Are We Just Well-Trained Dogs?

I was checking out Datadog’s certification program, thinking about how it might help DevOps professionals improve their skills.

And then, I saw this illustration on their website—dogs jumping through hoops.

Datadog Certification - Are Engineers Just Jumping Through Hoops?

At first, I laughed. But then I thought… wait a minute.

So if I want to learn Datadog, if I want to get certified, if I want to prove my skills in observability

Am I just a dog in training?


Jumping Through Hoops for a Badge

Look at the metaphor. Dogs on a racetrack, performing tricks, jumping through hoops.

And who are these dogs supposed to represent? Us.

  • Engineers
  • Customers
  • Anyone trying to master Datadog

We’re running, jumping, performing tricks… all for what?

A Credly badge to show off on LinkedIn?


Training to Be a “Good Datadog”

Want to prove you understand logs? Jump.

Want to monitor metrics? Jump higher.

Want that official certification? Jump through the final hoop!

And the best part?

You pay $100 to be trained like a good Datadog.


Flexing Your New Status

Once you pass the exam, you can proudly display your Datadog-certified badge on LinkedIn.

Imagine the conversation with recruiters:

Wow, AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform… and oh, look! A Datadog-certified agility expert!

Maybe we should update our job titles?

“Senior DogOps Engineer”


The Serious Takeaway

Jokes aside, Datadog is a powerful tool and certifications can be valuable.

But let’s be real—maybe they could have picked a better metaphor?

Engineers aren’t circus animals.

We’re not jumping through hoops for treats.

Datadog, I’m NOT a dog.


What Do You Think?

If you’ve taken a Datadog certification, did you feel like an obedient pup by the end?

Drop a comment below—or better yet, tell me if they gave you a treat after you passed!


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Is this content AI-generated?

Nope! Each article is crafted by me, fueled by a deep passion for Docker and decades of IT expertise. While I employ AI to refine the grammar—ensuring the technical details are conveyed clearly—the insights, strategies, and guidance are purely my own. This approach may occasionally activate AI detectors, but you can be certain that the underlying knowledge and experiences are authentically mine.

Vladimir Mikhalev
I’m Vladimir Mikhalev, the Docker Captain, but my friends can call me Valdemar.

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