become a dog trainer Archives - The Modern Dog Trainer

How to Add Dog Training to Your Pet Business

by Ines | Feb 2, 2019 | Business, Recent Blog Posts

Have you ever thought about adding dog training services to your grooming, pet sitting, or pet store business? Dog training is a crucial part of raising a new dog in today’s busy and social world.

Your clients are already looking to you for guidance when it comes to other aspects of their dogs’ care so why not provide an extra, special experience for them and their beloved canine?

Benefits of Adding Dog Training Services to Your Pet Business

Providing dog training services for your clients will help your pet business become the go-to place for all your clients’ dog care needs.

Value-Added Offering

If your business is already a hub of pet owners, adding dog training services will enhance their experience and help you become even more of a pet industry leader in your community. Offering dog training services is a wonderful value-add offering for your clients.

Key Differentiator And Customer Loyalty

Unlike veterinary services, dog training is unregulated so it is fairly easy to add these services to an existing business. This can help you differentiate your business from other pet businesses in the area.

Whether you’re a groomer, pet sitter, or pet store, dog training services can help your business stand out as one that truly goes the extra mile for their customers. This will help grow your customer’s loyalty to your particular business for the life of their pet.

Easy Sell

It is well known in the business world that increasing sales to existing clients is much easier and provides a better ROI than working to acquire a completely new customer.

You already have customers who may be struggling with their dog’s behaviors or who may have just gotten a new puppy that need dog training services. Why not offer services that your existing customers need?

New Income Opportunity

Without even having to acquire one new customer, you can increase your income by offering additional services to existing clients. When structured correctly, dog training services could help generate consistent foot traffic and sales for your pet business.

Hiring Someone vs Learning the Skills Yourself

Whether you should hire a dog trainer or become a dog trainer yourself will depend on how quickly you want to begin offering these services.

If dog training is something you want to begin offering this year, look for someone that can meet the needs of your clients in your community. Becoming a good dog trainer will take some time, education, and experience and there is likely someone else in your community with the right skillset and is waiting for this kind of opportunity.

You can hire them and then take some time to acquire the right dog training skills yourself. Rushing into training your customers’ dogs without understanding animal learning theory could be detrimental for the long term success of your business, your customers, and their dogs.

Qualifications of a Good Dog Trainer

Whether you choose to become a dog trainer yourself or hire someone to come in and offer classes in your space, there are a few things you should look for or acquire.

Like I mentioned above, dog training is not currently regulated in the US. This makes it difficult to differentiate qualified dog trainers from unqualified ones.

As a dog trainer with over 10 years in the industry, here are a few expectations I’d have of a qualified dog trainer:

Consistent Continuing Education & Certification

Regularly Attend Seminars – A great dog trainer will consistently attend seminars and conferences. This exposes them to other ways of training and expands their understanding of dog training. Just like in any industry, the best keep their skills and knowledge sharp!
Certification – The CCPDT is the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession. Certifications from this organization are often a good sign that a dog trainer is committed to education, experience, and choose to abide by modern and humane dog training practices.
Formal Courses – Many trainers opt to invest in formal in-person education through a variety of dog training schools (Karen Pryor Academy, Dog Trainers Academy, CATCH, etc). In my opinion, these are certainly a plus, but are not completely necessary to becoming a great dog trainer. They are often very expensive and do not necessarily prove that someone knows how to train a variety of dogs. Structured education based on the science of learning theory plus adequate experience is a perfect combination.

Experience

Dog trainers can acquire substantial experience through a variety of avenues. Working with a variety of dogs and their people is the best way to learn how to apply what you learn in a course, seminar, or book to real life situations.

Look for dog trainers with experience:

Working with rescue dogs – You’ll likely have many customers that adopt puppies and dogs from a rescue. These dogs often come with unique challenges due to their unstable upbringing and unknown genetic history.
Working with young puppies – Puppies will require consistent training for at least the first two years of their lives, so find a trainer that can set up your clients with a training program or plan for the duration. Puppies need different behaviors addressed as they progress through puppyhood, adolescence, and young adult stages.

Attitude

Finding team members with the right attitude might be the hardest piece. You want to make sure your new team members are on board with the way you want a training program implemented and find someone that can execute it to the best of their ability.

