Animal trainers train animals to work, perform, or serve as companions.

Animal trainers help teach animals to do desired behaviors and stop doing undesired behaviors. For example, they may train dogs to walk-nicely on leash, stop barking, search for drugs, or guide blind people. They may train horses for show, racing, or working. In addition, trainers may teach animals to perform. They may train dolphins to find and retrieve objects. They may teach other animals to sit, stand, beg, or perform other tricks on cue. Trainers usually specialize in one type of animal and one type of training program.

Regardless of the type of animal they train or the purpose of the training, animal trainers must know how to do many of the same things:

Identify suitable animals

Animal trainers must find animals to teach. They may breed their own animals, buy animals, or adopt them from animal shelters. Before choosing animals, trainers evaluate them to determine whether they are trainable.

Training practices

Trainers begin by getting animals used to human voice and contact. Most training involves getting the animals to respond to hand, voice, and physical commands. Training is a slow process and trainers must be patient.

Animal psychology

Trainers must understand the psychology of the animals they train. Once animals are trained, trainers may also need to teach the animals' owners. They may train a horse and its rider, or a dog and its human handler.

Animal care

Training animals is only part of a trainer's tasks. They must also care for animals. Trainers who keep animals while they are being trained must also feed the animals, exercise them, give them medicine, and clean their kennels, stables, or other living areas. They keep records of diet, health, and behavior. Trainers who have large facilities may have animal caretakers who do animal maintenance tasks. Trainers may hire, train, and supervise these workers.