Everywhere you look things have gone to the dogs! Making a living as a dog trainer is fun and doable. Although the dog training industry is unregulated, certification helps you stand out from your competition and provides many other benefits for networking, marketing, and continuing education.
While you’re considering getting certified or working towards getting one, here are the basic steps to becoming a dog trainer:
- Familiarize yourself with canine body language and emotions
- Observe other dog trainers to gain hands-on experience
- Find a qualified mentor. Find someone locally to show you the ropes in person. Focus on training facilities that use reward-based methods. Avoid trainers who use language about “dominance,” “pack leadership,” offer “balanced training,” and advise “using corrections” when training dogs. Avoid those who use shock/electronic collars. Try the directories on PPG’s postcode search or the CCPDT websites for local and online options. Read the bios and contact us! Most trainers are happy to help newcomers to the profession.
- Volunteer for a rescue or shelter for more interaction with all dog breeds, sizes and personalities.
- Gather training supplies. To get started, here is our list of the top 10 essential dog training supplies.
- Train with your own dog by following our top training tips for beginners
- With permission, work with dogs of friends and family members
- Read. Read. Get your paws on relevant dog training articles, books, and studies. But be picky. Read books whose authors have references and the books and documents have credible citations and sources. Start at PPG and APDT.
- Look for local or online courses. Check the websites of the aforementioned professional organizations and schools for online courses and webinars. Start with what piques your interest and branch out. There are many affordable online conferences. Here are a few to get you started.
- Focus on the types of training you would like to do. Some types of training to consider are: basic manners, problem behavior (i.e. aggression, over-reactivity, phobias/compulsions, separation anxiety), figure training , sports training (i.e. agility, nose work, treibball, flyball, conformation) or working with certain breeds.
Reward-based training is the essence of modern dog training and the future of the profession. Be selective about your study and mentoring resources and select evidence-based practices.
How to Start a Dog Training Business
Once you’re educated and experienced, it’s time to focus on the prize: your own business.
Before taking on your first client, organize yourself:
- Decide what type of training (listed above) your business will focus on. Some examples are basic manners, working with certain breeds, or dogs with certain behavioral issues. Finding a niche will set you apart and help you develop and hone your skills
- Will you be hands-on, virtual, or both?
- Choose a name for your business
- Research and choose a legal business structure and complete the necessary documents
- Obtain liability insurance
- Start working with animals! Market and promote your services: Visit local vets and other pet-related businesses, set up stalls at local events/festivals, and promote yourself on social media.
Spending your days with dogs can be fun, but can also be exhausting, so take care of yourself too. Allow time for downtime so you can cool off and put your best foot forward for your customers. The bounty ? With the pet care industry expected to reach $275 billion by 2030, a career as a dog trainer can be both lucrative and rewarding.