Careers with Dogs

[Coyote_Bandit]

Anybody know anything about canine careers?

I've threatened to learn how to groom the little critters and then go out and open my own little business but I really think I would find training a lot more rewarding - particularly some of the advanced types of training that produce assistance dogs, rescue dogs, security dogs, scent dogs, etc.

What do you have to do to get into this kind of work?

:shrug:

[FloridaPat]

1. I looked into grooming schools. A friend of mine's sister was once

a groomer. She got sick because you have to deal with so many chemicals - soap, flea chemicals, etc.

Dog training would be more healthy for you. Probably more fun. Do a seach on the internet for schools for trainers. See if you can find anything.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. Thanks!

Since I already have some chemical sensitivities that's one of my biggest concerns about grooming - something which I have also considered doing and have investigated pretty thoroughly.

There are lots of dog training schools listed on the internet. And they all want me to enroll now.

:evilgrin:

I guess I'm to the stage where I have got some nitty gritty practical types of questions. And I'm looking for somebody with experience doing dog training work - and preferably working for themselves. So far the only dog trainer I have found here is very young and just started working and training at the local Petsmart.

[Vincardog]

4. Coyote_Bandit where are you? OKC has the largest dog training club

in the country. Or contact a local breed club. Golden Retrievers are a joy To train obedience. My breed (Australian Shepard's) are good obedience herding tracking search and rescue and/or Therapy dogs.

[Ayesha]

3. Service dogs

Hi CoyoteBandit,

Dog training is a lot of fun and training service dogs is especially rewarding. I am also going into this field, although not as a trainer - I want to develop a new nonprofit to rescue dogs from shelters and teach at-risk youth how to work with them. The youth will then help train the dogs to assist people with disabilities.

There aren't many formal educational programs to learn to train dogs (good ones, that is). You have to be self-motivated and go out and find the learning opportunities that will work for you. The best way to start is to read books and join discussion lists to find your interest and your niche. I am a big proponent of clicker training, which is an effective, humane, reward-based method of training. There are a ton of websites and Yahoo groups about it, and some excellent books as well. If I were you I'd start there. If you want I can give you some specific book recommendations etc. - just let me know. I am on the clicker training service dogs e-mail list and also a list for professional service dog trainers.

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers - www.apdt.com - has an annual conference that is GREAT. There is also a Clicker Expo - www.clickerexpo.com . Many renowned trainers give lectures and demonstrations at these events.

If you tell me where you are located I might be able to recommend some people in your area, too.

Please let me know how I can help. :)