Being a Dog Trainer – Meeting Client Expectations

One of the key challenges of being a dog trainer is the ability to meet client expectations. Social Media has made this an even more scary factor, when starting out on your journey as a dog trainer. 

With social media hanging over us all fear, lack of confidence to do the thing we really want to do, holds so many of us back in life. Don’t let this hold you back, if you really want to pursue a new career, whether this is as a Dog Trainer or something else. We all only get one hit at life. Don’t let anything stop you living the life you dreamed of.

A Career as a Dog Trainer

 A career as a dog trainer is an exciting and fulfilling journey. The opportunity to positively impact the lives of dogs and their owners is so rewarding. It’s not all about ‘dog training’ either. It’s about how you  make people feel when they come along to your training sessions. 

Some people use their dog training classes each week for their own emotional support, when life is not going so well for them. Your classes need to be fun, supportive, informative and educational. People need to feel good when they leave your sessions.

In order to deliver this, you need to have the right training, knowledge, and support yourself. 

One of the most significant challenges that often stops people following through their dream to be a dog trainer, is the fear of not meeting people’s expectations. Social media has made this even more scary. 

People’s Expectations from their Dog Trainer

People often come with unrealistic expectations. They may think, by attending your classes, once a week, that this will change their dog’s behaviour. It’s all about clear and concise communication right from the start.

Have written terms and conditions available for your clients to avoid any confusion later in your journey together.

Key Points in Communcation as a Dog Trainer

Here are some key points that will help you understand how to manage clients expectations.

Clear Communication

One of the most important aspects of managing client expectations is clear communication. From the initial contact, be clear about what your training involves, the time it takes, and the role of the owner in the training process. Be clear about what they can expect to achieve by the end of your training programme, but also be clear that all dogs are different and progress will depend on how much time and consistency they put into the training. Setting realistic goals and timelines helps prevent misunderstandings and disappointment. 

Educate your Clients

Many clients may not be aware of the time and commitment involved in dog training. Take the time to explain how they must do the work, to get the results. Explain the importance of consistency to get positive results from their training. Help people to understand how they can find the time in their busy lives to commit to the training.

Be sure people understand what they are doing and why. For everything you teach, you should include:

• What you are going to do
• Why you are going to do it
• How you are going to do it

Be Precise about the Homework you Set

Be precise about what homework you set. Don’t just say, ‘practice your lead walking.’ Tell them, exactly how they should do this, the ideal amount of time they should allocate to this on a daily basis.

Build a Relationship of Trust

Building a trusting relationship with your clients is vital. Make people feel comfortable and at ease about asking questions. Demonstrate your knowledge and expertise. Don’t be afraid to share your own stories of how you’ve struggled with your own dog training. You’ll be amazed how nervous some people are about coming along to your training sessions.

Provide Continuous Feedback

Keep clients informed about their dog’s progress and adapt your lesson plan to meet the needs of your client or group. A series of class sessions, should, each week, show how the activities are going to progress what you covered the previous week. There should always be time in your lesson plan to go over the training from the previous week and make sure everyone has understood the training.

Handle Difficult Situations Confidentally and with Empathy

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things may not go as planned. Dogs may not progress or clients might feel frustrated. Approach these situations with empathy and patience. Listen to their concerns, address them professionally, and provide reasonable alternatives to help them progress. AI is a great help when writing emails for difficult situations. solutions or adjustments to the training plan as needed.

Your clients will come from all walks of life, and all will have different support needs.

Create Supportive Resources

Offer clients additional resources such as handouts, videos, or access to a support group. This can help reinforce what is learned during training sessions and helps people to feel supported in between your sessions. Having your training information in different formats allows for people’s different ways of learning.

Stay Professional and Positive

Maintaining a positive and professional demeanour, even when faced with challenging situations, is crucial. Your body language, tone of voice can significantly influence how clients perceive what you are saying. 

Conclusion

Managing client expectations is one of the most important aspects of being a successful dog trainer. By communicating clearly, setting realistic goals, educating your clients, and building trust, you can overcome this challenge effectively. Remember, the key to a thriving dog training business is not just in training dogs but also in creating positive relationships with their owners. 

If you embrace this aspect of your career, you’ll find yourself more confident and capable of meeting the varied expectations of your clients.

Become a Dog Trainer with the Right Training Programme

You need to be sure that any training programme you undertake, covers this aspect of being a dog trainer with practical and theoretical training. You need to be sure you will get the backup when you need it, someone you can call on for moral support when needed as well as professional guidance.

If taking on this challenge excites you, check out the Dog Trainer Certificate Programme and see how this will provide you with the training, knowledge and support not just in the dog training aspect, but also the people aspect.

Being a dog trainer is an exciting and challenging career. Any questions about being a dog trainer or my training programme, just get in touch.