, 12-month, 24-month, and third-party-financed payment plans and no credit checks.
ABC delivers its programs via a hybrid online-plus-externship model: students complete self-paced digital curricula (e.g., 11-module, 950+ page dog training curriculum with 29 instructional videos) and then fulfill in-person hands-on externships at a network of over 11,000 mentor training facilities across all 50 US states and every Canadian province, supplemented by 5,600+ veterinary facility partners and 3,200+ grooming facility partners. The platform is direct-to-consumer, with enrollment handled online and via phone-based admissions counseling (800-795-3294); ABC sells primarily to individuals seeking careers in animal care, with a secondary segment of military veterans and spouses leveraging GI Bill benefits. Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time tuition fees, with a $75 application fee and modest alumni-driven partner discounts (Nationwide Pet Insurance, Vistaprint, Spreadshirt, Andis, Groomer's Choice).
The company holds BPPE approval (California Private Postsecondary Education Act), BBB A+ accreditation, and endorsements from NAVTA, CCPDT, IAABC, NADOI, and IACP. In September 2025, ABC was acquired by Peterson's to scale operations and enhance offerings under Peterson's educational infrastructure. Alumni receive lifetime certification, access to a private job board and ABCDT directory, discounted business insurance, and branded merchandise, creating a long-tail post-enrollment value stream.
Animal Behavior College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Animal Behavior College
- Legal name
- Peterson's LLC
- Website
- https://animalbehaviorcollege.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Animal Behavior College is the largest animal career vocational school in North America, offering eight hybrid online-plus-externship certification programs (dog training, veterinary assisting, grooming, cat training, aquarium maintenance, zookeeper assisting, service dog training) to individuals pursuing animal care careers across the US and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Animal Behavior College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education and Career Training
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI), Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE), Wildlife & Animal Care Volunteering (EDAIAGAE)
Keywords
Where Animal Behavior College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Animal Behavior College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Dog Obedience Instructor Program Tuition: One-time tuition fees for dog trainer certification program with multiple payment plan options including pay-in-full discount, 12-month, and 24-month installment plans. Tuition ranges from $2,899 to $5,647 depending on payment arrangement.
- Veterinary Assistant Program Tuition: One-time tuition fees for veterinary assistant certification program with multiple payment plan options. Tuition ranges from $1,399 to $5,630 depending on payment arrangement.
- Grooming Instruction Program Tuition: One-time tuition fees for dog grooming certification program including 30+ piece grooming toolkit. Tuition ranges from $3,499 to $5,647 depending on payment arrangement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Obedience Instructor - Pay in Full |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Dog Obedience Instructor - 12 Month Payment Plan |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Dog Obedience Instructor - 24 Month Payment Plan |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Dog Obedience Instructor - Third Party Financing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Veterinary Assistant - Pay in Full |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Veterinary Assistant - 12 Month Payment Plan |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Veterinary Assistant - 24 Month Payment Plan |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Veterinary Assistant - Third Party Financing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Grooming Program - Pay in Full |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Dog Grooming Program - 12 Month Payment Plan |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Dog Grooming Program - 24 Month Payment Plan |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Animal Behavior College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school that delivers hybrid online-plus-externship certification programs for animal care careers. Its curriculum spans eight programs—dog obedience instruction, veterinary assisting, dog grooming, cat training, aquarium maintenance, zookeeper assisting, and service dog training—combining digital coursework with hands-on training at a network of more than 11,000 partner facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Graduates receive industry-recognized credentials such as ABCDT, ABCCT, and pathways to NCMG.
Product overview
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school and the largest animal career training institution in North America, operating as a hybrid online-plus-externship platform. The company offers eight animal career training programs: Dog Obedience Instructor, Veterinary Assistant, Grooming Instruction, Cat Management and Training, Aquarium Maintenance, Zookeeper Assistant, and Service Dog Trainer programs. All programs combine online coursework with in-person externships at partner facilities (over 11,000 training locations including veterinary hospitals, grooming salons, and animal shelters). The portfolio is unified by a shared platform delivering digital curriculum, student support, and alumni services including job boards and professional directories. ABC was acquired by Peterson's in September 2025 and is approved by BPPE (California) with BBB A+ rating.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program A hybrid online and in-person dog trainer certification program with over 18,600 ABCDT-certified graduates since 1998. The program combines 11 online modules covering canine behavior, training techniques, and business building with an externship under a mentor trainer.
- Veterinary Assistant Program A NAVTA-approved hybrid veterinary assistant certification program available across the U.S. and Canada. The 11-module online curriculum covers office procedures, animal behavior, pharmacy, surgical prep, and nursing, followed by an externship at one of over 5,600 partner veterinary facilities.
