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Strategic Career Plan
Animal Husbandry and Other Unnatural Acts: A Career in Dog Training
Do you like dogs? Do they like you back?
Well, in that case, maybe YOU have what it takes to make it in the ruff and kibble world of canine coaching. Maybe. But before you start barking up this career tree, it might be beneficial to get a little information first. The exiting world of dog training covers several areas of expertise, so consider which dog track you want to take.
So, like, what do I need to know? Isn’t it just “Sit, Heel, Stay”?
I am so glad you asked. Dog training encompasses much more than simple submission commands. Yes, a career in dog training can and does involve obedience training, but it can also delve much deeper. For instance, you could become an Animal Behaviorist, or a Behavioral Consultant. These professionals burrow into Rover’s psyche, working to dig up the long buried bones of his past. Rather than flea the past, they use it to see what makes him tick (Ooh, that one even made ME groan).
You mean I have to be a dog shrink?
Many in the dog-training field, especially Behaviorists, study not only veterinary science, but also psychology. So, in a way, you kind of become a “dog shrink” as you so eloquently put it. But this training helps with more than just the dog. Don’t forget, the dogs you will be training generally have owners, and some dog owners don’t realize that they may be the cause of the behavioral issues exhibited by their puppy pals (think of the mom of that snotty, screaming kid in the checkout line at grocery store who thinks she’s a great parent), and that they need to learn how to interact more effectively with their pets. It’s up to a trained dog specialist to uncover and rectify this.
So how much schooling up am I gonna need before I begin my career in dog training?
Many experts in the field of dog training will tell you it takes three to five years of serious, intensive study and hands-on dog training and handling to even become a good novice trainer. Becoming an experienced Master Dog Trainer takes many years of working with the animals, gaining valuable field (or park) experience. You will most likely even pay your dues with a few nips here and there (bites, not nerve-settling sips of schnapps). It’s all part of the price – and the leash you can do, if you are serious about a career in dog training.
So, are there like, dog trainer colleges?
There are indeed schools that offer courses in canine training. The program lengths and costs vary from school to school, depending upon the type of study you wish to pursue. There are even online and home study courses (I am familiar with one that charges $995 for a home study video package), but anyone who seriously wants to work with dogs should look for a school with actual animals that you can touch. Sniff around and dig up a school that fits your situation.
The Animal Behavioral College (ABC, get it?) charges about $3000 for its hands-on program to become a Certified Dog Trainer, which takes around six months to complete. And there are some accredited universities and colleges that proffer animal behavior programs. These are not necessarily dog-specific, but nevertheless will assist you in beginning your career in dog training. Cornell University in Ithaca, NY; Guelph University in Ontario, Canada; and Tufts University in Boston, MA are three such universities. Standard college tuition would apply at these schools, but they might throw you a bone and let you apply for financial aid. Beg…beg…good boy!
And then I can become employed as a dog trainer and watch the scratch (money, not the flesh wound) roll in?
No.
Why not?
Good dog trainers – and by that you can read “employed” dog trainers – enter their careers in dog training because of their love of dogs. They work for the intrinsic pleasure of helping man’s best friend, not for the money, power, or glory often associated with dog training. Initially, the novice dog trainer may even begin his career by working for a more experienced trainer as his assistant, trainee, or lackey. The pay grade for such positions is, of course, Lhasa Apso-sized – assuming you can find an experience dog trainer who will take you under his paw. If not, when was the last time you read a classified ad seeking a dog trainer?
The way many dog trainers collar a career in dog training is to become self-employed. Hang a shingle on the front door. This has been suggested by the American Dog Trainers Network, which states that you can have a part time career where, nationally, trainers earn an average of $20/hour. Not a bad living. But Uncle Sam is always snapping at the heels of the ambitious with his own statistical snarls and growls. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, put out by the U.S. Department of Labor, states that the median hourly earnings of non-farm animal caretakers were $8.21 in 2002 (the most recent year they have numbers for).
So what should I do? I love them pups!
The bottom line is that a career in dog training is something you do because you have a desire, passion, or drive to work with dogs, not because it’s a quick, easy, lucrative career option. As with most any career choice, there is effort involved. Shed your fears (regular brushing helps), put on your shiny coat, and get out there and claw your way to your career in dog training. Or you can just sit…stay…roll over. Good dog.
Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Dog Training Resources, which answers the most common questions people have about Dog Training. Please visit us at http://www.dogtrainingresources.net today.
Dog Training Career: What Is Involved?
A dog training career may be just right for you, if you love working with dogs. Dogs of all ages, from puppies to older dogs, need training, and their owners often don’t know how to train them. They look for a professional dog trainer to do the job.