The dog training industry, just like the rest of the pet industry, has a high turnover rate due to the type of work and long hours. You’ll want to find someone that’s interested in working on your project for the long term.

Team Members

Many dog trainers get into dog training because they love dogs. Unfortunately, this doesn’t lend itself naturally to people that love spending time with other people. Be sure to evaluate your potential hires for personality and attitude towards others as well as their dog training and handling skills.

Customer Service

Training dogs requires patience, but often it is working with their people that is the most difficult part. Being a dog trainer means you are essentially becoming a teacher to people. People call and email you for help – not their dogs.

This should be a key consideration when building your dog training practice. Your policies on how to treat people and handle customer service issues should be clearly documented and discussed with potential employees. Set your employees up to be successful just as you would a customer!

Dog Training Insurance

Since you likely already have a pet business up and running, adding dog training services shouldn’t come with huge costs. It has a low barrier to entry.

I’m not a lawyer of any kind so please consult with your attorney for official recommendations for your business, but many dog trainers have the following insurances to cover their services and business.

Professional Liability Insurance also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance – This insurance covers you and your business in case a client claims that you did not fulfill your promises when they hired you. Find company that is used to servicing dog trainers since trainers have unique circumstances to consider.
Updated Property Insurance – Notify your existing insurance provider of the new services you’ll be offering and make sure they are covered under your existing plan or update it so that it is.
Dog Trainer Liability Protection Coverage – Since you or someone in your business will be working with a variety of dogs with different behavior issues, this particular coverage is important. This insurance covers claims for bodily injury, personal injury or property damage to others. A good policy will include coverage for damage to property in your Care, Custody or Control including the Pet.

Consult with an attorney that is familiar with the unique situations that dog trainers come across to help you decide which insurance policy is necessary for your business.

Structuring Your Dog Training Services

Training services are usually delivered in a few standard ways:

Private Lessons – These lessons are held one-to-one in the client’s home or public place. Private lessons help clients get precisely the assistance they need with their dog’s particular challenges.
Group Classes – Group classes are typically held once a week for a few weeks with a start and end date. You may decide to customize the structure and implementation of your group classes to better suit your clients by making them open enrollment (on-going classes that anyone can join at any time).
Day Training – Day training services typically supplement private lesson clients to help them make progress more quickly. With this service, the dog trainer works directly with the dog several times a week without the owner present.
Board & Trains – A board and train program is when you host the dog in your facility for a few weeks to complete it’s training goals. It is an intensive program that is beneficial to dogs that can handle the environmental change from living at home. Board and trains are usually followed up with private lessons at home to make sure the dog maintains his new behaviors in the home environment.

Recurring or Drop-in Classes

Many trainers start off by offering single lessons for purchase or one group class at a time, but this is not a sustainable way to generate recurring income month to month. It also does not serve your customers in the best possible way because, in reality, they will need ongoing support and training throughout their dog’s life.

In order to better serve clients and their dogs, you could offer initial foundation classes followed up with recurring group classes or drop-in class memberships to come in for a training skills brush up when they need it.

Package Services Together

Since your pet business already has services and products to offer, you could easily transition to offering special packages or memberships to your clients that include dog training services.

For more information on packaging training services for the best results, consistent income, and how to set your pricing, check out the lesson:

How to Structure Your Services & Pricing (PDF)

Use this lesson to:

Discover what services your customers really need and want.
Research competitors to differentiate yourself.
Create packages of services for results and sustainable income.
Understand your operating costs.
Learn about pricing strategies so you can charge enough for your services.

Includes: Lesson (2 Parts) + 2 Worksheets

View the Lesson

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Finding The Joy In Your Clients

by TMDT Team | Nov 13, 2018 | Business, Communication

Guest post graciously submitted by Megan Wallace B.S., CPDT-KA, CNWI, owner of Dogs Deciphered LLC.

Dog training is a people-centric business, which can be a bit of a shock for new trainers who got interested in the field because they prefer dogs to people. I’ve yet to meet a dog with a checkbook, which means that our clients are the people, and we are providing them with a service, which is educating them in how to train their dog. I am totally obsessed with dogs, and think they are the most amazing creatures ever, however I got into dog training for the people. The way I see it, if my goal is to help as many dogs as possible, I will never achieve that goal on my own. I can’t keep enough dogs in my own home to make any significant change to the dog population as a whole. So, I have to connect with the guardians of my favorite beings on the planet, people. In helping them to find understanding with their dogs, I have helped more dogs, because their current and future dogs will benefit from that information. If they cannot process the information, or aren’t successful with it, I haven’t accomplished my goal.

