So you want to be a dog trainer? Employment outlook

 

The  job of animal trainer and/or kennel manager is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of labor Statistics, predicts a 28% growth rate through 2012.

The Career

 The canine trainer and/or kennel manager are all terms that come to describe an individual who is prepared to step into a position of substantial responsibility within the canine field. It is a challenging career for persons who are interested in animals and dedicated to their care and well being.

Job Opportunities

 The demand for canine trainers and/or kennel managers is on the increase. Almost every household in the United States owns a pet and the need for proper care, assistance, training and guidance for these companions is a daily necessity.  Many of these work in their own neighborhood or community. Some of these opportunities can be found in the following areas:

• Pet stores
• Boarding kennels
• Training facilities                   
• Veterinary offices
• Grooming shops         
• Pet sitters
• Breeding facilities
• Therapy dog associations
• Conformation (dog shows) handler or assistant
• Obedience trial handler or assistant
• Disaster relief handler
• Training and research centers
• Animal nutrition centers
• Sled dog kennels
• Self employment

So, you want to be a dog trainer? In-home training

In-Home Training

Training at your clients’ home is a wonderful way to begin your career as a dog trainer. It allows you to keep your present job and offer dog training to your clients in the evenings and on weekends. Most people prefer weekends, as their own employment makes it difficult to schedule a full hour during the weekdays. If you also maintain at least a part time job, You will have a steady income to supplement you while you build your dog training business.

You will need various types of equipment. We will discuss that in depth later in this course. Most people find something that works well for them and they develop a training style around the equipment that is used. Just remember that all dogs are unique and what works for some may not work for others.

In-home, or private, training is unique in that it allows you to see the real-life experience of your clients and their dog. This gives you a tremendous advantage in terms of problem solving. Some trainers insist that only one member of the family actually train the dog, at least in the beginning. Other trainers allow more than one member of the family to work with the dog. If more than one family member participates in the initial training, it is extremely important that they all use the same commands, and handle the dog in the same manner.

Whatever you do, do not allow adults to place responsibility for training in the hands of a child. It rarely works, and can create a great deal of frustration for you, the child, and most importantly, the dog.

For your initial consultation, you will want to meet the entire family so you can see the dynamics in the household. It is not necessary for children of any age to be present during the training itself. In fact, their presence can distract the dog.

Each dog has a unique living situation. Whether the dog is in a family of eight or is an “only child,” its owner will have certain expectation of your training arrangement.

Never take the dog out and work with it alone. Your clients will not be learning anything that way, and they are the ones that need to understand what to do between visits. Demonstrate your technique, introduce commands to the dog, and then allow the owner to attempt to duplicate it while you are present to encourage and correct them.

Many trainers bring their own, fully trained dog along to demonstrate what their dog can learn to do. If you are a competent trainer, this will work well for you.  A calm, confident, obedient dog is the best demonstration to can use.

Be prepared for the fact that not every client is going to be friendly. Some might argue with your techniques. It is your job to pleasantly explain your methods and how they work. Also, you need to be prepared to offer a different method that is acceptable to both you and your client.

There are clients who simply do not work with their dogs between lessons.  Pleasantly explain to them that they are actually wasting their money by not working with their dog, and that everyone will be much happier if they stick with the program for a few weeks it will take to accomplish the job. If you find that every single lesson ends up with the dog still at square one, you’re better offer referring the client to another trainer.

So you want to be a dog trainer? Employment at other facilities

Employment by Other Training Facilities

 You might choose to begin your career by working for another training facility.  This would give you the benefit of sharpening your skills under the supervision of more experienced trainers.  The experience that you gain from handling a myriad of dog breeds at various levels in their training is invaluable.  Remember every dog is unique, by handling as many dogs as possible you increase your readiness to handle a multitude of situations.

 NOTE: Be aware that many boarding, grooming, and training facilities want a handler in their employ to sign a contract that limits their ability to work independently in the geographic area that their facility is located in.

So you want to be a dog trainer? Teaching a Puppy Class

Puppy Kindergarten

Puppy kindergarten is a marvelous way for people to socialize their pups with other dogs and other people, as well as large groups, if done correctly. To run a successful puppy kindergarten you must adhere to the following points.

