What Everybody Ought to Know About Dog Trainer Jobs
While looking yesterday for dog trainer jobs for a client of mine, I came across a statement that really made me think. It read, and I quote, “A majority of people who are employed in dog training jobs are animal lovers.” It seems such a simple statement, but yet if you think about, it is really a powerful statement.
If most people who are employed in dog training jobs are animal lovers that it’s a safe assumption to say that those who have a dog training job, love their job! In what other industry can you say that the majority of the workers actually love their job? I know it can’t be many! Even though it can be physically and emotionally challenging, they find satisfaction from working with and helping dogs.
It would come as a surprise to some that dog training jobs are wide-ranging. I have to admit that I was one of the many who though that dog training jobs meant showing them how to do tricks or competing in shows. Little did I know that that is just the tip of the iceberg. Performance, security, obedience, search and rescue and my personal favorite, assisting people with disabilities, are just some of the reasons people seek dog training. Because a trained dog’s purpose is diverse, dog training jobs can also lead to career opportunities in government institutions, private companies, non-government organizations, the academy and even private practice.
So how do you go about finding one of those dog training jobs? Having a high school diploma or GED equivalent is always a good idea and after that becoming a dog trainer is a two step process. One must first attend a school for dog trainers or dog care. Within these institutions, they teach dog behavior, psychology, training methodology and theory, pet care, as well as the history of animal training. You can also learn how to cater to the clients or owners of the dogs. I have seen courses about hosting as well as designing dog training courses for clients or dog owners . After all, a big part of training dogs is the up-training or educating of their owners. Some of the more contemporary schools, focus more on the commercial field of dog training jobs have also added business management to their curriculum.
Getting yourself a good education however is not the whole process. In order to be a professional dog trainer and to qualify for dog training jobs, a graduate must go through a respected national organization and get a recognized trainer certification. Although there are several organizations who certify dog trainers, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (www.ccpdt.org) is possibly the most well respected. This organization set the standard for dog trainer certification and the Certified Pet Dog Trainer credential it awards is in highly sought after all over the world. This one of those occupations where an innate love for animals, patience, sensitivity, and having problem solving abilities are a must.
When looking for a dog trainer job, consider whether you enjoy working with people as well as dogs. Like I mentioned earlier, most of a dog trainers job is to really train people to train their dogs. You must have as much patience and empathy, and be as good a coach to your human clients as you are to your dogs. Get hands-on experience by mentoring under another trainer if possible, and volunteer to work at your local shelter or with rescue groups. Shelter/rescue work is a great way to get hands-on experience with dogs of various breeds and temperament.
Do things like join the International Association of Canine Professionals (www.canineprofessionals.com) and/or the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com) where you can network with other trainers online, attend conferences, and always continue your education.
Most people who are looking for dog training jobs, consider doing it themselves. "So You Want to be a Dog Trainer" by Nicole Wilde (http://www.phantompub.com) contains info on all of the above topics plus advertising, equipment, phone tips, trainer etiquette and more, and has sample forms you can use in your business making it invaluable to anyone venturing on their own. IACP (www.canineprofessionals.com) also offers useful information. In Canada there is the APDT - The Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers.
An ever increasing, lucrative, and sought-after dog training job involves working with dogs and their handlers in the field of law enforcement. A certified dog trainer can opt to take specialized courses to learn the dog training methods used to teach dogs in the field of law enforcement, also known as a K9.
K9trainers.com offers lists of schools and obedience, schutzhund, protection, working, agility, rescue, and police dog trainers. Perhaps offering yourself as an assistant or even volunteering would be a good way to get your foot in the door.
Finding dog training jobs can be as simple as putting the word out. Let anybody and everybody you know that you are interested in getting a dog trainer job, especially if you are not in the position to attend school.
Just like in the career itself, you must have patience. Typing in things like dog training jobs, dog trainer jobs or dog trainer job will yield thousands of results in the search engines and even though in this day and age it’s almost as obsolete as actually writing a letter, there is always the phone book!
My personal opinion is that the best way to find a dog trainer job, or any job for that matter, is to get the word out. Talk to everyone you possibly can in the field. Let everyone know you are interested. If your going the freelance route, take out classifieds, look on your local Craigslist, you can even auction your services off on E-Bay! Looking for dog training jobs can be frustrating and I can guarantee you will hear a lot more no’s than yes’s, but if you are really passionate about getting a dog trainer job, than once again I will state that persistence is the key.
