Becoming a Dog Trainer

What You Really Need To Know

Before embarking on a journey to become a dog trainer, it’s important to understand the commitment it will take.Many people dream of working with dogs professionally, imagining days filled with playful puppies and grateful owners. While dog training can indeed be an incredibly rewarding and fun career, it’s essential to understand what it truly takes to succeed in the dog training field.

The Mindset Factor

Becoming a successful dog trainer isn’t just about loving dogs or even being good with them. It requires a fundamental willingness to challenge your own ideas and continuously evolve your thinking. Professional dog trainers need to understand the ‘why’ behind every technique they use. What is the dog learning? What is the human learning? How can each interaction be improved?

The Balance of Thinking and Doing

While hands-on experience is crucial, successful dog training isn’t just about ‘doing.’ Each class requires careful planning and consideration. You’ll need to think through your lesson plans thoroughly, considering how activities will work with different dogs and their owners. Every class will be different, and you’ll need to adapt your approaches based on the unique dynamics of each group.

Time Commitment Reality

Before embarking on this career path, consider the time investment required. With our Dog Trainer Certificate Programme, initial online training typically requires 35-40 hours of dedicated learning time, plus additional in-person training days. Are you prepared to use your vacation time for professional development? Can you carve out regular time for ongoing learning and business development?

Business Reality Check

Many people join our programme with the misconception that they will be able to earn a sufficient income doing 121 training. Although this may be possible in the longer term, and can certainly add to your income in the short term, group classes typically provide the foundation for a successful business. Building a reputation for one-to-one work takes time, and most successful trainers combine both approaches.

The Learning Never Stops

Professional dog training requires continuous learning and adaptation. You need to be prepared to:

– Challenge your existing knowledge

– Test new methods

– Adapt to different dogs and owners

– Develop your teaching style

– Stay current with training methodologies

Making Your Decision

Before you embark on a dog training career, take time to honestly assess your readiness for this journey. It’s not enough to simply love dogs or be good with them. Ask yourself:

• Am I truly ready to challenge my existing beliefs and adapt my methods?
• Can I commit the necessary time to learning and development?
• Am I prepared to run group classes, even if I initially envisioned only one-to-one training?
• Am I prepared to work weekends? This is the most productive time for traininng.
• Do I have the patience to build my reputation and business gradually?

Remember, becoming a professional dog trainer isn’t just about changing your career – it’s about changing your mindset, your habits, and often your entire approach to learning. Those who succeed in this field aren’t necessarily those who start with the most dog experience, but rather those who maintain an open mind, commit to continuous learning, and understand the balance between thinking and doing.

If you’ve thoughtfully considered these aspects and still feel drawn to this rewarding profession, you’re already demonstrating the kind of mindset that leads to success in dog training.

Want to find out more about my Dog Trainer Certificate Programme – click here.