Folks in Massachusetts are fans of man’s best friend, which is awesome news for anyone wanting to start a dog training career. Nearly half of the homes in The Bay State have a dog, and you can bet that a lot of those owners are begging for help with their rowdy pups!
There’s a lot to love about being a dog trainer! You get to be up and moving and spend all your time with dogs. Instead of being chained to a desk you get to be outside a lot. It’s the perfect career if you’re hoping to start your own small business or just want a side gig.
Best of all, you’ll be helping dogs. Learning what humans expect of them is important. Dogs who continue to cause chaos in a home often wind up abused or surrendered. Dog obedience trainers teach dogs obedience skills and show owners how to work with their dogs. In the process, bonding increases and dogs learn the manners necessary to please their people.
Become a Dog Trainer in Massachusetts
There’s a lot to learn if you want to be a successful dog trainer. You need to understand how dogs learn, study behavior-modification techniques, know how to effectively use the tools of the trade (clickers, training treats, harnesses, crates, etc.), recognize canine characteristics and personalities, master training principles, and learn how to plan problem solving strategies for individual dogs.
Getting certified is a great way to launch your career, but it’s unlikely that you live within driving distance of a brick and mortar dog obedience school. That’s no reason to give up on your dream of becoming a trainer, however. Animal Behavior College has been teaching people to become dog trainers online for over two decades.
With ABC, you can enroll wherever you live, whenever you like. As long as you have reliable internet service, you can enroll and get right to work on the first stage: A Basic Overview of Canines.
The program takes about a year to complete. Once you’re certified, you have the option of working for an established company or hanging out your own shingle–dog training is great if you want to start your own business or have an awesome side gig!
Getting Dog Training Experience
You’re probably asking, “How do I learn dog training without practicing on actual dogs?”
ABC solved that problem a long time ago. We’ve developed a huge network of mentor partners-professional trainers who live throughout the United States. Once a student has finished the online coursework, we pair him or her with a local mentor for invaluable real world experience. The “externship” requires at least 15 hours with your mentor.
Our students gain confidence in their abilities as they practice their skills alongside a professional trainer.
Massachusetts Could Use More Dog Trainers
By becoming a dog trainer you could help dogs become solid canine citizens and foster the lifelong bond between dog and owner.
Check out the ABC Dog Obedience Program today. Call 1-800-795-3294 to speak to an admissions counselor. Just imagine: within a year, you could be working as a certified dog trainer!