I wanted to take my goal a step further and help other trainers be more successful, thus helping even more dogs. I came to recognize that other trainers are not always successful in connecting with clients. This leaves them feeling frustrated with their jobs, as they are unable to help the dog. Sometimes, this leads to blaming the client – they aren’t compliant, they don’t practice, they don’t listen, and so on. I believe it is up to us as trainers to discover why they are struggling, and take on the challenge of helping them to succeed. People are complicated beings with a variety of circumstances, experiences, and motivations. Your job is to help with one aspect of their lives, their dog’s behavior.

What Can You Gain?

There are several benefits to improving your feelings toward your clients, starting with greater job satisfaction. The more you like your clients, the more you want them to succeed, which makes you work harder at your job. You will improve your client communication, because you are working toward gaining empathy with your clients. Again, the better you communicate, the more success your clients will have. This is a positive feedback loop that benefits everyone, you, the client, and the dog(s). All of this will result in better results, and increased word of mouth. People don’t tell their friends and neighbors about services that were just satisfactory, they tell them about services that shined in client communication while providing results. Being able to work with, and succeed with “difficult” people, whom others might struggle with reaching, gives you a competitive edge in your market. By using the framework described in this article, you can become comfortable with conflict, which is a special skill set in working directly with people.

Understanding Your Clients

There is a reason a prospective client contacts you, and these reasons vary greatly. The clients we all tend to love are the proactive sort. “I just adopted this dog, I’d like to start training right away” sounds so much more inviting than “If you can’t help us, we will have to get rid of the dog!”. It’s important to remember that many people have more reasons not to call than to call. People wait to reach out for help for a number of reasons, finances being the top of the list. Other reasons that might delay first contact include:

Scheduling restrictions
Embarrassment
Unsuccessful attempts to contact a different trainer
Have tried training before and felt unsuccessful
Lack of resources (no one to ask who to call for help)
Disagreement within the family regarding the dog
Health issues
Belief they can solve the problem through internet advice

Clearly there are a lot of reasons people may choose to delay seeking professional advice in helping their dog. Very rarely is the reason “doesn’t care about the dog”, yet that seems to be how some trainers perceive this delay. The information given to you at first contact can shape your attitude toward that client, but you should be cautious to let it do so, because it often doesn’t tell the whole story. Remember that upon first contact, your client may be under a good deal of stress. Be forgiving of any information they give you, including actions they might have taken against their dog. They are currently operating with a lack of knowledge, and you are just the person they need.

Depending on whether you do in-home training, or facility based training, you may be able to tell more or less about your client’s life circumstances. I have found this to be absolutely no indication of how dedicated a client will be, so this information is to be taken in without judgement. However, having a feel for whether a client has a limited income vs. money to spare can help you to communicate in a way that is empathetic toward their situation. Suggesting cost effective options for some of the equipment and enrichment items they might need will go a long way to helping someone who saved up for your training package feel like they can accomplish their goals. Other clients may be more than willing and able to buy anything that might help them, and will appreciate you suggesting the top products on the market.

Other questions that will help you to understand why a client might be frustrated, angry, or disengaged from the training process include:

How long have they been dealing with this situation?
What is their lifestyle, and how does the dog fit into it?
What is their previous dog experience? What about training experience?
How is the behavior affecting the client’s everyday life?

I find it is important when you meet a client for the first time to get a sense for how much time and energy they are able and willing to put into trying to change their dog’s behavior. Try to formulate an answer for this question without judgement. Remember, the reasons that limit people from committing more time or money to their dog rarely include “I don’t care about the dog”. If you can tailor your own expectations, and the client’s expectations to fit the amount of work that can be done, you will both be happier in the end. Be creative in thinking of options for those who can’t afford to buy a large training package, or have difficulty finding the time to train. Often, if you can get them started and they see results, they will continue to make training a priority.

