Dog training is more than just a job — it’s a passion. When you teach a dog a new obedience command or modify a bad behavior, you’re helping it secure a happier, healthier future with its family. If you love spending time with dogs and teaching them new techniques, becoming a professional dog trainer might seem like the natural next step. Read on to learn more about how you can cement a successful career in dog training.
How Do I Become a Professional Dog Trainer?
While anyone can teach a dog to sit or stay, not everybody can be a successful dog trainer. Professional dog trainers use a combination of passion, skills, and knowledge to encourage positive behaviors, modify poor habits and strengthen the connection between owner and dog. To develop these abilities, most trainers start out with dog training schools.
If you want to become a certified dog trainer, school is an absolute must. At The Dog Wizard, we offer a thorough training program that teaches animal enthusiasts everything they need to know to train dogs. Upon completion of the program, every graduate receives certification that proves they understand the dog training fundamentals. Let’s take a more in-depth look at what attending The Dog Wizard Academy involves.
The Dog Wizard Academy: Our Dog Training Program
With more and more people staying home due to pandemic-related restrictions, an increasing number of people have adopted pets. You can expect these families to depend on the help of experienced animal behavior consultants, even long after the pandemic ends.
Due to the increase in demand, the dog training industry needs more trainers than ever. At The Dog Wizard, we’re always looking for determined, hard-working dog enthusiasts to join our team. Not only do we offer certification, but we also give dedicated dog trainers the opportunity to open their very own dog training business. However, before we get to that, let’s review what our program entails.
1. Enrollment Process
All our professional dog trainers start out by enrolling in our academy. Rather than bombard you with documents and training information, we like to start off with a conversation. During this initial talk, we’ll ask about your background with animals and why you want to pursue a career in training dogs. By learning more about you and your motivations, we can help ensure your experience with our academy is as fulfilling as possible.
After this conversation, we’ll go over some essential details of our program. These include:
- Financing/monetary information
- How to use our online training portal
- What to expect during in-person training
If you have any questions about our program or even general questions about dog training careers, our team is more than happy to answer them.
2. Virtual Training
Once you’ve completed the enrollment stage, you’ll receive a special log-in for our online training portal. Here, you’ll encounter tons of resources that cover how to connect with pets, instill new techniques and modify dog behavior. You’ll also enjoy these unique benefits of online training:
- Flexibility: Rather than following a strict schedule, you can access our resources whenever you have time. This is especially helpful if you have other obligations, such as work or personal commitments.
- Customization: Dog trainers can use the resources they feel will be the most helpful for their studies. For instance, if you’re a visual learner, you can focus on videos.
- Self-motivation: Working with dogs is unpredictable — that’s why professional dog trainers need to be self-motivated and driven. Setting your own schedule and completing virtual learning shows you have what it takes.
From informative texts and essays to immersive videos and interactive quizzes, there’s a learning tool for everyone. There’s even the option to submit your own practical-application videos. By using our online tools, you’ll develop the skills you need to thrive during the in-person training portion.
3. In-Person Training
If you want to be a professional dog trainer, it goes without saying that you have to work with real dogs. At The Dog Wizard Academy, we have an on-site training location in Cincinnati, Ohio. New trainers will have the opportunity to collaborate with different animals, work under mentors and forge valuable relationships with fellow trainers. Here are a few stand-out features of the program:
- Speed: We want trainees to become talented dog obedience instructors as quickly as possible. Our fast-paced course can be completed in just five weeks.
- Practice: The in-person training sessions are your chance to apply the theories and techniques you’ve learned to real-world settings.
- Collaboration: At The Dog Wizard, we encourage students to help one another. Not only will you enjoy advice from our professionals, but you’ll also get to share tips with fellow trainers.
The ultimate purpose of the in-person training section is to help you develop the skills and expertise you’ll need to further your dog training career.
What Happens After Training?
Once you successfully complete our program, our certification council will give you documentation that confirms you’ve been through our extensive, hands-on training program and you understand our progressive and innovative methods. This establishes your credibility as a dog trainer and opens the door to new career opportunities.
Unlike other dog trainer programs, The Dog Wizard doesn’t abandon you after graduation. Instead, we help connect you with opportunities that align with your personal ambitions. Most graduates pursue one of two avenues: becoming a trainer with us or becoming the owner of their own The Dog Wizard location.
Job Placement
Every graduate of The Dog Wizard immediately becomes a candidate for a training job within our growing network. With franchise locations across the country, we’re always in need of new trainers who are experienced when it comes to our patented techniques. Moreover, because you’ve completed our special training program, we know you have the passion, enthusiasm, and communication skills we’re looking for. While working for us, you can expect the following:
- Supportive environment: At The Dog Wizard, we pride ourselves on respecting the personal boundaries of every trainer, owner, and dog. No matter the location, you can trust us to encourage a warm, positive atmosphere.
- Collaborative mindset: Teamwork is one of the key facets we emphasize here at The Dog Wizard — we always motivate our trainers to work together and lift each other up.
- Learning opportunities: We believe there’s always a chance to learn more. Once you’re out in the field, you’ll encounter a variety of dog breeds (and behaviors) that will challenge you and ultimately help you grow.
The job opportunities depend on which of our locations need trainers — with so many dog owners looking for assistance, this number is constantly changing. However, if you’re open to relocating, there’s bound to be a training position available.
Ownership
Many of our graduates love training and prefer to remain as dog trainers at one of our franchise locations. Others, however, want to further their career in the industry. If you fall into the latter category, you’ll be pleased to know that The Dog Wizard offers plenty of opportunities for growth. We’ve had many team members (including trainers and kennel techs) progress to managing their own successful dog training businesses.
Of course, running a business is easier said than done. Fortunately, by working with The Dog Wizard, you’ll have access to our resources and ongoing support. There’s nothing we enjoy more than seeing our team members succeed, so you can expect us to be there with you every step of the way.
Is Dog Training Right for Me?
We open our doors to all driven, talented individuals looking to carve out a career in dog training. However, before you enroll in our program, it’s important to determine whether dog training is the right field for you. If you’re unsure of what you want out of your career, consider these advantages:
- Opportunity to work with dogs: If you’re passionate about animals, what could be better than spending all day with them?
- In-demand services: Because so many people adopted dogs during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for dog trainers is constantly growing.
- Potential for growth: As mentioned earlier, The Dog Wizard gives all trainers the chance to expand their careers.
While there are many practical benefits to working as a trainer, the most important factor is passion. As long as you love spending time with canines, you’re sure to enjoy a career in animal behavior.
Request a Consultation Today!
Are you interested in turning your love for dogs into a profession? If so, we’re interested in hearing from you. We want to learn all about your unique background, interests, and goals, then craft a plan that helps you achieve those ambitions. Get started with a career in dog training by requesting a consultation or calling The Dog Wizard at (877) 585-9727 today!