Do you want to hear a startling statistic? The average person will, in their lifetime, spend 90,000 hours at work. That is a lot of time – it is equivalent to ten whole years of your life. Given that so much of our lives are spent in a work environment, choosing a career path that is fulfilling and enjoyable should be a high priority for all of us.
We all dream about embarking on that ideal career – a job where we get to do something we truly love. Where work doesn’t actually feel like work, and where the rewards are not only financial, but also bring a sense of achievement and purpose to our lives.
It may sound idealistic, but it is possible – and one way to achieve that is to become a professional dog trainer. We’re not saying that dog training is a walk in the park (although that may form part of the work) – this is a highly-skilled job, and there will be hard times and struggles along the way. However, we believe there are few better ways to spend your days than alongside man’s best friend, making a difference to their lives and the lives of their owners, families and handlers.
In this article, we’ll outline what it takes to become a dog trainer – from the personality traits you’ll need, to the education and development path you can embark on to give yourself the best chance of success.
The benefits of a dog training career
If you’re on the fence about becoming a dog trainer, then it may worth taking a moment to consider some of the potential benefits:
- Flexibility and the ability to set your own schedule. If you run your own dog training business, you can take on as much (or as little) work as you want.
- The rewarding nature of the work. Working with dogs is fulfilling in itself, but you also have the chance to improve the lives of the families who live with their four-legged companions.
- There will always be a need for dog trainers. Other professions are at risk from the rapid progress of AI; right now (and for the foreseeable future), there is no suitable replacement on the horizon for a professional dog trainer.
- It is lucrative. Dog ownership is on the increase, and there is money to be made in dog training; our National Dog Trainer survey showed that the average salary for a full-time dog trainer is in excess of $60k.
Necessary traits for dog training
Before you begin thinking about your dog training career, the first step is to consider the traits that make a great dog trainer. This will help you to ensure that this career path is the right one for you.
Life as a dog trainer can be demanding. Although some prospective trainers believe that they can get into this job to escape from interaction with other people, this is actually a huge misconception. As a pet dog trainer, your job is to communicate with the dog’s owner and convey training concepts to achieve their overall dog training goals. Dog trainers may also need to take dogs in public for socialization outings. If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t deal with people, dog training is not the choice for you.
In our experience, there are traits that every successful dog trainer we have taught and worked with has possessed. These include:
- Professionalism. This is a prerequisite for most jobs, but specifically thinking about dog training, professionalism is key. What does this mean? It means showing up for appointments on time. It means doing what you’ll say you’re going to do. It means treating people with respect. It means empathy and understanding of the unique circumstances your clients may be facing. All of this – under the umbrella of professionalism – goes a long way in establishing trust in your skills as a dog trainer.
- Patience. Dogs are not robots, and neither are their owners. You are going to be faced with situations that require you to exercise patience. A dog may not respond to your training plan as you thought they may. An owner may completely disregard your instructions and ignore your recommendations. In these situations, you have to be patient and realize that things won’t always go to plan.
- Confidence. There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance. Confidence means making sensible recommendations to dog owners that you can validate using a foundation of science and education. When you are conveying a complex behavioral solution to a client, you have to do so from a position of confidence in your own knowledge and expertise. Spoiler: there is no “fake it till you make it” in dog training. You either know what you’re doing, or you don’t.
- Willingness to learn. This is an overlooked trait, even among trainers who have been in the dog training industry for decades. Keeping an open mind and being eager to learn from your fellow professionals is an essential ingredient for dog training success. This is not a one-size-fits-all job, and having the adaptability and skillset to learn from others and implement new training techniques helps you to grow professionally.
Get educated
As with any job, gaining a foundational knowledge in the work you are pursuing is the best way to set yourself up for success. Learning from experts in the field will give you the knowledge you’ll need to be able to handle and teach the dogs you’ll be working with. Even though dog trainers are not required to be licensed, education not only teaches you how to train dogs – it also allows you to set yourself apart from your competitors. Dog trainers with qualifications earn, on average, over 40% more than those without qualifications in the field.
Consider enrolling in a dog trainer program that will provide a mixture of hands-on training and scientific theory. This will enable you to understand the key concepts you’ll be applying as a professional dog trainer – and then put them into practice by working with a variety of dogs as part of your education.
If you know that you are keen to focus on one aspect of the dog training world – such as service dogs or Police K9s – then it is vital to become familiar with the nuances of that particular line of work. For example, it is helpful for service dog trainers to possess an understanding of the laws surrounding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) so they can inform prospective service dog owners of the rights enshrined to them in legislation.
If you intend to set up your own business, you may also want to ensure that you study how to set up and structure your dog training business, and specific factors like marketing for dog trainers.
Begin your career
After completing your studies, you’ll have the expertise, knowledge and confidence to start your dog training career!
You may decide to start mentoring under an established trainer, work as part of an established dog training company, or even set up your own dog training business as a sole proprietorship or LLC.
Whichever route you decide to take, working with dogs on a daily basis is fulfilling and rewarding. It also has the potential to provide you with a steady income in an industry that has an ever-increasing need for reliable, knowledgeable professionals.
Interested in becoming a dog trainer?
At the School for Dog Trainers, we have taught hundreds of students over almost two decades. Many of our graduates have gone on to succeed in the dog training industry.
We offer a variety of dog trainer programs across three campus locations. Our 24-week Master Dog Trainer program is regarded as the most comprehensive dog trainer education of its type. We also offer specialized programs in obedience, service dog training and Police K9 training.
If you’re wondering which program might be right for you, take a look at our guide. You can also speak with our admissions team by submitting our contact form, emailing learntotraindogs@highlandcanine.com, or calling (800) 726-7412.