Dog Training Careers

So You Want To Be A Dog Trainer!

It may seem simple but the first thing to do is to get a dog!! Train him in one of the many dog disciplines that are out there - a good standard of pet dog obedience, competitive obedience, fly ball, agility, heelwork to music, trick training, have a go of as many different disciplines as possible. Look for a good dog training class in your area and join, you can do that by clicking onto list of trainers on this web site. You can volunteer at one of the local rescue centres to walk their dogs and do a small bit of training with them. Don't just stick to one breed - all breeds learn differently and get as much hands on experience as possible - volunteer to train your friend's dogs. Watch dogs in the park, it's important that you learn their art of communication.

Ask at your local dog club if you can assist - but don't do anything that you are uncomfortable with - maybe look for a member of the APDT and ask if they can help you. Members sign a code of conduct that they will not use punitive methods to train dogs.

You have to like dogs but you have to love working with people to do this job you need empathy and understanding, people with 'problem' dogs are usually at the end of their tether and they need understanding of the training problems that they have. You need to be sympathetic, have diplomacy and tact and need to think on your feet. You need imagination to make your classes enjoyable so that people come back for more and more importantly they will tell friends and colleagues to join also. It is no longer acceptable to run dog training classes where owners march round and round the hall doing heelwork.

Take some of the many courses that there are on offer.