Have you ever wondered how dogs go from this...

Dog biting owners pant leg To this?...

Dog jumping over obstacles

Let’s break down what a dog trainer does and see if it’s the right career for you.

Why Are Dog Trainers Important?

A dog meditating

  • They make the job of dog owners much easier!

  • They make dogs feel at ease and content in everyday life.

  • They build strong and lasting relationships between dogs and owners.

Things To Consider

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There are many things to know before making the leap into dog training.

Where You Might Work:

  • Pet store

  • Doggy daycare

  • Dog training facility

  • In your home or client's home

Dog training facility - Dog jumping over bars while owner follows him

Your Typical Schedule

  • Flexible hours

  • Evenings

  • Weekends

A man talking on the phone about his schedule

Some Training Techniques You'll Need to Learn:

  • Positive reinforcement

  • Clicker training and hand signals

  • Voice commands

  • Reward systems

A dog doing clicker training

How much money will you make?

Depending on your location and level of experience you should expect to make the following salary on average:

In the U.S.:

Flaticon Icon $15.00 USD/ Per Hour

In Canada:

Flaticon Icon $13.00 CAD/ Per Hour

Quiz

You should consider becoming a dog trainer if working on the weekends makes you feel.....

Types Of Training

  1. Obedience Training for dogs to obey basic control commands such as sit, down, and speak

  2. Therapy: Training for dogs to provide relief to those in anxiety-provoking situations, bring comfort to those who are grieving or lonely, and offer affection to humans who are in institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

  3. Guide Dog  Training for dogs to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.

Meme: Small dog sitting on a couch.  Text: I don't always bark at night.  But when I do, it's for no reason.

Paths To Becoming A Dog Trainer

What options can I take?

Self taught: Most dog trainers are self-taught. They learn by diving into books, podcasts, and attending seminars to learn about it.

Apprenticeship: Some work under a mentor, or someone who is highly skilled in dog training.

Formal Education: Certificate courses are available for people who like a more structured learning environment.

girl dancing in a classroom

You'd Thrive If You Are...

1. Patient: These things take time and you are okay with that.

2. A Dog Lover: For obvious reasons!

3. A People Person: Interacting with new people comes naturally to you. You will spend just as much time with the dog owners as you will with their dogs.

4. Problem Solver: When things get challenging, you always figure out a way to it out.

5. Self Starter: You are self motivated and don't need a lot of direction to do your job.

A dog being patted by its owner

You would not be happy in this career if you...

  • Aren't a fan of man's best friend.

  • Get frustrated easily.

  • Need someone to tell you what to do all the time.

Quiz

Becoming a dog trainer would be a good fit if you...

Take Action

Feel The Bern Reaction GIF by Bernie Sanders According to Outward Hound , the best steps to take to get started as a dog trainer are:

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