If you are thinking of a dog training career, you might want to start by practicing on your own dog. If you are good at training your dog, you might be good at training other people’s dogs. But if training your dog leaves you frustrated and drained, then becoming a dog trainer might not be the best career for you.
When you are training dogs, you are actually training the owners more than the dogs, so you need to be good with people to consider a dog training career. People are not at their best when they are frustrated or embarrassed by their dog’s behavior. Will you be able to deal with these distraught owners calmly, while at the same time tending to their dogs? Give this some thought.
Consider volunteering to help out at a dog training class at your local shelter. You will get a feel for what is involved in a dog training career. If you are good, the teacher may let you teach a segment of the class. This will be your trial by fire. If you do a good job, then you can move forward with your training.
You can prepare for a dog training career in several ways.
1. Attend a school specifically for those interested in a dog training career. There are many schools and seminars available. Be sure to get lots of hands on training.
2. Become an intern or apprentice to a dog trainer in your area. This way, you can learn dog training on the job.
3. Become a certified dog trainer. Do a search on the internet for dog training certification programs.
Once you have the proper education in dog training, starting your business should be easy. Decide if you want to work with individual clients in their homes or offer dog training classes. It is a good idea to offer a combination of both. By advertising your dog training classes, people who want individual help training their dogs will hear about you too. Soon your dog training career will be off to a great start.
Check around in your area for facilities where you can hold the dog training classes. Often the local humane society will have space for classes, or you could check with dog day care facilities. In warm weather, you may be able to hold your classes outdoors.
Advertise your services by leaving brochures about your training program with veterinarians, dog supply stores, and pet shelters. This way, your advertising will not cost you much.
Congratulations! You have followed the steps above and have a thriving dog training career. You love dogs and are working with them every day. For a dog lover and a natural teacher, you have found the ideal business to be in.
Visit Doggiewoggie: All About Dogs at http://doggiewoggie.com/ to learn more about dog training.
Things to Consider Before You Go for a Dog Training Career
While a lot of people will become dog training careers because it’s something that a lot of people do, there are others who actually do it because they love dogs and feel that this is a career that they want to pursue.
Are you one of those people that go for a dog training career because they heard someone saying that it’s a good career, or are you someone that actually loves dogs and wants to be around them more?
Basic principles to follow
Loving dogs isn’t the only motivation you should have to pursue dog training; you will also need the skills and knowledge to discipline dogs, to handle them and to understand what motivates their behavior. In most cases, people that become dog trainers have previous experience with dogs, and an understanding on how they usually handle pets.
What is your “dog division”?
If you want a career that revolves around dogs, there are two options at your disposal: dog training or pet service training. They’re both highly looked after jobs, but a pet dog training career can bring you more opportunities.
Pet dog training is usually done on pet dogs, just like the name suggests. Its purpose is to help dogs become better companions for humans, both at house and in outdoor activities. Basic training includes agility training, obedience training, potty training and even training to prevent the dog from biting or barking.
If we’re talking about service training, you should know that it’s made specifically to prepare a dog for helping someone that has a disability or is going through some form of therapy. Other service dogs are trained to sniff bombs, drugs or to chase criminals, hunt or rescue people.
This type of training is very intensive, and the trainer needs to be well prepared in teaching the dog how to do his functions.
Canine psychology understanding
What do you want to know about a dog? How they behave, think or how they react to outside stimulus? What training actually does is making a dog modify his behavior, so they respond in certain ways. Associative conditioning is one of the fundamentals of dog training, so you should know this as well.
What about dog training education?
Like any other career, dog training needs you to have some basic skills, in this case in the area of handling and dog training. But, this isn’t a career that you can learn at a university or college, so a degree is out of the question. There are schools however, and some academies, which you can go to in order to learn dog training. In most cases though, dog trainers have a natural inclination for their job.
While some have a natural feeling on how to train dogs, other have been apprentices with great dog trainers. And if you want some extra information, you should contact a dog training organization, which can offer it to you.
Comparison of working attitude with people and dogs
When you train dogs you also have to teach the dog handlers how to use them. Besides training dogs, if you plan to make a career out of it, you will also need to have some people skills, to teach the handlers.
Some dog owners don’t have the patience to wait for their dogs to learn, expecting for it to be a fast and simple process. You need to be able to deal with this type of dog owners, and to let them know how the process works. That’s why you need people skills as well, not just experience with dogs.
Miscellaneous
Besides the normal aspects of training, other things you need to know are nutrition, dog hygiene and grooming.
Other fields of interest include accessories, dog competitions and training ads. You should also learn about the differences between dog breeds, as each one behaves differently.
You can be a great trainer without being a guru. You only need a number of skills that will teach you how to handle dogs.
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training articles and dog training manuals. Read also our Sit Stay Fetch book review ? dog training book written by professional dog trainer Daniel Stevens.