Developing Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s experience by imagining yourself into that experience. This is a skill that most of us started developing as a child, gaining more understanding as we experienced more of the world. Some people hold the false belief that “you are who you are” when it comes to your ability to empathize with others, but we know that dogs can change strongly ingrained behaviors, and so can we! Learning to empathize takes a willingness to change, and think past your own experience.

The most important thing about using an empathetic approach is listening to what your client has to say. Listening is also a skill that needs to be developed, and active listening is important to empathizing. Acknowledging what your client has told you, “It sounds like you are feeling very frustrated about Fluffy’s behavior” helps them to feel heard. If you don’t understand what your client is saying, ask them to clarify. The easiest way to understand someone else’s experience is to ask them about it! Watch their body language to see if they feel comfortable or concerned, so that you can respond appropriately.

If you find yourself disagreeing with a client, consider their perspective, and evaluate your own attitude. It may be that they don’t have enough information to make an informed opinion, or their personal experience is clouding their ability to understand the bigger picture. However, it could also be that you are overly focused on being “right”, and that by opening your mind to other possibilities you could reach some understanding. An important part of empathy is recognizing and accepting that your perspective is not shared with every other person.

Our clients are not purposefully doing things wrong. There is a ton of information, and misinformation, out there about changing dog behavior. We can’t expect our clients to be masters of wading through this information to find only the best sources. Often people’s choices are influenced by friends or family member’s recommendations, or the top results brought up by a search engine. What they have done in the past should not influence our feelings about them as people, because they didn’t know they were following bad advice.

Developing empathy with our clients includes active listening, considering the other person’s perspective, keeping your self open to new ideas, and recognizing that people’s behavior is based on the information they have, which may be incorrect or limited. Your goal is to help the client feel heard, and to approach any disagreement from an understand place.

People Are Fascinating!

The human race is incredibly diverse in culture, experience, and attitudes, and as dog trainers we get to see a decent cross-section of our communities. There are so many different stories of how people have come to live with dogs, and despite their struggles, they are really trying to do so successfully. Allow yourself to be fascinated by the people you meet. These people have invited us into their lives, their homes, and their struggles. We can honor that by being interested in their lives, and helping to improve things as they relate to the dog.

Many trainers love to solve difficult problems with dogs, and why should more difficult clients be any different? Our job is to change behavior, and the same principles apply to people learning as to dogs. We are quick to break things down for a dog who is struggling to learn a new task, so we should do the same for a struggling client. You will get the same feeling of accomplishment when your client performs a difficult skill as when their dog does the same. Give your clients achievable goals, and don’t make them goals that you could achieve, they aren’t dog trainers! With clients who are struggling to make training a consistent habit, here’s an achievable goal – ask them to count out 5 treats before each meal (it could even be pieces of kibble) and practice one of the exercises 5 times. Learn about habit making and make it your goal to help your clients start new habits.

Lastly, people are very complex, which often means our first assumptions can be way off. This is especially true with email or text contact, because meanings can easily be misconstrued, and inflection is lost. Give people the benefit of the doubt, and allow yourself to get to know the person over time. Sometimes we get stuck in the idea that a client is going to be difficult because of something they said in their first contact call or email, but there are so many reasons that could be a poor representation of them as a person. Often people don’t reach out until something bad has happened, and they are likely processing that event. Other people are just not great at communicating by phone or email, but do much better face-to-face. Don’t hold on to your preconceived notions, there is a lot at play here, most of which doesn’t relate to you.

In Conclusion

Dog trainers are also people trainers, and we need to take that part of our job seriously. You should be spending time learning about interacting with people and developing your own skills. Your communications will improve when you understand your client’s circumstances, what they have been dealing with, and how it is affecting their lives. You aren’t going to agree with everything a client says or does, but you have to accept that you aren’t going to change their views on everything. Giving them as much information as they can digest gives them the tools they need to do better. An empathetic approach helps you to navigate these waters of changing or influencing human behavior. By considering your client’s perspective, you can work through conflict, and more effectively recommend solutions to their problems. Finally, take a moment to appreciate how fascinating people are! Just think about some of the stories you’ve heard in your time as a dog trainer, it’s likely you have some doozies. Find delight in the differences between people, and in finding creative solutions to helping them. You will find yourself more satisfied with your job, less stressed, and more successful by finding the joy in your clients.

