Can I ask some advice from a seasoned trainer....

So I officially got my diploma and certificate from Penn Foster. I am not really sure where to go from here to start on the path to make dog training a career, full time. What do you suggest as next steps? Here is what I have done/am doing...

In previous post I am having business cards printed up to put around

I am interning at a local training facility just to see training from start to finish

What do you suggest, at the first one and one, where I am by myself to start?? It's really scary!!

I'm probably not going to be much help... as I never did do business cards. But then I never promoted myself as much as Dave promoted me. Dave is the professional trainer/behaviorist who has done nothing but canine training for 30 years. I trained with him... "apprenticed" with him so to speak... for two full years and he still is a valuable resource to me in situations I can't handle myself. He did a LOT of obedience work, but then several years ago quit doing basic obedience at the "pet" level and turned all of his efforts towards training police/drug/bomb dogs. So he started farming out his clients who wanted obedience... and I "inherited" several them. He trained me well... and I have the utmost respect for him. He's awesome and I will never ever be as good as he is.

So I never did classes... all of what I did was one-on-one training with individual owners & dogs. I preferred it that way. In the beginning, Dave would be with me because I felt more "secure" with him there... but as time passed I went more out on my own and requests for my services increased through word of mouth and recommendations from Dave. I charged $50 an hour... it was a good way to earn extra spending money, and I enjoyed it immensely. During this time, I had an AWESOME german shepherd (Duchess) (still VERY partial to this breed) who I was very proud of, and who had earned a schutzhund II title. I had to have her put to sleep a few years ago, not long before Bailey entered into my life. I had every intention of getting another german shepherd, but my dad had gotten very sick and I had to take care of him a lot... so I didn't have the time to train another german shepherd... and in fact, that's when I gave up private training sessions pretty much except for friends. My dad died in Dec. '03.... and my mother went into the nursing home 3 months after my dad's death... and I inherited Bailey from a neighbor a mile down the road who couldn't seem to keep him at home. The rest is history! LOL I still do one-on-one training sessions at the specific request of Dave occasionally... and when friends need help. I admit... it's where my passion lies and when I retire it is my intent to train service dogs.

This is more information than you asked for... but that's the "reader's digest" version of my story. Did I go to school? No..... but I have taken a few canine behavior courses in the last few years which have helped me LOADS with my training efforts.
I will always contend that any good trainer must be able to evaluate a dog effectively prior to ANY training being done.

So I never went to school... never had a business card.... never had a website....and never had a dog training "career" as such. I have never and will never profess to be a professional trainer... I am not. But I've had a lot of experience and have been exposed to some of the best trainers.

You might start by helping friends and family for free... and asking them to spread the word. Have a demonstration dog. (I had one and it helps to SHOW people what the end result will be... people can't argue with success).  I usually hae Bailey handy so that I can demonstrate a learned behavior.   After all.... if you are going to ask people to trust you to train their dog.... your own dog should be well trained, right?  Business cards can't hurt... so have some made up. Work/apprentice with a professional trainer whom you like and trust... you will learn more from that person than any school you might attend. There is absolutely no better way than to work with someone first-hand and have that person as a resource when you start on your own! Because... trust me... there will be situations where you will need to have a professional's help.

I hope there's something in all these ramblings that will help you ! I wish you ALL the best of luck with this !!

Nora,

That helps a lot. I need to find a mentor so to speak who can help me. Fred is really well trained, if I needed to have him as a "show" dog I could do that. Alice would probably cost me business. She has selective listening, but I am still working with her.

Can I ask you one more thing if you don't mind. When you went out on your own and you appear at an owndes door for the first time where did you start? Do you let them tell you what they are looking for or did you go in with a plan?? Thank you for all your help with this, if I am going to give this a go I just want to do the best I can with it.

