Dog ownership in the United States is at an all-time high. There are more than 75 million pet dogs in the United States and the number increases each year. At the moment many people are obtaining dogs and puppies from animal shelters and rescues. This means that the dogs may not have had the best start in life. Unlike puppies which come from dedicated breeders, puppies and dogs in shelters and rescues may have been abandoned or abused. They may not have been socialized. They may already have had one or more homes and been dumped by owners when they displayed some behavior that the owner couldn’t solve. In some cases these “behavior problems” may not be serious at all. However, with first time dog owners the behavior, such as a housebreaking issue or too much barking, may be enough to land the dog in the pound.

In this environment there is enormous opportunity for good dog trainers to help owners and dogs. Whether you offer private consultations for specific behavior problems, puppy kindergarten classes for socialization, group obedience classes, or other training, you can help dogs learn to adjust to their homes. This means they can be saved from another trip to the animal shelter where they could be put to sleep. You can literally save a dog’s life by proper training. Well-trained dogs keep their homes. Untrained dogs are much more likely to be dumped and put to sleep. Once a dog has a reputation as a problem dog it’s less likely that anyone will want to adopt him. There are too many dogs available that don’t have that strike against them yet.

In most cases it’s just as important to train the owner as it is the dog. The dog may not be able to learn what he’s supposed to do because the owner isn’t communicating effectively. Your training for both owner and dog can save the relationship.

Some shelters have discovered that if they offer some basic training classes after adoption that owners who attend are much more likely to keep their dogs. Just a few basic lessons in how to handle common dog problems is enough to help them manage the issues they may face at home with their new dogs.

Unfortunately many people who get cute puppies play with them for a few weeks only to discover that the puppy has trouble learning to be housebroken, or continues to chew on people or things, or jumps up on people, or any of a dozen other ordinary dog behaviors. The puppy isn’t bad. The puppy is doing things that are natural for him. But there is a breakdown in communication between what the owner wants the dog to do and what the puppy understands. Too often the result is that people take these young dogs back to the shelter. As they get older it gets harder and harder to adopt them out and they are more likely to be put to sleep.

As a dog trainer you are in a position to help these owners and their dogs. It’s a great feeling when you know that you have helped to save a dog’s life by teaching him and his owner how to understand each other.

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You read the title correctly. Now there is a Dog Training Behavior Program being offered by K9-University.com. This intense 8-week online program is exactly what you need as a dog trainer to give yourself credibility with your clients when it comes to behavior problems.

The course offers a Certificate of Competition for those students who successfully complete the program. The program will offer insight and various methods to solve many different behavior problems. Class size is limited to offer plenty of time with your instructor.

This is NOT a dog training program.  This is a Behavior Training Program.  Do yourself a favor and take a look at www.K9-University.com

If you are interested in dog training you may want to consider becoming a drug dog trainer. Training dogs for drug detection can be a very lucrative business. Not only are dogs trained for law enforcement, but dogs can also be trained for private detection companies. These companies search businesses, schools and homes for different kinds of contraband.

Whether for law enforcement or for private detection, drug detection dogs are trained to give an alert when they detect a specified odor. Substances can include marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, opium and other things. They can even be trained to detect prescription medications such as Xanax. Some dogs are taught to scratch at the source of the odor (aggressive alert) while other dogs are taught to sit (passive alert). Various dogs are used, from German Shepherd Dogs to Labradors.

Using drug detection dogs for private detection work, such as searching schools, has been shown to have a great deterrent value. These programs place the emphasis on prevention.

In addition to businesses, schools and homes, drug detection dogs can be used in many other places. They can be taken to parking lots to search cars, they can be taken through school buses, and they can go to different events. The dogs and handlers are mobile and not restricted so they can go anywhere people could hide drugs.

Parents can also have drug detection dogs visit their home. In these cases, if drugs are found, many companies provide information to the family about rehab and other resources so the family can handle the situation privately. Companies often advertise their confidentiality. The companies are not affiliated with law enforcement.

Both dogs and handlers require training and work as a team, opening more training possibilities for dog trainers.

Drug detection dogs are typically trained using positive reinforcement. Trainers may play with them and ask them to find toys that have a slight scent of different narcotic or illicit drugs on them. Drug detection companies usually maintain a range of registered samples for training purposes. Some drug detection dogs may be trained in tracking as well.

Many drug detection companies also offer detection dogs for sale. These dogs have been carefully chosen and very highly trained. Selling them is a very lucrative side of the business.

Even in difficult economic times it’s possible to make money working with dogs. If you love dogs and want to find a career working with them, there are lots of ways you can earn a living doing something you enjoy. Here are a few more ideas.

Sometimes a dog owner’s most treasured possession is a photo of their beloved pet. The same way parents get a photo of their child from school, or take their kids to a department store photographer, many dog owners are delighted to have a photo made of their dog.

