Becoming a dog trainer: routes, training and costs
There is no state-regulated training to become a dog trainer. Anyone wanting to work commercially does, however, need a permit from the competent authority, usually the veterinary office. This page shows the routes and what they cost according to public sources.
- § 11 TierSchG permit before the first customer
- Four routes compared, with prices and dates
- Six steps in a sensible order
- Open questions only your office can answer
The essentials first
No state training
There is no uniformly regulated training route. You choose between courses from chambers of commerce (IHK), academies and dog schools.
Permit for the business
Anyone who commercially trains dogs for third parties or instructs owners needs the permit under § 11 TierSchG, before the activity starts.
Expertise counts
The veterinary office checks whether you have the expertise. Without a recognised qualification, this usually happens in a technical interview.
What exactly the veterinary office requires is explained in the guide to the permit under § 11 TierSchG.
Six steps to becoming a dog trainer
Set your goal
Part-time, self-employed full-time or employed at a dog school? This determines how much training, time and money you plan for.
Ask the veterinary office early
Before enrolling in a course, ask which proof your local office requires and whether it accepts the qualification. Implementation varies by federal state and authority.
Choose a course or exam
Compare scope, practical share, exam and total costs. Check whether VAT is included in the price.
Gain practical experience
The IHK course in Potsdam, for example, requires 350 hours of practical training and partly credits professional experience. The interview at the veterinary office also often has a practical part.
Apply for the permit
If you become self-employed: allow at least six months. The statutory period is four months and can be extended by up to two; missing documents do not count towards it. You may not start commercially before then.
Start a business or apply for jobs
If you will be employed: ask the school and the authority whether the business permit is sufficient and whether you must be registered as a responsible person. The information on this is not consistent. If you become self-employed, business registration, tax office, insurance and prices follow. These steps are covered in the start-up guide.
Four routes and what they cost
These are examples from public sources, not a recommendation or a complete market overview. Always check prices and VAT with the provider.
| Route | Scope | Costs | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| IHK Potsdam / BHV: dog educator and behaviour consultant (IHK) | 360 teaching hours of theory, 350 practical hours, one-day practical assessment | €5,760 theory, €640 assessment, up to €3,675 BHV practice; up to €10,075 in total | Page undated, accessed 5 Nov 2026; Gründerplattform mentions about €8,750 |
| ATN Akademie: dog trainer distance course | 24 months, internal institute exam, approved by the ZFU | €6,366 according to the ZFU entry; Gründerplattform gives approx. €6,000 | ZFU accessed 5 Nov 2026 |
| Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians: certification | Exam rather than training: theory, technical interview, practical | €210 + €200 + €250 + €50 certificate = €710 | Fee schedule valid from 01.01.2025; the 2021 examination regulations only mention applicants from Lower Saxony |
| Technical interview at the veterinary office | Case-by-case assessment, often with a practical part | No nationwide price; you pay the fees yourself, ask the office for the amount | varies by authority |
Open questions you should clarify
Does the 2015 recognition still apply?
In 2015 the Bavarian environment ministry wrote that the federal states had agreed to treat the certifications of the Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein Chambers of Veterinarians and of IHK/BHV as equivalent. You will need to ask your office whether this still applies today.
What will your technical interview cost?
There is no nationwide figure, and we did not find a reliable overview. Ask your veterinary office for the fee before you apply.
How much of the income is left?
The public range states neither the period nor whether it is before or after costs. So calculate with your own numbers.
Frequently asked questions
- Is dog trainer a protected profession?
- No. Training is not uniformly regulated by the state in Germany. Courses are offered by chambers of commerce (IHK), academies and dog schools, among others. Legally, what matters most is whether you obtain the permit under § 11 of the German Animal Welfare Act for commercial activity.
- Do I need a permit to work as a dog trainer?
- Yes, if you commercially and self-employed train dogs for others or instruct their owners. You may only start once the permit has been granted; without it you risk a fine of up to 25,000 euros. If you will be employed, ask the school and the authority whether the business permit is sufficient. Evidence and process are covered in the guide to the permit under § 11 TierSchG.
- How much does dog trainer training cost?
- That depends heavily on the provider. The examples on this page range from 6,366 euros for a distance course to 10,075 euros for an IHK course with practical training. The certification exam alone at the Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians costs 710 euros, but it is not a training course.
- Does a qualification automatically prove expertise?
- No, you should not rely on that. Without a recognised qualification, expertise is assessed case by case, usually in a technical interview. So ask your veterinary office whether it accepts the qualification before you enrol in a course.
- How much does a dog trainer earn?
- We have not found an official figure. Gründerplattform gives an income range of 1,000 to 2,000 euros part-time and 2,000 to 4,500 euros full-time. However, it does not say what period this covers or whether it is before or after costs and taxes. So treat the figures only as a rough guide.
Sources
All online sources accessed on 5 November 2026.
- § 11 German Animal Welfare Act
- § 21 Animal Welfare Act, transitional rule on expertise
- § 18 German Animal Welfare Act, fines
- Bavarian State Parliament, printed paper 17/8925 (reply of 5 Nov 2015)
- IHK Potsdam: dog educator and behaviour consultant (IHK)
- ZFU: dog trainer training, approval no. 7247212
- Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians: fee schedule (valid from 1 Jan 2025)
- Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians: exam regulations (as of 30 Aug 2021)
- Gründerplattform: becoming a dog trainer (price examples as of March 2026)
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. The information from your local veterinary office is binding.
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