If you have ever thought about becoming a dog trainer, then this article is for you. You’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about becoming a dog trainer, where do they work, how much they get paid, what kind if additional in-service training they need, how you can become a dog trainer, some of the dangers involved in the job, when you can expect to retire and how you can make a difference in the lives of the people you serve.
You get to see and teach dogs and their owners almost daily. You interact with a lot of different breeds and problems, such as each day is very different from the others. One day, you may work on a very energetic but friendly dog, and the other you will be tasked to help a traumatized dog to enjoy life again. A dog trainer almost never gets bored.
They change and modify, for the best, the behavior of dogs. For example, making it more friendly around new things such as cars and humans. They can also help for obedience training. This is when you teach a dog that a word means an action, such as the Sit command.
If you work for yourself and do not have a boss, the training sessions will usually take place in the evening, when the dog owners are finished working. If you work for a company, chances are that dog owners may leave their dog to the place you work at. If that’s the case, you will train them during the day, and the owners will pick their dog up after work. Then, you will go home and continue with your day like everyone else.
This varies from person to person. Some trainers prefer working in their house because it is a controlled environment that they know. Others will prefer going to the dog owner’s house, because the dog already knows the place and is not surprised, facilitating the training. In the case that the trainers work for a company, they will usually work in a dedicated spot with a lot of equipment to help them.
A lot of trainers began by simply volunteering in shelters to get experience. This help them get used to the environment and to the behavior of dogs. Then, whenever you feel ready, you can apply for a job in dog training companies. For example, at the company MIRA, they train dogs to help people in need such as people with anxiety problems and vision problems. You can also build you own business.
This will depend on multiple factors such as if you are working for a company or not, where you live and your experience level. If you have good marketing strategies, you may get away with charging a higher fee, therefore making more money. In Canada, you can expect between $33000/year and $72000/year.
Since there are no legal requirements to be a dog trainer, anyone can technically be one without any training. It is recommended receiving more and more training so your tool-kit is better and therefore better suited for certain situations. I would still recommend that you to get a certificate so that your clients will trust you more. Online course for theory is a good way of increasing your knowledge. Plus, there are tons of videos on the internet on the subject.
Dog owners will often want to see you because their dog is aggressive, and they want your help to fix their problem. Therefore, there is a risk that the dog might bite you when you least expect it. With proper equipment and a lot of patience, you reduce the chances of getting bit.
Very low. To be properly trained to the human world, dogs need human contact daily during their first weeks. If robots replace humans in this time frame, the dogs can be very surprised the first time they see a human, and depending on the character and the personality of the dogs, they can become aggressive. Therefore, the robots would have failed to train the dogs, making it impossible that robots replace humans.
It varies from person to person. Dog trainers retire when they feel that their body is no longer strong enough to handle aggressive dogs. To control a 70 pounds, 80 pounds, or 90 pounds rottweiler is hard and requires strength. Some trainers may feel like this in their 50s, while others will retire at 70. Also, in their final years of working, dog trainers can choose to train smaller dogs such as chihuahuas or dachshund. They may also choose to work with already friendly dogs that only need a few adjustments.
In short, dog trainers are helping owners and dogs to live a better life. This can be by working alone or being an employee. Despite the dangers, this job is amazing for all of the dog lovers in this world.
Rationale: to sell products and services (digital marketing)
Authority: personal testimony
Date: recently published
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: no sources cited
Rationale: to sell products and services (digital marketing)
Authority: this author’s opinion
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: cites sources
Rationale: to sell products and services (digital marketing)
Authority: this author’s opinion
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: no sources cited