If you are handy with a camera, especially a nice quality digital camera, and you can obtain a few good backgrounds for pictures, then you may be interested in offering a dog photo service. Dog photography is very popular with owners. As a dog photographer you need to have a lot of patience: it may not be easy to get a dog to get into a good position or hold a pose. You may need an assistant to help you with equipment and with working with the dogs. Otherwise you need camera equipment, some toys to keep the dogs interested, and you’ll need to have the photos printed on good quality photographic paper. If you work with 35 mm cameras you will need to do developing and buy chemicals, which makes digital photography much easier.

Whether you are interested in providing portraits of pets or taking photos of rescue dogs, photographing dogs at dog shows, or doing other dog photography, a dog photo service can be a very good profession for a creative, artistic person. And don’t forget those pet photos with Santa! Christmas is a busy time of year for pet photographers.

Dog grooming never goes out of style. As more and more people own dogs, there is more of a demand for qualified dog groomers. Grooming a dog well is not as easy as it looks, as anyone can tell you who has tried to do it themselves.

If you think you’d like to try your hand at dog grooming there are several avenues. You can apprentice in a groomer’s shop. Chances are that you will be put to work bathing cats and dogs in the beginning, but you may work your way up to working with clippers and scissors. You can also teach yourself at home by using one of the books on dog grooming available. If you do this you may eventually get a job working in a grooming shop as a groomer, or you could end up working as a groomer or assistant for a dog show handler. (Handlers are expert groomers who usually know how to groom dozens of breeds in show haircuts as opposed to the pet haircuts usually demanded by pet owners.) Or, you could go to a reputable dog grooming school. There are courses offered both online and at brick and mortar schools. Both kinds of schools offer certification when you complete their course work. With both kinds of schools you are supposed to practice your grooming on actual dogs. Your certification from a dog grooming school will help you be hired at a dog grooming salon. You will probably be hired on trial and given some easy dogs to work on in the beginning, but when you prove yourself you should have no problems.

It’s something none of us likes to think about, but our dogs poop. They poop in our yards. And somebody has to pick it up. And, believe it or not, you can earn a living by operating a doggy poop pick-up service.

You can’t deny that it’s a necessary service. Pooper scooper services are great for people who hate the job or who don’t have time to do it. You pick up the poop and leave it in your client’s trash for them. You typically charge people based on how many times per week they want you to come, plus how many dogs they have. It’s pretty simple. All you need is insurance (of course) and the tools to pick up the poop. These businesses are thriving. Also, it’s easy to offer additional services to your clients such as dog walking while you’re on the premises. Maybe it’s not a business for everyone but if you don’t mind working with dog poop it can be a good business.

Another good business opportunity is the dog boarding facility. Boarding dogs has always been a necessity. While lots of people like to use pet sitters these days, they aren’t going to put the boarding kennel out of business. In fact, many boarding kennels have upgraded and become quite luxurious.

If you’re interested in operating a boarding facility you should first find out about the zoning laws in your area. You will essentially be operating a kennel according to most legal standards, so you need to make sure that any property you consider is zoned to allow a kennel and multiple dogs. Look at other business requirements in your area, such as city, county and state licenses required. Check into insurance. You will have a sizable investment and you need to protect it fully. You will need to consider layout and kennel runs. Check online and you will be able to find the layouts for other kennel properties to give you some guidelines. After that it’s up to you how basic or how elaborate you want to make your services. Remember that you can charge for your special services, but don’t price them so high that no one will pay for them.

Most boarding kennels place 2-3 similarly sized dogs in the same kennel (which has indoor-outdoor access). Take special care to make sure that these dogs are compatible with each other or else you could have a disaster on your hands. You don’t want to have to explain to a client why his dog was maimed by his kennel mate or you could be facing a lawsuit.

With the advent of the Internet we seem to buy everything online and dog supplies are no exception. Many people buy nearly all of their dog supplies online, including dog food which is delivered to their front door. Perhaps selling online dog supplies is something you may be interested in trying. There is virtually no limit to the kinds of dog supplies you can sell – everything from pet food to grooming supplies to whelping supplies to equipment for special interests like agility and hunting.

If you think you’d like to sell some products online contact the companies you’re interested in and ask about becoming a distributor or representative. You can then set up your own web site and advertise the products at the price you decide (keeping in mind that there will be others selling the same products). Your prices can’t be too much higher than what others are selling for or people will by-pass you, unless you are offering some other incentives for people to buy from you.

There are a gazillion different dog supplies so choose some that interest you and which you think might sell well; contact the companies and see what kind of arrangements they’re offering. Make your choices and see what happens. There are some very successful online dog supply companies so we know it can be done right.

Dogs are so popular these days that there are lots of people who would like to create a career in dogs for themselves. They love dogs, they enjoy spending time with them, and they feel they have something positive to offer to both people and dogs by working with animals. Fortunately there are many dog-related careers available to people. Here are five good ways to make money and earn a living working with dogs.

