The Academy For Dog Trainers
The Academy for Dog Trainers is a virtual online university founded in 1999 by Jean Donaldson that offers a two-year professional Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) plus supplementary courses to aspiring and practicing dog trainers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBrentwood, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Academy For Dog Trainers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Academy For Dog Trainers
- Legal name
- The Academy for Dog Trainers LLC
- Website
- https://academyfordogtrainers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Academy for Dog Trainers is a virtual online university founded in 1999 by Jean Donaldson that offers a two-year professional Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) plus supplementary courses to aspiring and practicing dog trainers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Academy For Dog Trainers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Dog Training Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (61171), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM), Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM)
Keywords
Where The Academy For Dog Trainers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brentwood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Academy For Dog Trainers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Course Enrollment Fees: Students pay for individual courses including Introduction to Dog Training ($20), Counseling Pet Dog Clients ($219), and Resources for Shelters and Rescue ($219). The flagship CTC (Certificate in Training and Counseling) is a 2-year part-time professional course with tuition comparable to shorter courses with multiple hidden fees.
- Professional Course (CTC): Two-year part-time professional certification course. Tuition provides value compared to shorter courses. Includes post-grad support with discussion forums and back catalog of hundreds of hours of content.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Introduction to Dog Training - Introductory course for those not ready to commit to professional training |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Counseling Pet Dog Clients - Course on client motivation and coaching to resolve cases and grow business |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Resources for Shelters and Rescue - Materials for shelter and rescue staff and volunteers |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | CTC (Certificate in Training and Counseling) - Flagship 2-year professional certification course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Academy For Dog Trainers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Academy for Dog Trainers is a virtual, online university that delivers professional dog training education led by founder Jean Donaldson. Its core offering is the two-year, part-time Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) flagship course, complemented by shorter standalone courses (Introduction to Dog Training, Client Counseling, Shelter & Rescue) and free public resources such as the Husbandry Project training plans. All instruction is delivered online via a learning management system featuring video assignment submissions, coaching notes, discussion forums, and study groups, with post-graduate access to a back catalog of content.
Product overview
The Academy for Dog Trainers is a virtual, online university offering professional dog training education led by world-renowned expert Jean Donaldson. The flagship product is the Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC), a two-year part-time professional course. The institution also offers supplementary courses including Introduction to Dog Training, Client Counseling, and Shelter & Rescue, along with free resources like The Husbandry Project. Additional offerings include a blog and a referral list connecting certified graduates with dog owners seeking training services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC)
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates run thriving businesses, hold top positions at professional organizations, and are invited to speak at conferences
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Academy For Dog Trainers
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Academy For Dog Trainers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Academy For Dog Trainers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Academy For Dog Trainers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Susan Garrett's Dog Agility / Dogs That Want More: Susan Garrett's online dog training platform offers structured, video-based courses for trainers and handlers, overlapping with the Academy for Dog Trainers' virtual delivery and trainer-development focus.
- Companion Animal Sciences Institute: CASI offers distance-learning diploma and certificate programs in canine behavior, training, and applied animal behavior — directly comparable to the Academy for Dog Trainers' virtual, certification-oriented delivery model.
- Karen Pryor Academy: The Karen Pryor Academy is a leading dog training professional certification school offering clicker-based, force-free training programs — directly competing with the Academy for Dog Trainers in the same narrow niche of professional dog trainer education.
- National K-9 Learning Center: National K-9 offers professional dog trainer instruction programs, including on-site and remote formats — competing for the same population of aspiring professional trainers with comparable hands-on curriculum.
- Animal Behavior Institute: The Animal Behavior Institute provides online certification programs in animal training and behavior, including canine specialization tracks, making it a direct competitor in virtual animal training education.
- CATCH Canine Trainers Academy: CATCH offers a structured, mentor-based dog trainer certification program, competing in the same professional dog trainer education category with comparable curriculum and certification outcomes.
- Starmark Academy (Dog Training Center): Starmark Academy delivers professional dog trainer education programs, including remote/online tracks, positioning it as another direct competitor in the canine professional certification space.
- Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior: The Victoria Stilwell Academy offers professional positive-reinforcement dog trainer certification programs online, directly competing for the same aspiring and professional dog trainer customer base as the Academy for Dog Trainers.
Broad incumbents
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC): IAABC is a professional credentialing body for animal behavior consultants across species, overlapping with the Academy's audience of trainers pursuing advanced certifications and CEUs in behavior modification.
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT): APDT is the largest professional association for dog trainers and offers continuing education, conferences, and CEU programs — an industry-wide incumbent that touches the same customer base and sets standards the Academy must align with.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Academy For Dog Trainers social profiles
Digital presenceThe Academy For Dog Trainers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Academy For Dog Trainers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Academy For Dog Trainers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Academy For Dog Trainers 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 The Academy For Dog Trainers
What does The Academy For Dog Trainers do?
The Academy for Dog Trainers is a virtual, online university that delivers professional dog training education led by founder Jean Donaldson. Its core offering is the two-year, part-time Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) flagship course, complemented by shorter standalone courses (Introduction to Dog Training, Client Counseling, Shelter & Rescue) and free public resources such as the Husbandry Project training plans. All instruction is delivered online via a learning management system featuring video assignment submissions, coaching notes, discussion forums, and study groups, with post-graduate access to a back catalog of content.
Is The Academy For Dog Trainers a public or private company?
The Academy For Dog Trainers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Academy For Dog Trainers founded?
The Academy For Dog Trainers was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Academy For Dog Trainers based?
The Academy For Dog Trainers is headquartered in Brentwood, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Academy For Dog Trainers make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are professional Course (CTC).
Who are The Academy For Dog Trainers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Susan Garrett's Dog Agility / Dogs That Want More, Companion Animal Sciences Institute, Karen Pryor Academy, National K-9 Learning Center, Animal Behavior Institute, CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, Starmark Academy (Dog Training Center) and Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior. Broad incumbents are International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).
Does The Academy For Dog Trainers have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Academy For Dog Trainers.
What industry is The Academy For Dog Trainers in?
The Academy For Dog Trainers's product category is Professional Dog Training Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMAAAI, Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services, with a secondary code of BPACANAM, Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.