Becoming A Dog Trainer

The dog training business is just like any other business. Whether you will be successful as a trainer or not only depends a lot on your qualifications but also on your ability to deal with people. One more thing… you need to be able to deal well with dogs as well.

If you are the type that relates better to animals than you do to people, then ironically, the dog training business might not be right for you. Why? Because it is humans that do the hiring, not the dogs. Just like the dogs that you will be training, there will be no reward for you in this career, if you can’t learn to humor the expectations of humans.

Here is a checklist of the expectations that people have when they set out to hire a dog trainer.

They expect you to be part of an accredited training program, have years of experience and knowledge in several areas of expertise.

They expect you to be able to find you through a reputable and reliable organization such as the ASPCA as well as through local and national dog trainer organizations.

They expect you to practice an effective, but humane training method and to be concerned about a dog’s welfare.

They expect you to have extensive knowledge of dog behavior and to be updated on the latest method through your attendance at exhibitions and conferences.

They expect you to have affiliations with reputable organizations, associations and training clubs.

They expect you to display good teaching and communication skills.

They expect your resume to be filled with records of seminars, courses and workshops you have attended on top of your original training

They expect you to have a sense of humor when it comes to dealing with both them and their dogs.

They expect you to put ethics, before the cost of your services.
They expect you to have a genuine love of dogs and to love what you do.

So what about you? Do you have the time, energy and commitment that it takes to become a successful trainer?

Many people fail at becoming trainers simply because they underestimate the scope of the job. Attending a couple of one or two day seminars or workshops with a well known dog trainer is not enough, no matter how talented you think you are with animals. Most animal lovers will go to a great deal of trouble to verify your references, accreditation and experience so make sure that you are prepared to fulfill the expectations before you embark on your own dog training business. And if you do decide to get into this type of business expect that you will be updating yourself for many years afterwards. This makes you look up to date for people who might want to hire your services.