As a job, dog walking has become very much in demand in the past few years, particularly in larger cities with many apartment dwellers. People who live in apartments or in homes without sizable backyards, and who work during the day, are often in need of a good dog walker for their dogs. A dog walker will come by the home and take the dog out for a good walk, usually while the owner is at work. Many dog walkers will walk the dog for about an hour. For some dog walkers more vigorous exercise is involved, such as jogging. The good thing about dog walking for the dog walker is that he can walk multiple dogs at one time and have several clients per hour which improves his income. You can become a dog walker anywhere that there is a demand for such a service, though dog walkers are usually found in urban areas. You could also walk dogs for the elderly or the disabled in smaller towns or rural areas.

If you decide to become a dog walker it’s a good idea to get some insurance and consider becoming bonded since you will be responsible for other people’s pets. Decide how many hours per day or week you want to devote to the work. You can be flexible if it’s a part-time job, but you must be reliable. Keep good financial records and have a written contract with your clients. It’s a good idea to have extra collars and leashes with you when you walk dogs in case one breaks. Always pay close attention to the dogs and know where to take them for veterinary help.

Like dog walking, pet sitting has become very popular. Many people prefer to hire a good pet sitter rather than take their dogs to a boarding kennel. A pet sitter can come to someone’s home and take care of the dogs without causing them the stress and upset of sending them to a strange kennel with unknown dogs.

In order to become a pet sitter you should do many of the same things discussed for becoming a dog walker: get insurance and become bonded. You will be in your clients’ homes and you don’t want to be blamed if anything should be missing or broken when they return home. Your insurance and bonding will cover you in case of any accidents. You should also keep good financial records and have a written contract with each client that details your services. Make sure you have contact information for your clients when they are out of town and that you have contact information for their vet. You should also know about any medications or special foods their dogs get. It’s a good idea to visit with the clients and their dogs, in their home before they leave so you have a chance to meet the dogs and assess them. It also gives the dogs a chance to get to know you a little.

As with dog walking, a pet sitter is able to have multiple clients at any one time. It’s usually only necessary to spend an hour or so with each client dog or dogs to handle feeding, play time and to make sure the dogs are all right. You may wish to visit twice a day in some cases depending on feeding schedules. These are things to work out with your clients.

Another popular dog profession is running a doggy daycare. Many people who work feel very uneasy about leaving their dogs home alone all day. They don’t like to crate them or leave them lying around bored. Or, perhaps they have a dog that is destructive in the house. In these cases some people choose to take their dogs to doggy daycare. Doggy daycare facilities are just what they sound like – playtime for dogs. Dogs run, play with each other and with toys, have nap time, all under the supervision of qualified humans who look after them until their owners pick them up after work.

If you think you might like to run a doggy daycare business you will need to follow normal best business practices – find out what business and tax licenses are required in your town and state. Obtain insurance. Find a facility that can accommodate the number of dogs you have in mind as clients. You will need to think about both indoor and outdoor use. Consider how you will manage things like doggy poop and time-out for dogs. You will need some equipment such as fencing and probably some kennel runs for when the dogs are resting. It’s a good idea to try to visit other doggy daycare facilities, if possible, in order to see how they are run and what other supplies you may need. You may need to hire an assistant or two if you plan to have more than a few dogs.

Interest in what our dogs eat has sky-rocketed in the last ten years. Not only are we feeding our dog’s gourmet and holistic dog food, but many people like to buy their dogs fresh-baked goods such as cookies and other treats. In many cities doggy bakeries have become very popular. In some cases doggy bakeries are more than simply places where you buy dog cookies. They are also places where dog owners can take their dogs to let them socialize with other dogs. Dog owners can sit and have a cup of coffee with each other and talk about their dogs. Some doggy bakeries even organize games and events for their customers (the four-footed customers). Entire lifestyles are being built around doggy bakeries.

It’s not hard to find good recipes for doggy biscuits and other treats. You may use some of the recipes you find online or in books. Other doggy bakeries are part of doggy bakery chain stores. You can buy into a franchise if you have the money. Or you can start small with your own space and recipes. You don’t have to limit yourself to merely selling dog treats. You can also offer some dog toys, bowls, shampoos, grooming tools. Once people are in the mood to spend money on dog cookies they tend to open their pocketbook to buy other things for their dogs.

If you’re interested in opening a doggy bakery you should follow the same kind of advice we discussed for a doggy daycare – obtain business and tax licenses, insurance, the right space, and so on.

Dog training is something that dogs always need. If you are interested in working with dogs and you have a knack for communicating with them, then you may wish to think about becoming a dog trainer. Dog trainers may choose to work on an individual basis with a dog and client, or work in a group – or offer both kinds of training. They can offer traditional obedience training or become skilled at more advanced training, such as police dog work, Schutzhund training, agility training, arson detection work, or working with dogs with behavioral problems, to name just a few of the many kinds of training that dog trainers can provide.

If you would like to become a dog trainer there are a number of excellent schools for dog trainers around the country. You may also study animal behavior or canine behavior. You can search the following sites for more information.

www.learntotraindogs.com 4, 6, and 12 week programs in Texas

www.dogtrainiercoach.com affordable on line training

www.k9-university.com online, self-paced and “Live” training

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