About the Author

Megan Wallace, B.S., CPDT-KA, CNWI, owner of Dogs Deciphered LLC, has been training dogs since age 11 when she attempted to certify her family dogs as therapy dogs. While the family dogs were a bit old to pursue new careers, being 11 and 13, Megan was at the start of a lifelong passion for dogs which eventually became her career. This passion led her into the world of dog behavior and training, and started a quest for knowledge that has been never ending. With a gift for relating to people as well as their pets, Megan strives to find solutions to behavior problems that work as well for the owners as they do for dogs. She stays up-to-date with the most progressive dog training methods by attending seminars, reading training books, and taking classes with her own dogs. Megan believes that training should be fun for the dogs and the owners, and strives to help every person find the joy in dog training. She does this by teaching straight-forward, dog-friendly methods that cater to the needs of all dog owners. Megan is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, and is a Certified K9 Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) through the National Association of Canine Nose Work. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Colorado State University. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the National Association of Canine Scent Work.

In her free time Megan enjoys spending time with her husband James, and their four dogs, training and competing with them in a variety of dog sports, and enjoying the wonderful local Colorado music scene. She also enjoys volunteering at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center, where she is learning to handle the educational ambassadors. She continues her love of education by teaching the public about raptors, and how humans impact their lives. Her goal in life is to help humans and dogs (and all animals!) understand each other just a little better.

6 Places to Get a (Fairly) Formal Education In Dog Training

by Ines | Apr 19, 2017 | Training Methods

With so many different resources about how to become a dog trainer out there, it is difficult to pick which program is going to provide you with a quality, up-to-date education on dog training. Below I’m listing a few programs that I’ve either taken myself or have had trusted friends take and enjoy. These programs will teach you how to train dogs with lessons on the science of animal learning and training.

If you already know how to train dogs, but you’re interested in a course that will teach you how to run a successful dog training business, check out The Modern Dog Trainer Academy.

Have a favorite program you’d like to add to the list? Leave it in the comments section below!

1) The Academy for Dog Trainers

In 1999, Jean Donaldson founded the Academy for Dog Trainers. Jean Donaldson’s book, The Culture Clash, was ranked #1 for training and behavior by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. This school for dog trainers is one of the most highly acclaimed schools out there for professional dog trainers. The Academy for Dog Trainers now has many instructors including several world renowned dog behavior experts.

The Academy is virtual so you can take the courses from anywhere with a laptop. They include weekly webinars and discussions to further develop a sense of community and utilize video coaching to practice training mechanics. If you’re interested in getting a thorough dog training education from the ground up, this is a great choice.

2) Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning With Animals Course

I took this course a few years ago and I would deem this as an absolute necessity for all animal trainers as it dives into the basic principles of learning theory, applied behavior analysis, and science-based animal training. This course is college-level and has a great online community forum to discuss ideas and work through the program.

Homework is assigned out weekly and the short-answer format allows you to explain your logic behind your answers. The instructor’s assistant then evaluates your answer and gives you a few more possibilities or scenarios to think about. In the end, you take a short answer exam that brings together all the information you learned in the course. I have no doubt that this single course contributed greatly to my ability to handle and understand animal behavior issues. This is truly a great critical thinking course that all animal trainers should take.

3) IAABC Courses

Or more specifically, the Animal Behavior Consulting Principles & Practice is a great place for you to get a comprehensive overview of what it takes to take on behavior cases. You start with the basics of animal learning, applied behavior analysis, and what it means to be an animal behavior consultant.

“The IAABC Animal Behavior Consulting Principles & Practice Course is a unique twelve-week, multi-module course providing a comprehensive overview of the many facets of animal behavior consulting for all species.” You’ll learn from several different instructors, all of which are well-respected as experts within our industry, throughout the course which allows you to grasp different perspectives on animal behavior as you go through it.

Be sure to let them know The Modern Dog Trainer sent you on the form if you register.

4) Karen Pryor Academy

The Karen Pryor Academy or KPA is extremely well-known in the dog training industry. They are the go-to experts for clicker training around the world. As a participant, you’re also provided with marketing materials and lesson plans to help your dog training business get off the ground.

This course sticks to clicker training foundations and advanced level skills. Something to keep in mind is that while I love applying clicker training concepts to address and change a dog’s emotional state for behavior issues such as reactivity, this is something I learned from mentors and isn’t something that is taught in the academy.