Do not mix ten-week-old pups with sixteen-week-old pups without close supervision and restraint. Each week as pups grow, they move through various developmental stages that affect them psychologically, physically and emotionally. An older pup can unwittingly harm a younger one or even cause a lifelong fear problem.

Be absolutely certain that each pup’s vaccinations are up to date. There are some trainers and veterinarians who will advise owners not to take a pup into a kindergarten until twelve weeks of age. You should confer with the vet you have chose for your facility regarding the risk of certain diseases in area. Assuming you have retained a vet whose opinion you respect, defer to his advice on this issue.  Require the owner to provide proof from their vet that the puppy has a clean fecal sample.

Puppy kindergarten is not a basic obedience training class. You can encourage actions such as following behind, coming, sitting, and lying down for brief periods of time just as an introduction. This will encourage both puppies and owners to enjoy obedience work and will give the pups a good foundation for future learning. Though strict, regimented obedience is not appropriate in puppy kindergarten, your clients will appreciate some guidance for working on basic manners with their puppies.

Pups that are roughly the same size and at the same developmental stage can be allowed to play together under close supervision. They may chase one another, play tug of war with pull toys, tumble through inner tubes, and do all sorts of fun things. You would not see any real aggression in very young pups (under the age of five months) unless There is a serious problem. If you come upon a pup that has such a problem, discuss it with the owner privately.

Free playtime should be mixed with some structure. Classes must be kept relatively short—no more than forty minutes. Offer water, especially if the weather is warm, at least fifteen-minute intervals, and observe all the pups in the class for signs of stress or dehydration.

Do not forget to share stories about housebreaking woes! You may spend the last fifteen minutes of the hour long class sitting in a circle, passing the pups from one person to the other for hugs and kisses, while discussing typical puppy problems and getting answers.

Puppy kindergarten is a very laid back class. While there is some structure, the class is mainly a tool to socialize the pups to different surroundings. Most owners who take part in a puppy kindergarten class will continue on through the higher levels of training. This builds a good client base.

As you take this course you will become familiar with many aspects of canine care. This will build a firm foundation for your career as a dog trainer. You will be surprised what questions your clients will ask you and you should be well informed in a variety of subjects.

So you want to be a dog trainer? Teaching an advanced class

Teaching an Advanced Class

Only after you have titled a dog of your own in at least the Companion Dog level of obedience, should you consider teaching an advanced obedience class. Even if you have observed American Kennel Club competitions, you can not be a credible instructor if you have not accomplished it yourself. You must be well versed in many rules and regulations governing these events so that you can give your clients correct instruction.

If you are interested in training beyond basic obedience, such as conformation, agility, freestyle, flyball, herding and so on, it is of utmost importance that you have hands-on experience participating in the chosen area. Although all of these can and should be fun, the instructor absolutely must know what he or she is doing.  Attending a few classes held elsewhere, while helpful, just is not sufficient experience. If you want to include a class in a specialty you’re not qualified to teach, hire a qualified instructor to teach a particular class.

So, You want to be a dog trainer? Running a group class

Running a Group Class

One way to hold a group class without having to sign a long-term lease for your own training facility is to locate a neighborhood interior space that is well lit and warm (such as might be available from a locals social club or religious organization) or an outdoor space (in warm weather) that might be available from your local township. You might even be able to locate a pet store owner or veterinarian who will rent you space to hold a group class. Just be sure to check all local ordinances that might be applicable.

Keep the number of attendees within a reasonable limit. Twenty-five in a class is reasonable if you have a very large space and staff to help you, but if you are in a small basement area, you will have to be realistic about how many dogs will be comfortable and not feel intimidated by too close proximity to one another. If you are teaching by yourself, limit the class size to ten or less.

As your classes proceed week-to-week, closely observe the skill of the handlers. If you notice any particular dog becoming defensive or visibly stressed, take the handler aside after class and discuss the possibility of private lessons. The team can still be a part of the group, but a few private lessons might improve the performances of both the handler and the dog.

Always remember to keep classes enjoyable. You want to teach with a lighthearted attitude rather than bark out orders like a drill instructor.

Do not allow yourself to be constantly held overtime by people asking all sorts of questions. While you want to develop a working relationship with clients and an ongoing client base, you have to set reasonable limits. If you are spending two or three hours with clients instead of one, it is simply not worth the money you are getting for teaching class. If people have questions, offer to make  separate appointment with them.