AnimalBehaviorCollege
Fact Sheet
Founded
AnimalBehaviorCollege (ABC) was founded in Southern Californiain 1998 by dog training expert Steven Appelbaum, and it is the largest animal career vocational school of its kind in North America.
Mission
ABC’s mission is to help educate people whoare passionate about making a career out of doing what they love - working with animals. The vocational programs act as a bridge allowing animal lovers to engage in fulfilling, life-long careers.
Courses
Certified Dog Trainer Instructor Program
(Launched in 1998)
Graduates of this course will be deemedAnimal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainers (ABCDT). Certified trainers are able to hold group classes and private lessons,practice behavior modification, and advance their careers further by working in more specialized fields such as service dog training.
Dog Trainer Facts
The average dog trainer works with 200 paying clients each year. The typical dog training client spends $69-$85 on pet products after three lessons with a dog trainer. In one year 1200 dog trainers will work with approximately 240,000 students and those students will spend roughly$16,560,000.
Certified Veterinary Assistant Program
(Launched in 2008)
Graduates of this course will be deemed Animal Behavior College Certified Veterinary Assistants (ABCVA).Certified Veterinary Assistants will be able to work in a variety of different animal care fields including veterinary hospitals and clinics. The average yearly veterinary cost for pet owners in the United States is $366 per pet.
Certified Pet Grooming Instruction Program
(Launched in 2010)
Graduates of this course will be deemed Animal Behavior College Professional Groomers (ABCCPG). A professional grooming career affords animal enthusiasts a creative and artistic profession that is also fulfilling as it contributes to the overall health and well-being of a variety of animals.
Student Statistics (as of January 2013)
Enrollments
ABC total student body–22.894 students
Dog Trainer Course -15,763students
Veterinary Assistant Course –5,585students
Pet Groomer Course – 1,544students
Alumni Members
(Alumni group founded 2005)
8,932 ABC Alumni
90% of ABC graduateshave become ABC Alumni memberssince its formation. The ABC alumni make up the largest group of certified dog trainers in North America.
Company Growth
In its first year, ABC enrolled a modest 35 students. Between 2004 and 2006, ABC grew 53% with 2006 setting records in profits and enrollments. In 2007, ABC enrolled over 1,800 students and nearly 2,500 in 2008. Despite the harsh economy, enrollments reached 2,871 in 2009, 2,965 in 2010, 3,863 in 2011, and 3,985 in 2012. 2013 is expected to show even more growth.
Unique Course Structure
The ABC programs are11-stage courses that feature an in-home study component along with a hands-on training module. The first nine stages are mastered by the student online with the guidance of a Program Manager. Stage 10 is the externship stage where students get “real world” experience with industry professionals. ABC has a network of over 800Mentor Trainers, 600 grooming facilities and 1,800veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada who work with students during their externship.
Externship Coordinators set students up either with a professional dog trainer, a veterinary clinic, or a grooming salon depending on the program in which they are enrolled. During their externship, students complete a specified amount of required practical hours before moving on to stage 11, which is when they take the final exam and graduate.
“Students Saving Lives”
Research shows that 1.8 million dogs are surrendered to shelters every year by their owners.A high percentage of these surrenders can be linked to untreated behavior problems. Through the “Students Saving Lives”program at ABC, all dog training students are asked to complete at least ten hours of volunteer training time at their local animal shelter or rescue group. Since 2004, over 7,600 ABC students have donated over 84,000 hoursof volunteer training at shelters all across North Americato help train and socialize dogs giving them a greater chance of adoption. That number continues to grow with each new student.
Nationwide Program
Allof ABC’s courses are available internationally, in all fifty states and every Canadian province.
Websites
Media contact:
Teresa Mathers
888-338-7778