Are you a dog lover who is considering turning your passion into a profession? It takes more to be a trainer than a love of dogs--here’s the inside scoop from an experienced professional.
1. A dog trainer actually trains people to train dogs. If you’re not a “people person,” consider carefully whether this profession is for you. You must have patience, compassion, excellent communications skills, and be a good listener. Instructing people can be fun and stimulating, but it can be challenging as well. A sense of humor helps!
2. Learn about canine psychology and behavior. Seek out books and familiarize yourself with basic learning theory as it applies to dogs. Understanding maxims such as “That which is rewarded is more likely to happen again” and “That which is ignored is likely to extinguish on its own” will serve you well throughout your work with basic training and behavioral issues. There are many DVDs now available that have been filmed at instructional seminars for dog trainers, many of which include video footage and/or live demonstrations; it’s always easier to learn by seeing theory in action. (Tawzer Dog Videos is known in the industry for having wide selection.) Also, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers' website has recommendations regarding educational materials for dog trainers. And attending live seminars and conferences is another excellent way to gain knowledge. There are some schools for dog trainers, but be careful to check out their training methods. One excellent school is the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers.
3. Seek out hands-on experience. Volunteering for your local shelter or rescue group is one of the best ways to get comfortable handling a variety of breeds, and to learn about behavior issues. It’s also a crash course in learning to read canine body language! Shelter and rescue work provide an opportunity to practice your training skills, and you’ll be helping to make dogs more adoptable in the process. Apprenticing under another trainer is another invaluable opportunity, if you can find one in your area willing to take you on. Assist in group classes, tag along to in-home sessions, and learn everything you can. If there is a trainer’s networking group in your area, join, learn, and make friends; you’ll get invaluable advice as you proceed along your career path. Although there is no license required to call oneself a professional dog trainer, you should have a well-rounded education before opening a business.
4. Learn about positive, modern training methods. There are two major schools of thought regarding dog training: the old-fashioned method, where one waits for the dog to make a mistake and then punishes him, for example, by the jerk of a choke chain. The other, modern, more positive method makes use of the tenets of canine psychology, and employs food treats and other rewards. Dogs are set up to succeed and then rewarded when they do the right thing. Of course, many training methods fall into the grey area between these two, but seek out sources of information that are geared toward the positive.
5. Take it slow. That applies to both building your business and the cases you should accept. Business-wise, if you are currently employed, start training as a part-time job on the side and allow yourself time to let both your business and your skills build. Behavior-wise, take on only the cases you are comfortable with; refer ones such as those involving aggression issues to more experienced trainers until you are ready to handle them yourself. With time, patience, perseverance, and experience, your business as well as your competence level will increase.
6. Get certified. Eventually, once you have some experience under your belt, take the test to become a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. This designation is offered by the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers.
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