So, you’ve completed QC Pet Studies’ Dog Training Course and earned your International Dog Training Professional™ (IDTP™) certification – congratulations! But now what? Well, there are many career options available to dog trainers, and the best one for you will depend on your specific skills and interests. Today, we’ll discuss 7 popular dog trainer career paths available to you once you’re certified.
Plus, we’ll also provide some tips on how to choose the right career for you!
Read on to learn more about these exciting careers in dog training!
Career Option #1: Get Hired as a Dog Training Instructor
If you’re a people person who loves dogs and wants to share your knowledge with others, then why not apply for a job as a dog training instructor with an established company? This might very well be the perfect fit for you!
As a dog training instructor, you’ll be responsible for teaching dog training classes to groups of students or individual clients. This type of training can be done in-person, online, or both. You’ll need to be able to adapt your teaching methods to different types of learners, as well as be able to manage a class of rowdy pups!
But if you’re up for the challenge, then this could be a very rewarding career.
Tips for Writing Your Resume:
- Be sure to highlight any relevant experience you have working with both dogs and people. This could include previous experience teaching classes, working one-on-one with clients, or volunteering with animal shelters or rescue organizations.
- Dog training instructors must have a strong knowledge of dog behavior and training techniques. So, be sure to list any relevant coursework you’ve completed, as well as any certifications or licenses you hold.
Here are 43 more tips for writing a solid resume, courtesy of The Muse!
Tips for Nailing Your Job Interview:
- Be prepared to discuss your teaching experience and methods, as well as your knowledge of dog behavior and training. The interviewer will also want to know about your experience working with different types of dogs, so be sure to have some examples ready.
- Know why you deserve the position. The interviewer will also likely ask you what you think makes a good dog training instructor. So, be sure to have a thoughtful answer prepared!
- Dress to impress! First impressions matter, so make sure you look professional and put-together for your interview.
- Don’t be late. Punctuality is key in any job, but especially in a dog training instructor role where you’ll need to be able to manage a group of dogs. If anything, you should aim to arrive a little bit early to your interview!
- Ask questions yourself! This is your chance to get to know more about the company and the Dog Training Instructor role. For this reason, we recommend coming prepared with a list of questions to ask your interviewer.
- Research the company beforehand. This will not only help you prepare for questions they might ask you, but it will also give you a better idea of whether or not the company is the right fit for you. Plus, many interviewers will often start by asking what you know about their company. If you’re able to answer this question confidently, it will show that you’re truly interested in the position!
Career Option #2: Become a Dog Behavior Consultant
Do you have a passion for helping dogs with behavioral problems? Then you might want to consider a career as a dog behavior consultant! As a dog behavior consultant, you’ll work with dog owners to help them understand and correct their dog’s behavioral problems.
This can be a very rewarding career, as you’ll get to see the positive impact you have on dogs and their families. However, it can also be challenging, as some behavioral problems can be difficult to solve. But if you’re up for the challenge, then this could be an excellent dog trainer career choice!
Career Option #3: Become a Dog Training Researcher
Do you love dogs and want to help contribute to the scientific understanding of dog behavior? Then a career as a dog training researcher might be the perfect fit for you! In this field, you’ll conduct experiments and collect data on various aspects of dog training and behavior.
From there, you’ll analyze your data and write scientific papers to share your findings with the world. This is a great career choice for those who are interested in both dogs and science!
Career Option #4: Write About Your Dog Trainer Experience/Knowledge
Do you have a knack for writing and want to share your knowledge of dog training with the world? Then consider a career as a dog training writer! In this role, you’ll write articles, books, or even blog posts about all things related to dog training.
This is a great way to share your knowledge and help other dog owners who might be struggling with their own training efforts. Plus, it’s a great way to build your personal brand as a dog trainer!
Career Option #5: Start Your Own Dog Trainer Business
If you’re entrepreneurial and want to be your own boss, then owning a dog training business might be the right career for you! As the owner of a dog training business, you’ll be responsible for all aspects of the business – from marketing, to finances and operations, and more.
This can be a great career option for those who are self-motivated and want to be in control of their own career. However, it’s important to note that owning a business is a lot of work, so this isn’t the right career for everyone.
That said, if you’re dedicated to making your dog training business a success, then it can be an incredibly rewarding career! In fact, most QC graduates prefer to go on to start/run their own business… And the number of them that have gone on to find massive success is too many to count!
Pro Tip: Learn how to start your very own dog trainer business in just 6 easy steps!
Career Option #6: Become a Freelance Dog Trainer
Do you want the freedom to set your own hours and work with clients on your own terms? Then consider a career as a freelance dog trainer! In this role, you’ll be self-employed and work with clients on a contract basis.
Now, you may be wondering, “How is this different from starting my own business?”
The key difference is that as a freelancer, you’ll work with multiple clients – instead of just running your own business. For example, you might work with a local dog daycare to train their dogs, or you might contract with a pet store to provide training classes.
This can be a great career option for those who want the flexibility to set their own schedule and work with a variety of clients. Similarly, it’s also a smart option for those who don’t want to commit to a full-time job (although you definitely can if you want to!).
