Archive for January 20th, 2009
Career Dog Training
Things to Consider When Choosing a Career in Dog Training
Some people choose a career in dog training simply because it is a popular choice, however, there are those who are really passionate about canines in a way that their life’s direction has led them towards loving dogs even more.
Before you look at a career as a dog trainer ask yourself if you are someone who loves dogs and wants to love them more, or, are thinking about it, just because someone brought it to your attention as a possible option?
Respect for Fundamentals
Before choosing a career in dog training you should know it not only requires a love for dogs, you also need knowledge about their basic behaviors, and you will need the skills on how to handle and discipline them properly. Dog trainers usually have a long history of experience with dogs and interaction with many dog owners, handlers and their pets.
Do You Know your Dogs Division?
There are two types of careers in the dog world: the pet service training and the dog training. Both are very popular in demand however, there are more opportunities in the dog training field verses a career in pet service training.
Pet dog training involves teaching the dog how to live as a companion with his master and learning the basics such as obedience, being potty trained and learning acceptable behaviors which may include eliminating bad behaviors such as biting and barking.
Service training, on the other hand, involves specified training on services required by people with disabilities and those undergoing therapy. Some service dog trainers teach dogs to be search and rescue dogs such as the ever important police dogs or even hunting dogs.
Each of these take a large amount of dedication and patience on the trainers part as they are very intense fields of specialize divisions.
Canine Psychology – What is It?
Learn all about dog behavior – their thinking, their behaviors and their reaction to stimulus. Trainers will need to constantly work with a dog to teach them to react in a desired way to any given command. You should also know well the fundamentals of associative conditioning.
Where Can You Learn Dog Training Education?
Careers in dog training require you have the skills to train and handle dogs. Currently today, there are no colleges or universities that offer the ability for people to get degrees in dog training. The good news is that there are dog ’academies’ or ’schools’ that provide the basic training you will need. Often, the best dog trainers are often self taught and have natural inclination to dog handling.
Some have apprenticed with excellent dog trainers while others simply have a natural talent for training dogs. There are also a number of dog training organizations that could provide the latest information on dog training.
A good dog trainer works with both the attitudes of people and dogs
Usually dog training involves training the handlers of the dog as well. Therefore if you are pursuing a career in this field, it is very important that you have good people skills and that you can tolerate all types of people.
Some owners are impatient and want their dogs to learn everything fast, so they may disregard advice from the trainer, however, there are others that are more patient and open to the suggestions given by the trainer. During your career in dog training you will be working with both types of dog handlers and many other personality types too. In short, a career in dog training is not only limited to dog training but also an experience of people training as well.
Dog training is not limited to “training” alone; there are also certain aspects that you should be knowledgeable of, like the maintenance of proper dog hygiene, nutrition and grooming.
Having a vast knowledge of what accessories to use and training aids that are available will help during dog competitions. You will also need the ability to distinguish different types of dog breeds and know what the fundamental differences are.
To be a good dog trainer it is not required to have a ’know it all’ mentality’ but basically all you need to know is how to handle all types of dogs, work well with their handlers and have sufficient knowledge on the basics of dog training.
