• Alamy
    1 of 13

    It's back-to-school season, and kids aren't the only ones ready to learn. Every year, plenty of animals and their owners pick up new tricks and better behaviors thanks to trainers. To honor these teachers of creatures, we've rounded up 12 of the best trainers around. Remember: unlike school teachers, these guys don't get the summer off. 

  • AP
    2 of 13

    12. DAVE SALMONI

    Cats can seem hard to control, but imagine taking on a big cat. That's Dave Salmoni's job. Salmoni started working with tigers in 1998 at the Bowmanville Zoological Park. This work led him to create the controversial tiger "re-wilding" project in which he and a partner attempted to teach captive tigers how to stalk and hunt prey. The project had mixed results, but created a public figure out of Salmoni, who was featured in documentaries and TV shows following the project. 

  • LAURENTIU GAROFEANU/Barcroft Media /Landov
    3 of 13

    11. MARK AND DAWN DUMAS

    A stop by the Dumas house can be a wild experience. The couple trains animals of all sizes for film and television through their company, Beyond Just Bears. While the Dumas family may also train animals "beyond" bears, it is these big critters that have gained them the most attention. The couple has raised a polar bear and grizzly bear inside their home, allowing the animals to swim in the pool, wrestle with them and even visit the local pub.

  • Facebook: Barbara Heidenreich
    4 of 13

    10. BARBARA HEIDENREICH

    Barbara Heidenreich is the good kind of birdbrain. Since 1990, Heidenreich has dedicated her time and love to helping birds and their owners. The trainer has assisted zoos with all sorts of avian animals, started a company that offers bird behavioral services and tools, been awarded for her work and served as president of International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators for 12 years. If your parrot's got a problem, this is the lady you want to call. 

  • Facebook: Justin Silver
    5 of 13

    9. JUSTIN SILVER

    Justin Silver turned his passion for helping dogs into a pawsome career. Silver started off by fostering canines that were having trouble getting adopted, and then rehabilitated them into perfect pets. The attention his work received led Silver to start a pet-care company, The Language of Dogs, so more pups could have the pleasure of working with him. Most recently, he starred in "Dogs in the City" on CBS, which helped owners form a deeper connection with their pets. 

  • AP Photo/Matt Sayles
    6 of 13

    8. BOBBY LOVGREN

    Not too long ago, Bobby Lovgren was given a big job with some even larger animals. Lovgren served as Chief Horse Trainer for the film "War Horse." With this title came the responsibility of overseeing the training of 150 horses to help create a touching story about the human/animal bond. Using his years of film experience, Lovgren was able to tackle this hefty task while ensuring all the animals were treated humanely and remained calm. 

  • Facebook: William Berloni
    7 of 13

    7. WILLIAM BERLONI

    Chances are, if you've seen a pet dance across a Broadway stage recently, their paws were prepped by William Berloni. This trainer has made a career out of preparing animals for theater. His patient and affectionate approach has earned Berloni an honorary Tony Award and has helped shape dozens of memorable shows. Berloni is currently working on training the new Sandy for the revival of "Annie" on Broadway. 

  • Facebook: Tamar Gellar
    8 of 13

    6. TAMAR GELLAR

    Last time we checked, Oprah's favorite things are everyone's favorite things, so it's no surprise that Oprah's dog trainer, Tamar Gellar, is so well liked. Gellar is known for creating the "The Loved Dog" method of training. She formulated this method by observing how wolf mothers act towards their pups in the wild. From this research, Gellar made a non-aggressive program focused on mimicking these behaviors. 

  • Facebook: Victoria Stilwell
    9 of 13

    5. VICTORIA STILWELL

    Similar to Millan, Stilwell has a passion for animals that led her into the world of dog training. Stilwell has found success in the field, hosting the TV show "It's Me or the Dog." Along with her TV appearances, Stilwell wrote several books on training and started a charity that helps support small animal shelters. Stilwell's positive and non-dominance-based training continues to earn her praise from the pet community, including numerous awards. 

  • Facebook: Jackson Galaxy
    10 of 13

    4. JACKSON GALAXY

    Not many folks go to hell and return to tell the tale, but Jackson Galaxy makes it look easy on his show "My Cat From Hell." The feline behavior expert is a pro at taming distressed and problematic cats with his gift of "cat mojo." Galaxy is also a strong supporter of seeking holistic treatments to help cats battle their behavioral imbalances. There are plenty of reformed felines and happy owners that can attest to his skills. 

  • AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau
    11 of 13

    3. CESAR MILLAN

    You don't earn the title "dog whisperer" for no reason. Cesar Millan has been focused on rehabilitating and training aggressive dogs for years. His success in the field has lead to best-selling books, a television series and a monthly magazine. Millan has used a portion of the money made by his business efforts to create a foundation dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned dogs. 

  • Getty Images
    12 of 13

    2. TOM GUNDERSON

    Tom Gunderson is not a household name, but his star pupil is. Crystal the monkey has been living with Gunderson and his family since she was 2 years old. Thanks to the trainer, Crystal has become a star actress, appearing in "Animal Practice," "The Hangover Part II" and "Night At the Museum." Keeping safety as a his top priority, Gunderson continues to offer Crystal enjoyable acting opportunities. 

  • Andy Kropa, Getty Images
    13 of 13
    Next: See 15 Weird Animal Workers!

    1. OMAR VAN MULLEN

    The man behind paw star Uggie of "The Artist" is both kind and gentle. Omar Van Mullen rescued Uggie and started training him as a way to occupy the dog's excited mind. Uggie took to the tricks quickly and soon began ascending the ladder of furry fame. The pair's hard work culminated in Uggie landing a leading role in "The Artist," which helped the film win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and earned Uggie the first canine star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.