Just keep in mind, however, that freelance work can sometimes be unpredictable. After all, you’re relying on others to give you work. As a result, there may be times when work is slow.
Career Option #7: Become a Social Media Expert in Dog Training
Nowadays, social media is a powerful tool that can be used for a career in and of itself. With the right approach (and some luck, admittedly), you might just be able to establish yourself as a dog training social media influencer.
For instance, say you want to primarily create video content about dog training in order to help educate others. If you’re able to amass a big audience and consistently get lots of views on your videos, you may be able to make money through things like YouTube ads or sponsorships. From there, every video you make has the potential to earn you money – which means you can essentially make a career out of creating social media content about dog training!
How Social Media Can Help You Promote Other Dog Trainer Career Paths
Furthermore, you can also use social media to boost any of the other career options on this list!
For example, let’s say you want to become a dog training writer. You can use social media to promote your articles and build an audience for your work. Or, let’s say you own a dog training business. You can use social media to attract new clients and market your business.
Ultimately, the sky’s the limit when it comes to using social media for a career in dog training. So, if you’re good at promoting your content and building an audience, this might just be the perfect career path for you!
Why a Proper Certification Will Help You Land Good Careers in Dog Training
Of course, no matter which career path you choose, it’s important to have a quality certification from a reputable school – like QC Pet Studies – to help you land the best jobs.
Dog training is a serious profession. As such, employers and clients alike will want to see that you have the proper education and credentials before they hire you. In fact, if it ever comes down to someone with a certification vs. someone without one, the job will almost always go to the certified individual.
What’s more, getting professionally trained and certified as a dog trainer will also benefit you for these additional reasons:
- It’ll give you an edge over other job applicants who don’t have a certification
- Your training will help strengthen your skill set and build your confidence, which is essential when working with dogs (and their owners!)
- You’ll learn industry-recognized methods and techniques that will help you be a more effective dog trainer
- You’ll be able to join relevant professional organizations (like the International Dog Trainers Association)
- Being certified will allow you to charge people accordingly for your dog training services, since you’ll be perceived as the true professional you are
- You’ll have the wide array of skills needed to be able to hone in on competitive niches (e.g. obedience training, agility training, etc.)
As you can see, having a certification from QC Pet Studies will give you a big leg up in the dog training industry – no matter which career path you decide to pursue. So, let’s take a quick look at the Dog Training Course itself…
QC Pet Studies’ Dog Training Course
This self-paced, online certification program is divided into 4 sections:
- Introductory Units – Here you’ll learn all about dog breed characteristics, canine communication, fear responses and calming signals, canine learning theory, the fundamentals of safe dog training, and SO much more!
- Applying Training Principles – By this stage of QC’s Dog Training Course, you’ll be ready to start applying dog training principles in order to address and correct unwanted behaviors.
- Training People – As a dog trainer, you need to know not only how to train dogs – but also how to train people! For this reason, in this section of the program, you’ll learn everything from teaching different types of dog training classes, to creating understandable teaching strategies for clients and more!
- Business Training – Last but not least, this section of QC’s Dog Training Course will give you the business skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a professional dog trainer. In particular, you’ll discover how to create a business plan, secure the right insurance, market yourself, and get your business off the ground!
There is also a 5th (and optional) section of this course, which will help prepare you to write the Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) exam from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers – should you wish to do so.
How Long Does QC’s Dog Training Course Take To Complete?
Starting on the date you enroll, you’ll be given 2 full years to complete this program. However, we do not impose any deadlines or due dates on you – for any part of the course! This means that YOU get to decide when and how often you wish to focus on your studies.
That said, many QC graduates have found that by devoting a mere 1-2 hours per week to their course, they were able to graduate in as little as 3-6 months!
Will You Get Hands-On Training?
YES!
We recognize that even though this is an online course, you still need to get some legitimate, hands-on experience working with dogs. Otherwise, how can we realistically expect you to succeed in the real world?
For this reason, in addition to the online components of our Dog Training Course, we also challenge you with practical assignments. These mandatory assignments will make you take everything you’ve been learning in each unit and apply it in a real-world setting.
The assignments will also force you to get creative and come up with your own solutions to various training scenarios… Which is an excellent way to start developing your very own personal training style!
What’s Included In Your Course?
When you enroll in QC Pet Studies’ Dog Training Course, you’ll receive the following:
- Access to our Online Student Center, where all of your digital coursebooks, assignments, and templates will be found
- Personalized audio feedback from your tutor (who is a real-world dog trainer with years of experience) after every unit you submit
- Lifetime access to all of the various tools and resources available to you within the Online Student Center
- A lifetime discount of 50% off ALL other QC courses (including courses offered by our sister schools)
- Access to our private group, the QC Pet Studies Virtual Classroom, on Facebook
So, what are you waiting for? Get even more information by checking out our full Dog Training Course page!
Conclusion
There you have it! Once you’ve completed QC Pet Studies’ Dog Training Course and earned your IDTP™ certification, you’ll be ready to take on any of the 7 exciting career options discussed above.
Whether you want to train dogs full-time, teach people how to train their own pets, or open your own dog daycare business, this online program will give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed!
Got any questions for us? Leave us a comment down below – we’re always happy to chat!
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