The average pet owner isn’t a professional dog trainer. A person who works with highly trained dogs under unusual circumstances is referred to as a dog trainer. Some handlers are professionals, but the majority are inexperienced. Others are trained to handle a dog that has already been trained, so they may train the dog they work with.
A professional who presents dogs for judging at dog shows, where they are evaluated for physical characteristics, is known as a show dog handler. He usually trains and grooms the dogs he shows, and the dogs of his clients frequently stay in his kennels while they are being shown. A professional organization collaborates with the national kennel club in many countries to establish and maintain handler standards.
Narcotics detection, explosive detection, specialized searches, and combat tracking are the four main areas in which military dogs are used. They serve as sentinels, messengers, and scouts, among other things. Each dog is assigned to a handler who has been trained to work with it. Military dog handlers with a lot of experience can become trainers for both dogs and new handlers. Military dogs and handlers now assist with homeland security as well.
A volunteer search and rescue (SAR) dog handler has usually trained his own dog in special search techniques. Tracking, site searches, and cadaver detection are all skills that SAR dogs are taught. Advanced first aid and rescue procedures must be taught to this type of handler.
Professional handlers train assistance dogs to assist people with disabilities. Assistance dog trainers usually specialize in one or two types of training. Other specializations include hearing assistance, seizure prediction, and general assistance. Guide dogs for the blind are a well-known type of assistance dog, but other specializations include hearing assistance, seizure prediction, and general assistance. When working in public, assistance dogs are required to wear identification and are permitted to enter areas where pets are not permitted.
A stock dog handler herds and manages other animals with the help of a dog or a team of dogs. Sheep dogs are the most common, but stock dogs also herd cattle and other animals, including geese and ducks on occasion. Typically, the herding dog’s handler is also the dog’s owner. Herding is now a competitive sport, with many handlers and dogs competing in trials.
A therapy dog handler is typically a volunteer who takes his dog to visit the elderly, the sick and injured, and others who could benefit from some canine company. Both the dog and the handler have undergone extensive training and certification. Therapy dogs must also be in excellent health.