In some cases, it does matter. Many animal behavior consultants are also trainers, but not all. The best trainers will have a good knowledge of animal behavior, but most trainers are not animal behavior consultants. Your ideal situation is to find someone who has skills in both areas. Animal behavior has only been a recognized profession for only about ten to fifteen years.
Animal behavior deals with behavior, causes, and the contributing factors that influence it.
With this information they will customize a program to stop, prevent, or change certain behaviors of pets. Owners are trained to use behavior modification techniques too, in most programs. The most popularly know practitioner is one who has a board certification in the veterinary field. Most behavior problems such as chewing, digging, barking, separation anxiety, aggression, and housetraining need a behavior consultant not a trainer. Consultants help the animal to learn, not to just respond, and they recondition or retrain appropriate behavior.