If you’re considering training service dogs, training trick dogs, or sticking to basic obedience training, their Dog Trainer Professional Program is definitely a great course to take.

5) Victoria Stilwell Academy

The Victoria Stilwell Academy teaches dog training foundations as well as how to manage and communicate with clients and run a successful business. VSA’s Dog Trainer Course requires two trips for “intensives” where you’ll test out your new training knowledge and skills under the supervision of instructors and mentors. This course only occurs a couple times a year, but is hosted in the USA and the UK.

You can see starting course dates and learn more about her program here.

6) Become a Pro Dog Trainer by Sarah Filipiak

Sarah’s new 6-week online course walks you through the core principles of professional dog training. She teaches the foundations you’ll need to know to train dogs. You’ll also learn about dog body language and how to choose which training technique based on the dog in front of you. This course comes with a 6-week dog training course curriculum you can start using immediately and several handouts.

Have a favorite program you’d like to add to the list? Leave it in the comments section below!

Looking into starting your own dog training business? Grab our free eBook, “10 Common Mistakes New Dog Trainers Make With Their Businesses.”

If you’re thinking about starting your own dog training business, take advantage of this free eBook to avoid some detrimental mistakes that many dog trainers make.

Are you spending your time on the right tasks to grow your business? Are you worried about making continuous income throughout the year? Will your business be sustainable for years to come? Prepare yourself with the help of this eBook!

Get the eBook

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Common Obstacles to Starting a Dog Training Business

by Ines | Feb 8, 2017 | Business

If you’re starting out on your own as a professional dog trainer with your very own business, you might have a lot of unanswered questions. In this post I’ll address some of the common concerns new dog trainers have about start out on their own. (To join in the discussion – join my free Facebook Group!)

Not Knowing If You’re Qualified Enough to Be a Pro

This subject will always be up for debate – at least until this industry becomes more regulated. It is extremely rare to find a dog trainer that could be considered 100% “qualified” to take on any case that comes her or his way. It is much more important to understand your preferences and limitations so that you can filter out cases that could be too much for you to handle.

Don’t beat yourself up because you think you don’t have exactly the right education or experience to even begin. (I know as dog trainers we can be overly critical of our skills… ) Only those who get started will ever have the ‘right” experience. You have to get started now to become great someday! At the very least, you can get started with clients that are struggling with some of the issues you first faced when you were introduced to dog training. If you’ve taken some dog training classes, read several dog training books or watched several dog training DVDs, or even taken a structured program such as KPA, you’ve got more knowledge and skills than the average dog owner out there and they sure could benefit your help!

If you’ve taken some dog training classes, read several dog training books or watched several dog training DVDs, or even taken a structured program such as KPA, you’ve got more knowledge and skills than the average dog owner out there and they sure could benefit your help!

The important part is making sure you’re not going to cause more harm than good when you take on a case. Asking the right questions before accepting a new client can help you stay in your comfort level and avoid scary situations. Find someone you’re comfortable referring out cases you don’t feel confident taking.

Not Knowing If Your Community Can Support Your Dog Training Business

Some trainers might be wondering if their local community is even big enough or wealthy enough to support their dog training business. That’s why I created a 5-day mini-course to walk you through some basic market research. The fact is that if you focus on a certain kind of person with a certain kind of problem (otherwise known as a “niche”) you can become the go-to person in your community for that specific situation.

Specializing will set you apart from any competition. No matter the size of your community, find a way to solve a specific need with your services at the right price point and you can have a successful business!

Not Knowing When to Go Fulltime

There isn’t a simple answer to this. Only you will know when it is time to take your business full-time. For new dog trainers, I recommend that you get your business set up and running for a few months before this even becomes an option. There is no need to rush into it and stress yourself out trying to make ends meet.

Once dog training becomes your profession instead of your hobby, there are the added pressures of needing to pay the bills. This can lead to taking on cases you’re not really ready for in order to pay the bills. This isn’t good for the client, the dog, or your mental health.

Establish a good client base and find some ways to generate repeat business before you go full time. Also, learn how to turn existing customers into repeat business. This is key to having a sustainable dog training business! Always needing to find and acquire new clients to fill your schedule is the hardest route to take so make sure you have services and offerings that encourage repeat business.

