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.

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Dog Charms

Are you in the mood to decorate your dog? There is no reason why your dog shouldn’t boast a bling or two while you are showing each other off as you stroll down the avenue. This is a trend that has been started by diva like pet owners such as Paris Hilton and Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor has been dressing up her dogs long before it became all the rage.

The ultimate in pampering your pet is decorating him or her with a collar decked out in Italian or dangling charms. Some of these dog charms are so nice you will want to wear them yourself. Like human jewelry, pet jewelry ranges from being as cheap as a rhinestone to as expensive as pure gold. One key to protecting a charm that is really expensive is to coat in clear nail polish. That way if it dips from your dog’s neck into his or her drinking water it won’t tarnish. You can find great charms at  Petco.com. If you would like to save money you can get Petco Coupons at GiantCodes.com . Getting a deal with coupons is always great.

There are several sites online that take to the dog charm business to its glittering extreme. Many of these outlets sell tags and no dangling jewelry in gold and silver. You can also buy Italian style charms that link together that you choose and connect into a collar yourself or you can buy the pre-fabricated ones that spell out phrases such as ,Spoiled Brat,, ,Diva, or ,Top Dog. There is also a large selection of enameled and delicate rhinestone charms to hang from your pet’s collar both online and in pet stores. Sometimes you can find these types of charms in dollar stores or novelty shops.

You can also charms made out of sterling silver that can be hung from a collar. These charms can also be engraved with a requested phrase. You can also get matching doggie and owner charm set. So your doggie can wear a charm with you around his neck and you can wear his breed around your own. Of course this kind of dog jewelry can also be customized with your birthstones as well.

If you don’t want to dangle a charm from your pet’s neck you can always buy a charm that honors your relationship for yourself and wear it. Some dog owners like to put a picture of their dog inside a little locket. Conversely you could put your picture along the dogs information inside a locket on his collar in case he or she ever gets lost.

Of course you don’t have to wear the real article although the genuine silver dog charm really is the bling to have. You can buy plenty of plastic ones and knock offs that won’t make you feel remorse if it happens to fall off of your dog’s neck while he or she is taking a run through a park.

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