How Long Does It Take To Become A Dog Trainer - Good Dog Academy

So you would like to become a dog trainer but are unsure how to get started. A lot of dog training information floating around can be confusing!

Let's break down what you need to start a successful dog training career as a professional dog trainer.

Formal Education and Certification for Dog Training

The number one thing clients will look for is your education and credentials. Clients want to know that you have a solid foundation education, that you know what you are talking about when it comes to helping them achieve their goals with their dog, and that they can trust you have the knowledge and skills needed to work with their family members and that they will see results.

Experience To Fully Understand If You Know, You will Make A Good Dog Trainer.

Training your canine is not enough. Some ways you can gain valuable experience as you move forward in your career include volunteering at a local animal shelter or with a local canine rescue group. You can walk and train adoptable dogs to help them along in their journey to find new forever homes. Offer to work with your friends and family's dogs and teach them a new skill. Please speak with a local pet store and offer a free one-hour seminar to introduce a new skill to their customers and staff. It is amazing how quickly word of mouth will spread and how quickly clients will come looking to acquire your services.

Business Skills

Having education and skills is only half the battle. Do you know what it takes to start a business? What are your marketing and branding skills like? Do you have any SEO experience? Bookkeeping skills? What about Business licensing and insurance? To succeed, you must have a foundation education in business-related skills. Completing a program specifically for pet-related companies will help you launch successfully. Good Dog Academy offers an exclusive Business for Professional Pet Dog Trainers.

Now you understand what you need to get started as a professional in the pet dog industry. It will take a lot of focus and hard work. Is it worth it? How many dogs will you help? Can you make money training pet dogs? The answer is an overwhelming yes.

The pet dog industry is booming, especially concerning dog training. There is no better time to consider a career in training pet dogs. Like you and me, millions of North Americans love their dogs and regard them as family members. They want the best for their dogs.

An unprecedented number of people are bringing puppies and dogs into their homes to join their families. They need skilled and educated professionals to help them integrate and adequately raise and train their new furry family members. Pet dog training has proven itself to be a recession-proof industry that has continual demand for qualified
professionals.

The truth is, a well-behaved doggy is welcome in more public places and allows for more freedom for both dog and owner. People want well-trained dogs!

The average pet dog owner will spend upwards of $500 training their dog. With an estimated 8.2 million dogs in Canada and an estimated 41% of households having a pet, this industry has a large amount of money to be made.

Depending on your location and experience, a certified professional pet dog trainer charges between $100 - $165 per spot in a group obedience class. To start, you could charge between $50 - $100 per hour for private one-on-one coaching.

Most group classes are six weeks long and are offered succession, going from puppy classes to basic obedience, intermediate and even further for some. Providing as many options as possible for canine owners will enrich the lives of your clients
and their dogs and add to your income. Pet dog training is ongoing, and pet owners will return for more classes.

Offer Puppy Kindergarten, Basic Manners, Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills and maybe you want to offer a specialty class such as trick training or agility basics. The more you contribute, the more options your clients have to choose from. Once you can build a trusting relationship and your clients graduate from one of your classes, more often than not, they will sign up for more. Of course, your education will need to continue after your foundation certificate to offer advanced classes.

One-on-one private sessions are an excellent option for those whose schedules are too busy to attend your group classes and those who have dogs with more challenging behaviours. It is a great way to personalize training programs for specific clients.

How long does it take to become a professional dog trainer?

Professional dog trainers put in a lot of work to start their careers. Don't expect to take a weekend course or a few seminars, and be ready to launch your Business. Acquiring formal professional education takes time, effort and dedication. You will need to study.
Theory and put your new handling skills to work through practice.

As science evolves, so does dog training. It is a constantly changing industry, and education should continue throughout your career. Having a solid foundation of education should prepare you for success and leave you feeling confident and ready to launch your Business.

How do I get started? Where can I find the best education?

Good Dog Academy offers a 28-week online comprehensive education program for future dog trainers to help you gain the formal, in-depth knowledge needed to succeed as a Professional Dog Trainer. The Professional Pet Dog Trainer Certificate program combines Theory and practical experience that will allow you to launch a successful business training pet dogs. Learn how Critical Thinking and Focused Observation will help you to stand out from your competition.

Study topics on becoming a dog trainer:

• Learning Theory

• Evolution of The Dog

• Principles of Dog Training

• Canine First Aid

• Dog Breeds

• Selecting a Dog

• Today's Canine

• The Physical Dog

• And much more!

Once you have completed Theory, then it is on to practical work. Train your dog using our step-by-step coaching system and receive personalized feedback on your skills from our Director of Training, Jaime Knowles. Jaime has been successfully training dogs for over 25 years, and this will give you the knowledge and skills necessary to help your clients.

We also include our exclusive online Business for the Professional Pet Dog Trainers program as part of our Professional Pet Dog Trainer Certificate program to help aspiring pet lovers become canine trainers. During your time in this program, we will help you create your unique business path and challenge you to think about the essential details by working through Business development-specific exercises.