Want to become a professional dog trainer? Passionate about dogs? Learn about becoming a professional dog trainer through Petiquette’s Professional Dog Trainer Program.

Jim Burwell's Petiquette offers a six week course consisting of both academic instruction AND hands on dog obedience and dog behavior modification  training instruction which will prepare you for an exciting career as a professional dog trainer.

The benefits of our Professional Dog Trainer Program are:

• Petiquette has no more than 2 students at a time, most schools and academies for dog training have classrooms with 15-25 students. Your education is personalized. You are one of two, not one of many.
• Your instructor is Jim Burwell, a locally and nationally acclaimed dog trainer.  Section Chair for Training of Pet Care Services Association, formerly ABKA,  2003 named Houston's Dog Whisperer by the Texas Magazine,(link will open in new window)  Past President Lone Star Search and Rescue, Voted best dog trainer by reader of the Houston Press, Member of APDT and IACP,  founder of the first premier million dollar pet resort in Houston, Tx.  trained dogs for stage show productions, commercials and TV. 25 years of experience, trained 20,000 dogs and counting!

Our Mission Statement:

We will provide the best pet dog obedience training and behavior modification training for our students. We will do this in a way that will foster the continuous improvement of our company and our students. Our overall purpose is to teach our students to be exceptional dogs trainers using the Burwell Method which in turn helps keep dogs in their forever homes and helps owners achieve peaceful rewarding enduring relationships with their dogs.

Our Program:

Jim Burwell's Petiquette offers a six week course consisting of both academic instruction AND hands on dog obedience training and dog behavior modifiiction instruction which will prepare you for an exciting career as a professional dog trainer.
Our course is broken down into 3 sections: academics, hands on dog obedience and behavior modification  training, and business and marketing.

SECTION A Course Academics
During this section of our course you will be instructed and tested on the behavioral science which teaches you how dogs learn. The academics are the basis for everything that follows. The academics will include assigned reading, daily discussion of dogs and their behavior and of course, weekly testing on your accumulated knowledge. This is a significant section of your overall grade.  We will cover:

• How dogs learn and the understanding of the behavioral science addressing that.
• Classical and operant conditioning.
• You will study how this learning theory has evolved and changed over the years.
• The importance of applying psychological principles in dog training.
• The reasons for and value of client-centered counseling and what that means.
• Problem solving behavior issues in dogs.
• Learn the different kinds of aggression.
• Different methods for problem solving aggression in dogs.
• Prevention, cure and management of aggression.
• Learn the difference between fearful dogs and those that have developed phobias.
• Techniques used in modifying disorders like separation anxiety.
• Understanding how to work with multiple-dog households, and the problems that often develop and the workable solutions.

SECTION B Hands on Basic Dog Obedience Training and Dog Behavior Modification Training
In this section of our course we bring in a shelter dog that you will train for the entire 6 weeks. These dogs have no training at all which gives you the opportunity to go from a rowdy, untrained dog to a well trained dog, suitable for adoption. All shelter dogs that are trained during our course are highly adoptable and to date all have been adopted into wonderful home. It's a win for you and a win for the dogs!  We cover:

• Basic obedience exercises (sit, down, heel, stay, place, come when called and walking on a loose leash.
• How to use different types of training equipment (collars, gentle leaders, harnesses.)
• Hand signals, their benefits and when to use them
• How to begin off leash training with an on leash trained dog.
• Obedience training dogs around high levels of distractions
• Clicker Training:
• Principles of clicker training.
• Benefits of using a clicker.
• Conditioning a dog to the clicker.
• Generalizing behaviors using the clicker
• Fading out food treats and the clicker and much, much more
• How to use a clicker in conjunction with solving behavior problems.

Real Life Applications of the Principles of Behavior Modification (more hands-on)
This is where your participation in, and observation of, Jim Burwell in actual client lessons will benefit you like no other dog training course.
Students will be introduced to basic canine behavior and behavior modification techniques in a client's home.   We cover:

• How clients actually present their issues to Jim
• Prevention of behavior problems in dogs.
• Symptoms, causes, and treatment for behavior problems
• How to use different methods and techniques to solve behavior problems.
• How to deal with common adolescent behavior problems like pulling, jumping up, barking, and much more.
• How to consult with clients and evaluate their dog's behavior problems
• Logical remedy plan development for behavior problems
• Integrating the plan into the family lifestyle for dogs and their owners
• Learn how to distinguish between behavioral problems that can be fixed and those that must be managed for the life of the dog.
• How to approach a fearful, dominant or submissive dog by using canine body language to affect a more positive outcome.

