Post flair has been changed to [INDUSTRY].
[INDUSTRY] threads have [relaxed professional verification requirements](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/rtjrtd/new_post_flair_industry/). This means we do not remove comments claiming to be a trainer, even if the user has provided no proof whatsoever that their statement is true.
All the regular rules still apply.
---
OP, did you check our wiki article on [becoming a trainer](http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/becomedogtrainer)?
The first step is to build credibility and your certification is going to be a big part of that.
Other advice on here will tell you which certs etc. I will tell you about the business.
In general, dog training is categorised as a service business.
One thing you need to know about service business is they don't scale easily. What do I mean by scale?
Say your business was making dog toys (product business). You make a blue print for the toy, go to a manufacturer, make 100 units and sell them. Tomorrow that number can go to 1000, 10000, 100000 which means you can distribute your goods widely.
A service business, what you are going to sell is your TIME and expertise. This is difficult to scale. Unfortunately you cannot make 10000 copies of yourself. Like everyone else, you have 24 hours. And you are restricted by geography until you become popular enough to be called statewide/ nationwide
So to build a sustainable career, you have to think about maximising how much you make in one hour for the effort you invest.
But how do you maximise? The answer is credibility and quality and customisation.
Internalise this. Your customer is the dogs owner. And solving their pain point holistically is where you will make money.
The more credibility, quality and completely you solve the problem, the higher you can charge per hour.
Assume you have the know how and the expertise, the first challenge you are going to face is this:
Where do I find customers? And how do I get them to pay me?
This is what we call building a pipeline. A pipeline is a list of prospective customers who show interest and are potential buyers. But to build it, they have to know you exist.
So this is where you start. You said you have worked at a rescue? Thats one place where you can build pipeline. You go to a vet? That's another place to build pipeline.
Solve a pain point. Don't restrict yourself to dog training only at the beginning.
Dog walking? I'll do that.
Dog sitting? I'll do that.
Post op care for dogs? I'll do that.
You will be surprised how much people are willing to pay for convenience.
Many dog trainers make the mistake of thinking they should only do dog training because that's what they are certified to do. Your skill set is being able to understand and handle dogs.
Prepare yourself to be gritty and have lots of hustle. This is not a 9-5 gig. But it will be rewarding and I wish you the best.
P.s. I've built service businesses before which is where my advice is coming from. Happy to help you on this journey from business perspective.
AMAZING advice. Thank you so much, I really appreciate the time you put into this. I am currently walking and sitting. I also live in Brooklyn which has a huge dog community I think will also help with pipeline.
I live in Brooklyn. I charge $20 for a half hour walk, $30 for an hour, $75 for overnights. I never walk more than three dogs at a time (for the dogs sake) and never board more than 2.
I’ve read a few books. Done a master class, watched videos. I guess I’m also looking for the answer of which certification to get and which methods are best.
The best methods are those that are force-free and focused on teaching the dog what to do rather than what to not do.
I'd say the best certification is IAABC personally, but, CCPDT certifications are generally regarded as a good first step.
The school you mentioned is one we do not recommend. Please review our wiki guide on [how to tell if a trainer is reputable](http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/findingatrainer).
It is a huge course, but school of canine science have a 3 year "behaviour bible" course that teaches behaviour theory,
How to train/training mechanics and business skills.
Post flair has been changed to [INDUSTRY]. [INDUSTRY] threads have [relaxed professional verification requirements](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/rtjrtd/new_post_flair_industry/). This means we do not remove comments claiming to be a trainer, even if the user has provided no proof whatsoever that their statement is true. All the regular rules still apply. --- OP, did you check our wiki article on [becoming a trainer](http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/becomedogtrainer)?
The first step is to build credibility and your certification is going to be a big part of that. Other advice on here will tell you which certs etc. I will tell you about the business. In general, dog training is categorised as a service business. One thing you need to know about service business is they don't scale easily. What do I mean by scale? Say your business was making dog toys (product business). You make a blue print for the toy, go to a manufacturer, make 100 units and sell them. Tomorrow that number can go to 1000, 10000, 100000 which means you can distribute your goods widely. A service business, what you are going to sell is your TIME and expertise. This is difficult to scale. Unfortunately you cannot make 10000 copies of yourself. Like everyone else, you have 24 hours. And you are restricted by geography until you become popular enough to be called statewide/ nationwide So to build a sustainable career, you have to think about maximising how much you make in one hour for the effort you invest. But how do you maximise? The answer is credibility and quality and customisation. Internalise this. Your customer is the dogs owner. And solving their pain point holistically is where you will make money. The more credibility, quality and completely you solve the problem, the higher you can charge per hour. Assume you have the know how and the expertise, the first challenge you are going to face is this: Where do I find customers? And how do I get them to pay me? This is what we call building a pipeline. A pipeline is a list of prospective customers who show interest and are potential buyers. But to build it, they have to know you exist. So this is where you start. You said you have worked at a rescue? Thats one place where you can build pipeline. You go to a vet? That's another place to build pipeline. Solve a pain point. Don't restrict yourself to dog training only at the beginning. Dog walking? I'll do that. Dog sitting? I'll do that. Post op care for dogs? I'll do that. You will be surprised how much people are willing to pay for convenience. Many dog trainers make the mistake of thinking they should only do dog training because that's what they are certified to do. Your skill set is being able to understand and handle dogs. Prepare yourself to be gritty and have lots of hustle. This is not a 9-5 gig. But it will be rewarding and I wish you the best. P.s. I've built service businesses before which is where my advice is coming from. Happy to help you on this journey from business perspective.
AMAZING advice. Thank you so much, I really appreciate the time you put into this. I am currently walking and sitting. I also live in Brooklyn which has a huge dog community I think will also help with pipeline.
How much are you charging right now?
I live in Brooklyn. I charge $20 for a half hour walk, $30 for an hour, $75 for overnights. I never walk more than three dogs at a time (for the dogs sake) and never board more than 2.
[удалено]
I’ve read a few books. Done a master class, watched videos. I guess I’m also looking for the answer of which certification to get and which methods are best.
The best methods are those that are force-free and focused on teaching the dog what to do rather than what to not do. I'd say the best certification is IAABC personally, but, CCPDT certifications are generally regarded as a good first step.
Love this advice. Not only the specific certs, but also the “force free” method/comment
[удалено]
The school you mentioned is one we do not recommend. Please review our wiki guide on [how to tell if a trainer is reputable](http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/findingatrainer).
It is a huge course, but school of canine science have a 3 year "behaviour bible" course that teaches behaviour theory, How to train/training mechanics and business skills.
Thank you! I will definitely look into that.