Professional?

[Alysser]

I have a quick question about being a dog trainer. Is there a special school for that or do you go to any college to train? Do you have to like major in dogs or something? I'm sorry for all the stupid questions but this is something I would like to do when I grow up.

[dab_20]

Same here!! or a vet. I would also love some info.

[Alysser]

I think you go to college for four years and MAjor in animal medicine. Then go to Vet school

[I_luv_rusty]

I'm uncertain about this. I would like to be like a dolphin trainer (like those people who train them, and swim with them, at like seaworld and all that)when I grow up, or like work in a horse stable.


This is all I could find. I think this is for begginers or something- http://www.k9-trainer.com/mdtc.html

[Alysser]

Im guessing no one knows....

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Actually, I don't think you even need a bachelor's degree (although it's preferred) to be a vet. At Iowa State (one of the countries top programs) you just need pre-vet classes (I think it's about 1 1/2 -2 years of general classes like anatomy, biology, chemistry, etc.) before you enter the veterinary medicine program, which is another 2 years or so and you can be a DVM. I'm not sure about becoming a trainer, but I'm sure there are classes for that. I've never seen classes for becoming a dog trainer at a university before, but maybe there might be something with that at community college. I know you can become a groomer through a lot of them!
I think those would be great careers! I graduated from college last year and I somewhat regret not going into a career with animals. I'm applying to graduate school now, but if I don't get in, I decided I'm going back to become a vet (I just need to get over blood). Good luck whatever you decided to do.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Im guessing no one knows....

I think there is a member on PT who is becoming or is a trainer, her screen name is veegan. You could try asking her.

[Alysser]

Thanks alot! I'll look it. I hope you get to be a vet!

[.sarah]

I'm guessing you want to make money off of it? For that, I have no idea, but I have a friend who is a pro. trainer so I can ask next time I see her because I'm interested now! I only know how to become one for volunteer, which is what I'm going to do. I'm just joining a dog training club and I will take a few classes on training and will be teaching once I turn 18 (I *think* I have to be 18, but I'm not sure actually).

[Alysser]

Well, not only that but I want to work with dogs. I can't think of any other job I would want. Its perfect. Being a vet isn't for me. It's when you have to put a pet down. So I wouldn't be able to handle it probably.

[lv4dogs]

There are dog training schools, and if it's something that you truly want to do I would start now.
At least start off as an assistant or intern or the like. At least ask a reputable trainer in your area if you can sit in on classes because you would like all the experience you can get because that is what you want to do.

In order to really make a good $ out of it you need to be reputable, have refferals so like I said start AS EARLY as possible, start building up your knowledge & clientell now.
It is also a good idea to do the same with area breeders & local shows (even if it isn't obedience), a good trainer that makes money knows everything about every breed, all obedience commands (hand & vocal), knows all aspects of obedience showing, how breeders work & so on.

Good luck!

[Miss Z]

I don't really know, but is there anywhere that you can gain experience in dog shows etc? I don't know if there are any dog shows around where you live, but here there are plenty of county shows and stuff in the summer, occasionally i've helped at horse shows as a groom (for a friend), and making sure that people know when it's time to enter the collecting ring. I saw people doing that kind of thing for the dog shows too. Just ask on the day, they're usually glad of help. The experience with dogs will be useful when you actually become a dog trainer but i'm no expert in this field, so i could have it all wrong

[k9krazee]

My Aunt is an agility trainer. She made her own "club" and all the classes she offers are at her own house, with her own equipment. She actually makes quite a bit of money, she doesn't have a "real" job and does the agility thing during the week, agility shows on the weekends and also grooms dogs (out of her home) on the side. Sounds like a perfect life to me, lol.

[bckrazy]

It depends on where you want to go - there's actual k-9 training which is more involved, requires much more schooling and gets much better pay, a certified dog behavior consultant, working for a training school or owning a training school. Most dog trainers are self-educated, read a lot about training and go to seminars all over the country. There are dog training schools everywhere, but some are complete rip-offs so be very careful where you go.

I volunteered for at 4 Paws University, and dog training is a really serious job and can be scary at times. You have to be a strong person and be able to apply good judgement on the spot to solve a behavior... I don't think it's a job suited to most people, at all! But if you really want to you should totally go for it. Have you taken Sassy to Obedience classes? You should join an Obedience club, take her to classes, and volunteer to help before and after class to set up and such. You can get a lot of good advice for good trainers. Here are a couple of links ...

http://www.apdt.com/
http://www.ccpdt.org/

[Alysser]

Sadly, no. She is really dog aggressive sometimes and my parents don't want to take any chances.I trained Sassy myself and she is pretty well behaved unless vistors come. I have read alot of training books so I'm okay with the basic stuff. But not anywhere near as good as the experts. I am not old enough to volunteer. But as soon as I am I am volunteering or at least going to some training classes. Thanks everyone and thanks for the links!