You can't develop a plan unless you know what the owner's goals are. For 90% of the people in this world who hire a trainer... basic manners/basic training is sufficient. Most people just want a dog who is sociable (which includes being able to take the dog most anywhere) and who knows the 5 basic commands. In the beginning, I would not tackle trying to train aggressive dogs or dogs with major behavior issues... cut yourself some slack and deal with dogs who are not vicious and just need and are receptive to basic training.
One owner might need help with potty training a puppy.. while another owner may need help with teaching commands... and another might just need help with the recall (which I have ALWAYS maintained is THE most important thing to train). I always tell people..... it doesn't matter how well your dog can sit or go down... or roll over..... if the dog won't come to you to do it !! I've had people tell me how well their dog can roll over... and then they chase the dog all over the place trying to get catch it so they can show me this accomplishment... haha (sad...)...

So yes.... you will initially need to evaluate the dog. Can the dog be handled? Is the dog sociable? If it's a small dog, will it allow you to pick it up? Evaluate the temperment. Dogs temperaments generally fall into three categories: assertive, responsive, and shy. If the dog falls into the "aggressive" category... go home! haha Ask the owner if the dog has any physical ailments that would prevent the dog from learning the commands the owner wishes the dog to learn.

You need to set a flat fee for this initial consultation and evaluation. In this area this runs about $150.

Yeah... find a good trainer and ask permission to hang with him/her... it will be your best teacher.. I promise!

Thanks Nora, this really helps!!

I don't know enough about them to give them any rating at all.  I hadn't even heard of them until I saw your question and googled them.  Sounds like a franchise...  is this a company you are wanting to get a trainer from to train your dog?  The following sentence makes me a bit skeptical....

"I don’t know much about dog training. Can I still be a Bark Buster?
Yes. Bark Busters provides a comprehensive training at the launch of your business. This three week long class provides a great deal of hands-on work with dogs, as well as providing practical knowledge about how to successfully operate a dog training business."

I would personally shy away from ANY company that claims to provide comprehensive hands-on "work" with dogs in a three-week period of time.   Sounds like this company is much more into the "money" aspect of things versus the "training" aspect.... JMO. 

Sorry... just sounds like a gimmick to me....

Nora, will you be on line mentor ??

I just had a long talk with Guy and I told him this is something I would like to do full time. I am not particularly fond of my job, it's pretty boring and working with dogs I feel like I have a passion for. I truly enjoy it from my heart and I know once I get experience I can be really good at it, how can you not be good at something you enjoy, or at least I hope so!! He said to come up with a plan where I can potentially make a living training dogs. I am working on that right now. Nora, it's possible to make a career from this right?? I just don't want to set myself up for something unrealistic, but I believe in my  heart I was meant to do this.

Nora, thank you very much for sharing your insight and learnings with me. You pose some very realistic questions that I need to look at. I also think some of those questions I cannot answer yet, time will tell as will experience. I am 35 years young, Guy makes a good living and we talked about if I do pursue this that we could get married and I could go on his benefits as well.

I think based on your advice, my own feeling and what is right I am going to take the year of 2008 and see where it leads as far as training goes. I am going to experience both group settings and one on one. I am going to learn as much as I can from others by watching and see how I do one on one with different breeds. I think through rescue and other volunteer I have learned a lot about body language and watching dogs. Rescue by far has been my best learning tool.

I feel a sense of relief being able to pose such questions and get honest feedback, it's exactly what I need. I guess I have to start somewhere and well, today is the day I started on the path I hope will change my life and career. This will truly be a year of learning and answers. Thank you again Nora.

Valerie

Valerie (geez... I always call YOU "Alice"... and that's your dog's name... so sorry!)...I'm always happy to help when I can, although I certainly don't have all the answers. Just this past week with my own dog I had many more questions than I had answers. I think you are wise to do exactly what you said you plan to do with the year 2008... step back and assess the situation as it relates to your desires, dreams and current skill level... and build on it. I learned a long time ago that my love of animals did not make me a good trainer. But you know what? Dogs (animals) sense those who care for them and do indeed respond better to individuals from whom they receive positive energy.

You will find that people are eager to have a well-trained dog, but seldom are willing to put in the energy, time and commitment it takes to end up with one. I think above all.. this has been my primary frustration... NOT with the dogs but with the owners/handlers. But do some "freebies" on the dogs of family and/or friends.... a bit of your time and effort... and willingness to go the extra mile at first... will lend itself to word of mouth and before you know it you'll be getting calls from people wanting you to help them train their furpups.

I wish you a world of success in following your dream!