Once you have a more consistent month-to-month schedule, consider what expenses you can reduce so that you don’t have to make quite as much once you’re full time to make ends meet. You can also consider asking your current employer to go from full time to part time to help supplement your new full-time business. You might be surprised to find support from them. It doesn’t have to be a “cold turkey” switch to dog training full-time. Weigh all your options and set yourself up for success with small steps to reach your goals.

Not Having the Right Level of Protection From Liabilities

This isn’t a direct obstacle, but it could affect your long-term success as a dog trainer. Failing to have the right processes in place could be detrimental to you and your family financially. Don’t be ignorant to the liabilities you’re taking on as a dog trainer.

Business Structure – Understanding the liabilities you’re taking on will help you decide which type of business structure you should choose. Being naive of the situations you could be held liable for could leave you, your family, and your personal finances vulnerable. Having the right business structure is incredibly important to having a successful business.
Insurance – Having the right insurance is a part of being a professional in any industry, but dog trainers, especially, require some unique insurance policies. When you’re working with live animals, children, and people, mistakes are bound to happen.
Have the Proper Policies in Place to Protect Yourself – As a service-based business, you’ll be working with people and their dogs day in and day out. You need to establish good policies before you need them or it could lead to bad reviews, burnout, or even lawsuits.

In my course, How to Start and Run a Successful Dog Training Business, I walk you through the steps to setting up your own LLC and show you exactly what you need coverage for with your insurance. If you work with dogs, you *have* to carry insurance. It’s a non-negotiable in my book.

Not Knowing The Taxes You’ll Be Newly Responsible For

Failing to file the right taxes at the right time or not charging sales tax when you should be could lead to some costly consequences and be detrimental to the success of your business.

In my course, I cover the taxes you may be held responsible for. I also provide you a checklist of questions to ask a potential CPA before you hire them.

If you’re considering becoming a professional dog trainer, check out what this course has to offer. Facebook Group members and people who have read the eBook or taken the 5-Day Mini-course get 25% off!

Finding The Right (Affordable) Software To Manage Clients

As you start to acquire customers, you’ll have an ever-increasing number of people to stay in touch with. Furthermore, you’ll need to segment your customers and potential customers so that you can provide them information that is relevant to them. A customer that is actively taking lessons with you should not receive the same messaging as someone who has just discovered your business.

In my course, I analyze some software options that are available that best-fit dog trainers’ unique needs.

Not Offering the Right Services at the Right Prices

The better you understand your customers and potential customers, the better you can serve them with solutions to their challenges at the right price point. You don’t have to offer the same basic services that everyone else offers. Get creative and find ways you can better serve your clients. Additionally, like I already mentioned above, finding services to offer that generate repeat business is critical to long-term sustainable success.

Wasting Money On Ineffective Marketing

You can live in a great community, but if you can’t reach your ideal customers with the right marketing message at the right time and place, your business will struggle. Half-hearted attempts at Facebook Ads or throwing money at Yelp will not typically result in new clients and when you’re first starting up, every dime you spend on ineffective marketing is painful.

Additionally, not implementing some marketing strategies, like email marketing, can leave you empty handed even if you’re able to generate traffic to your website. If someone isn’t quite ready to call you for help, but are still interested in hearing more from you, setting up an email marketing list is key!

In my course, I include a few modules that walk you through setting up a website, setting up your social media profiles, and how to get started with Google AdWords and Facebook Ads to generate new client inquiries quickly and affordably. (Again, join my Facebook group for a 25% discount!)

In my Facebook group, I’m working on building a community of like-minded modern dog trainers and am teaching them the ropes of starting up a successful dog training business. If this year is the year you’re committing to starting out on your own, this group will offer you priceless advice and tips for getting started.

Don’t let these obstacles stop you from having the career of your dreams! In the end, it is so worth it to be able to help dogs and their people every day. You can be your own boss and work your own hours while being a valuable part of your community. These obstacles can be easily overcome with the right resources.

Join My Facebook Group, “Startup Tips for Modern Dog Trainers“

If you’re serious about becoming a professional dog trainer with your own business, join this group to get detailed tips to starting up a successful dog training business of your own. Share your stories and challenges, and learn from other’s experiences.

I host the occasional Facebook Live events to walk you through some of the toughest parts about getting started!