- Grooming Instruction Program A 12-month hybrid dog grooming certification program that can lead to the National Certified Master Groomer (NCMG) credential. Includes 9 online modules, 150+ hours of hands-on externship at partner grooming facilities, and a 30+ piece professional grooming toolkit supplied by Groomer's Choice and Andis.
- Cat Management and Training Program An online cat trainer certification program combining web-based coursework with shelter experience. Teaches positive, effective methods for addressing feline behavioral challenges and awards the ABCCT (Animal Behavior College Certified Cat Trainer) designation.
- Aquarium Maintenance Program An online program training students to become aquarists and start their own aquarium maintenance companies. Covers fishkeeping, marine habitats, and professional aquarium care skills.
- Zookeeper Assistant Program An online zookeeper assistant certification introducing students to zoo animal care, conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, and zoological environments through comprehensive coursework.
- Service Dog Trainer Program A service dog trainer certification program popular with military veterans, covering training techniques for mobility assistance, PTSD support, and other disability assistance applications. Can be combined with the Dog Obedience Instructor program for discounted tuition.
- Continuing Education / Short Term Programs Supplemental programs available to alumni and enrolled students who have completed module 3, offering additional skills and certifications such as pet grooming extensions, service dog training, and other specialty credentials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 37,000 graduates have completed animal career training programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Animal Behavior College
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Animal Behavior College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature4 records
Animal Behavior College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Peterson'scoreAnimal Behavior College joined Peterson's in September 2025 to expand its career training programs in pet care. The acquisition allows ABC to leverage Peterson's expertise to scale its operations and enhance its offerings. Peterson's is a provider of educational resources.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Animal Behavior College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Companion Animal Sciences Institute: Online certificate-granting school for dog training, behavior, and pet nutrition; targets the same self-paced adult learner as ABC's hybrid programs.
- National K-9 Learning Center: In-person professional dog trainer school in Columbus, Ohio; competes for the same vocational dog-trainer cohort with hands-on, mentor-based instruction similar to ABC's externship model.
- Ashworth College: Online career diploma school with veterinary assisting and pet-related programs serving adult career-switchers; comparable to ABC in self-paced distance delivery and installment-plan tuition.
- CATCH Canine Trainers Academy: Hybrid and in-person dog trainer certification academy with mentor-based externships; closely mirrors ABC's dog training curriculum and apprentice-style delivery model.
- Karen Pryor Academy: Well-known force-free dog trainer certification program offering in-person and online pathways; competes directly with ABC's Dog Obedience Instructor program for the same aspiring-trainer audience.
- Animal Behavior Institute: Online animal behavior and training certificate programs targeting the same career-changer student as ABC's dog training and cat training programs, with comparable distance-learning delivery.
- US Career Institute: Distance-learning career school offering veterinary assisting and pet grooming programs; overlaps with ABC's Veterinary Assistant and Grooming Instruction programs on price, format, and audience.
- Starmark Academy: In-person dog training school in Texas offering professional dog trainer certifications; competes with ABC's Dog Obedience Instructor program for the same career-changer segment.
- Penn Foster: Online career-training school offering veterinary technician, pet grooming, and dog obedience programs via hybrid distance learning; directly comparable to ABC in delivery model, audience (adult career-seekers), and tuition/payment-plan structure.
Broad incumbents
- DoGenius (parent of Karen Pryor Academy): Broader dog training education and tools platform that owns Karen Pryor Academy; competes with ABC across the dog-trainer certification space and brings consumer-facing training content as an additional channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Animal Behavior College social profiles
Digital presenceAnimal Behavior College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Animal Behavior College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Animal Behavior College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Animal Behavior College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Animal Behavior College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Animal Behavior College
What does Animal Behavior College do?
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school that delivers hybrid online-plus-externship certification programs for animal care careers. Its curriculum spans eight programs—dog obedience instruction, veterinary assisting, dog grooming, cat training, aquarium maintenance, zookeeper assisting, and service dog training—combining digital coursework with hands-on training at a network of more than 11,000 partner facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Graduates receive industry-recognized credentials such as ABCDT, ABCCT, and pathways to NCMG.
Is Animal Behavior College a public or private company?
Animal Behavior College is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Animal Behavior College founded?
Animal Behavior College was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Animal Behavior College based?
Animal Behavior College is headquartered in North Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Animal Behavior College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dog Obedience Instructor Program Tuition is the primary driver. The others are veterinary Assistant Program Tuition and grooming Instruction Program Tuition.
Who are Animal Behavior College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Companion Animal Sciences Institute, National K-9 Learning Center, Ashworth College, CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, Karen Pryor Academy, Animal Behavior Institute, US Career Institute, Starmark Academy and Penn Foster. DoGenius (parent of Karen Pryor Academy) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Animal Behavior College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Animal Behavior College.
What industry is Animal Behavior College in?
Animal Behavior College's product category is Vocational Education and Career Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEALAN, Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab), with a secondary code of HLAMAAAI, Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.