I named the voice in my car's GPS system Martin. I thought it was a suitably proper, British name for a voice that sounds remarkably real for being computer generated. At times, Martin provides me with a bit of amusement, such as when he says "At the roundabout, take the first right hand turning," or "If possible, make a u-turn. Oh Martin, you are so polite. If I was the voice in my car I might be tempted to say "You missed the turn again! Turn around, go back and follow my instructions." Luckily, I have far more skill and patience when teaching dogs and their people than when trying to navigate somewhere in my car.
Martin and I have had a generally good relationship. Although, not so much when I am lost and feel he isn't doing his part to get me on the right track. In the last year or so, I have started to feel that after five years together, Martin and I might be getting on each others nerves. As a result, I suspect he occasionally chooses to purposefully provide me with inaccurate directions or at least a route that is far longer than necessary. But, if we were in couples therapy I suspect the counselor would point out that in the end, Martin always gets me where I want to go. Even if it takes a bit longer than I had hoped.
For example, I was recently headed to upstate New York to visit a friend. They had given me directions to their house, but I figured it would be safer for me to let Martin know where we needed to go and let him talk me through it rather than rely on having to look down at a piece of paper while trying to focus on the road. My friend told me the trip would take no more than an hour and a half. Martin sent me on a path that took just over two. Maybe he wanted to see some of the prettier side roads? I arrived at my friend's house in a huff and announced that I would be calling the dealer to find out if I could replace Martin with a new GPS system. I had visions of Daniel Craig's voice leading me on the fastest route to wherever I wanted to go.
My friend pointed out that I was being a wee bit impractical. Not only would a new GPS system probably cost far more than it was worth, but it is highly unlikely that 'Bond, James Bond' is looking for side jobs as the voice of a GPS system. She also suggested that I might try to follow my own advice. I was reluctant to offer any gesture that she might interpret as encouragement to elaborate. So, I pointed out how beautiful her house was looking now that all the trees and pretty flowers were blooming. My distraction ploy didn't work. After a brief pause, she said "Didn't we just chat yesterday about how people need to be willing to slow down and take their time when trying to become a professional dog trainer? Maybe you should do the same when trying to get somewhere?" All the greenery, the birds chirping, and the presence of a good friend had started to put me in a positive, reflective mood. Maybe she was on to something?
Of the many emails my dog training school receives each week, at least five to ten are from people asking for advice on how to become a professional dog trainer. Some are very specific, such as "I want to be a dog trainer on TV. Can you tell me how to do this?" Others are more general, such as "I have always loved dogs and would love to spend my time with them rather than behind a desk. Can you tell me what my options are?"
Many of these inquiries include a question about possible attendance at a school for trainers. While I am sure there are plenty of people who have benefited greatly from this, I do not generally encourage people to do so if they are expecting to leave the school ready to start their career by offering private lessons or group classes. Six to eight weeks of schooling, whether in person or especially if on-line, is, in my humble opinion, not an ideal option. Just as I wouldn't expect to acquire the necessary skills and experience to become a piano teacher, high school math teacher, or counselor by attending a course of this type, neither is it likely that a person hoping to help others learn to teach their dogs will acquire the necessary skill in this time frame.
While some aspects of training dogs does not require an enormous amount of experience (for example, teaching a puppy to sit), the reality is that most pet parents expect a trainer to be equipped to assist them with a myriad of issues. Many of which are best resolved by someone who has dealt with the issue previously and successfully and has a full trainer's toolbox (filled with loads of experience) with which to do so. A 6-8 week training course might be a start for one's education, but enrollment should probably not be based on a hope to finish the program ready to start a career without much further study.
If you do choose a program such as this as a foundation for the beginning of your education, be sure to carefully research the program prior to enrolling. Make sure the school is devoted to human methods and look for a program that offers coursework that includes (but, is not limited to the following); Learning Theory (classical and operant conditioning, shaping, desensitization and sensitization, positive and negative reinforcement, positive and negative punishment, motivations, generalization, and a history of training; Animal Behavior (development, genetic influences, body language, social and hormonal influences); Teaching Skills (screening, counseling and motivating clients, and designing courses and materials). While there are no formal requirements for dog trainers, if you are interested in certification consider contacting the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (www.CCPDT.org).
Working with dogs and their people has a very long list of upsides. The most obvious being that you get to meet and interact with loads of dogs (I am still thinking about the little Bullmastiff pup named Shelby I met last week. So cute!). Another list topper is the feeling you get when you have a client who goes from being frustrated with and even angry at their dog to beaming proudly as they show off all the new skills you helped them teach their canine buddy. Sometimes all it takes is helping to teach their dog to offer an automatic sit to greet people so that he doesn't jump on visitors. Sometimes it is more challenging, such as helping someone teach their dog to be able to rest calmly and quietly when left alone so the angry letters from neighbors and the landlord cease, or helping someone to better manage a dog with aggression issues. But, in every case the goal is the same; Helping people help their dogs to live better quality and happier lives. It's no surprise we get so many email inquiries from people about how to become a dog trainer. Who wouldn't want a career helping dogs to be happier?