Group Classes, Private Lessons, and Board and Train
Here students will be introduced to group class, private lesson instruction and benefits of board and train contracts starting off.  We cover:

• Group class organization and procedures. Audit and participation in group class as Jim instructs.
• How to teach clients basic obedience.
• Private lessons:
• Handling difficult clients.
• Evaluation/review of dog problem or client need
• Structuring private lessons and compiling a plan based on client needs
• How to structure and obedience train dogs in a "board and train" setting
• Contracts, client and dog evaluation, programming the work and the go-home lesson. Here we discuss different options.
• How to introduce dogs to other dogs
• Advantages and disadvantages of private lessons, group class and board and train
• Learn how different training techniques can compliment each other.

It's All About Puppies The learning continues.  We cover:

• How to start puppies off on the right foot and avoid problems
• Puppy socialization and the importance of starting it early.
• House training a puppy
• Crate training puppies.
• Obedience training puppies.
• Puppy proofing puppy's new home.
• Psychological development in a puppy and the critical stages and implications.
• The effects of genetics and environment on a puppy
• The critical socialization and imprinting period for a puppy
• Temperaments and drives in puppies and their influence on a puppy's behavior.
• Puppy kindergarten classes
• The importance of starting puppy training early.
• Proper introduction of a young dog into a new environment

SECTION C Business and Marketing.  In this section of the course we cover:

• Marketing techniques that work in today's world - local marketing
• How to properly handle incoming inquiries and close sales.
• How to structure your sales to maximize cash flow.
• We will review how to set up your in-home dog training office, the value of a client data base.
• We discuss: How to advertise and market your new business, personal networking, print and internet advertising - what works and why.

Be A Dog Trainer Testimonial from Jim Burwell on Vimeo.

After Graduation

There are numerous business opportunities to explore that will allow you to get the most out of your training and experience that you received here with Jim Burwell. What you choose to do with your newly developed skill set will, to a large extent depend on your business background, personal initiative and work ethic. Many pet resorts, retail pet stores and kennels are looking for great trainers to add another revenue stream to their business through offerings of group class, board and train or private lessons on behavior counseling. You can also set yourself up in business to do in home dog training as Jim Burwell has successfully done for the past 25 years.

Become A Dog Trainer Testimonial from Jim Burwell on Vimeo.

Course and pricing

The Course

This course is 6 weeks of training, 5 days a week. It is divided into sections: academics (reading and testing), hands on training (with shelter dogs) and practical behavior modification (with Jim’s clients.) You will be tested on the academics, how well you trained your assigned dogs and your abilities to evaluate and consult with clients – all under Jim’s supervision.

The Cost

The tuition is $5,800 for 6 weeks of comprehensive training.  This includes books and equipment, does not include room and board.  Here are two options for accommodations:

• Lakeview RV Resort: A secure gated facility with furnished 1 or 2 bedroom air conditioned rv’s or cabins, recreation center with washer/dryer. Located 5 minutes from Petiquette. For information or reservations please go to this link: www.lakeviewrvresort.com/cabin.htm
• There are a few close extended stay hotels that have rooms with a study desk, mini kitchen, washer/dryer. 10 minutes from Petiquette. Check out the following: www.extendedstayamerica.com, 1301 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston, TX. Their phone is 713.794.0800.  Or Extended Stay America @ 1302 LaConcha Lane, Houston, TX.  Their phone # is 713.790.9753.   They have the most reasonable rates and they are clean and convenient to stores and other amenities.

For Information and How to Apply:

For More Information: For questions, more information or class start dates call 713.728.0610 or email us at info@petiquettedog.com. So you too can hear "Opportunity Barking!"

To Apply: Simply click here for our downloadable application. Once completed simply fax it to us at 713.728.0644, email it to jim@petiquettedog.com or mail it to us: Jim Burwell’s Petiquette, 5126 Hummingbird St., Houston, TX 77035.