Dog Trainer

Working dogs need considerable training, depending on the jobs they have to perform. Drug-sniffing dogs, guard dogs, guide dogs, movie dogs, and herding dogs all require specialized training. While these dogs usually receive their training from their breeders or owners, they are sometimes trained by professional trainers who have national reputations for their skill and eff ectiveness.


A much bigger market is training services for pets. Most pet owners wake up a bit late to the need for training (usually after half of the carpet has been eaten). You can present your service as the solution to those nagging problems that make pet dogs so frustrating at times. Some trainers give classes for owner and dog together while others go to a pet’s home and provide individual sessions. Network with veterinarians and pet stores; they are usually the first to hear about animal problems.


Your main start-up cost is for whatever marketing and advertising approaches seem best for your community. Somewhere between $500 to $1,000 would be an average amount to spend on launching this business. Don’t forget to create a Web site and include a “Top 10” list of helpful tips for pet owners. This will help increase your visibility on the Web, but will also bolster your credibility. Since you’ll be charging as much as $300 per dog for a three-week session, you could see a tidy profit early in the game. And that’s nothing to bark at, is it?


This job is immensely enjoyable if you love dogs and can tolerate their owners. (Remember, you’ll be training them too.) Gaining the trust of an animal is an essential part of any training process, but some trainers find that getting the human side of the equation to cooperate is even harder. Once the pets in your class begin to give up eating the curtains and jumping all over Grandma, however, you will seem like a genius. Then the class can proceed to the really difficult stuff such as coming when called (the pet) and being patient (the owner). For most trainers this is not a route to wealth, but a decent living can be made if you keep up your marketing eff orts.


Approx. cost of start-up: $1,000 to $2,000


Approx. potential earnings:$35,000 to $45,000


Typical fees: $300 for a three-week session is fairly common


Where to promote: Flyers; direct mail; Yellow Pages; classifieds; networking with vets; free clinics; Web site with free training tips and class offerings, schedules, and fees


Qualifications: Experience with different breeds, track record of success, patience, and credibility; a permit may be necessary in many states


Things needed: Cell phone; space for pets to roam, eat, and sleep


Required staff: No


Hidden costs:Advertising, travel