As wonderful as so many things about being a dog trainer are, before you decide to quite your current profession is is important to carefully consider some of the realities of a career as a professional dog trainer. Many people tell me they want to be a trainer because they don't like people so much and would rather spend their time with dogs. But, when a dog walks into a group class or a private lesson, there is usually a person or two at the other end of the leash. At a bare minimum, 50% of a dog trainer's interactions are going to be with people. Actually, more likely 80-90% of their time is spent teaching people. So, if you are interested in a career as a dog trainer in part as a way of avoiding people, I would suggest you instead consider a position as a night watch person or a lighthouse keeper. To be a dog trainer you have to enjoy interacting with people on a pretty consistent basis. You are essentially coaching people to guide their dogs towards better behavior. And I am here to tell you, it is generally a lot of fun. But, when people ask me "What's the most difficult type of animal you have worked with?" My answer is usually something like this: "Out of all the many different types of dogs, cats and other animals I have worked with, the most difficult is by far...the human animal!" So, if you enjoy people and all the challenges that working with them to accomplish a goal that they may at times feel is frustratingly out of their reach, then read on.
Another reality of becoming a dog trainer is the typical range of monetary compensation that you can expect. Most dog trainers, even the best, don't live in fancy apartments or houses and many have a full-time job outside of their animal related career. Dog training is something they make time for during evenings and weekends. This allows them to maintain a stable income and in some cases health benefits (something many full-time dog trainers do not have). Of course, this means they work many hours a week, juggling two professions. Most aspire for training to eventually be their sole, full-time career. But, for most, it takes many years to build a reputation and practice that can sustain them. I spent two years apprenticing without pay and another two after that building my own practice while working numerous other jobs.
Some of the people who have written to me over the years have become part of my training team at my school in New York City. For them and myself, the path of our careers has been a long one that includes years spent apprenticing, reading, attending seminars and workshops and time spent hoping for the day when our professional life could be all dogs and their people, all the time. To follow are some of the steps we took to get here:
• Attend Classes with Your Dog: Join as many as you can afford with as many instructors as possible. This way you get a sense of various teaching styles. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity to develop great hands on skills with your own dog.
• Read: Get your hands on as many books about training and animal behavior as you can. One of the first books I read on the topic, and the one that I credit with most inspiring me to teach dogs and their people as a profession, is Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog. Other authors I recommend are: Dr. Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, Susan Garrett, Ken Ramirez, Kathy Sdao, Teoti Anderson, Gwen Bailey, Pam Dennison, and of course, my own books including Dog-Friendly Dog Training and Train Your Dog the Lazy Way.
• Attend Seminars and Workshops: There are loads of one day, weekend, and week long seminars offered throughout the year. Some of my best memories from the beginning of my career are the times spent at these sorts of events. In particular, I remember a John Rogerson seminar in California where the first day of the four day workshop was spent with him splitting us into groups and giving us problems to solve and tasks to accomplish. I suspect we would have learned a lot is we had been given the same challenges to do on our own. But, we learned a lot more than I had expected about group dynamics (great for people interested in teaching group classes) and how our behavior affects others. And to think it is all on tape somewhere.
• Volunteer: Volunteering at a local shelter or rescue group is a great way to be around dogs of a variety of sizes, ages, and temperaments. But, a word of caution: Do not apply to volunteer with the sole intent of adding to your experience. This is an endeavor that requires a serious commitment of time and energy for the main purpose of helping these groups care for the animals. Some, or much, of what yo umay be asked to do may be removed from being hands on with the animals (such as cleaning, envelope stuffing, assisting at adoption events, and answering phones). Regardless, it is a good thing to do all around.
• Join the APDT: Become a member and attend the Association of Pet Dog Trainers annual conference as there is no better place to meet and learn from so many of the foremost experts on animal behavior at one time. I attended the very first of these conferences many years ago and still rely on what I learned there and at subsequent conferences as a foundation for my approach to teaching. As a side benefit, you are sure to meet people who are similarly passionate about dogs and who may become lifelong friends and a source of ongoing support as you pursue your career.
• Foster: If you have the time, space and adequate dog experience, consider working with a local shelter or rescue group as a foster parent. You will be helping them to save the lives of more animals, and at the same time learning from each dog you care for.
• Apprentice: When I got my first dog as an adult I signed up for a puppy class before I brought him home. I can't remember what made me do something so wise, but it was one of the best decisions I have made. It resulted in me having a wonderful relationship with a mannerly, well-socialized dog, who became the love of my life. It also brought me an invitation to apprentice at the school. I suspect my obsessive completion of the weekly homework they handed out and my wide-eyed attention to every word they said in class might have given them the impression that I was very committed to learning about their profession. I apprenticed at the school for almost two years before they permitted me to teach private lessons and small group classes. Finding a school where you can apprentice means you will most probably spend many months watching as many classes as possible before you actually assist the instructor. From there, our apprentices may move on to teaching one exercise in a class, and then co-teaching with an experienced trainer. This sets a supportive foundation for gradual progression towards the ultimate goal of teaching classes on their own. Apprentices may also shadow a trainer on private lessons and progress in the same manner.
• Continuing Education: I am lucky to be friends with some of the most experienced and talented trainers around. Even they continue their education by learning from each dog and client they encounter, attending seminars and workshops and reading voraciously. So, plan on devoting time, energy and money to your ongoing education for years to come.
When I first started out as a dog trainer it was far from fashionable to have a career with animals. My response to the question "What do you do?" almost always resulted in something along the lines of an uncomfortable pause and then "Oh, a dog walker. That must be a good way to stay fit." Now, when people find out what I do, a more typical response is "Wow! That sounds like such a great job. I would love to do what you do!" The path to becoming a dog trainer can be a long one (I started almost 17 years ago), but I think Martin is right to sometimes take the slower, potentially more scenic route. I know for me it has brought me to a wonderful destination. My friend was right; If it takes a bit longer than expected to get where you want to go, just remember that as long as you end up where you want, it will be worth the trip.
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