Your day begins with a review of the appointments you have scheduled for the day. Review each case individually. It is important to know what you did with the dog at prior lessons and what the main goals of the client are.
If you are just starting out you may feel you don’t need to keep files, but as you get more and more business (you will!), you will not be able to keep track in your head.
To keep track of our schedules, we use a software program called 123pet. This software stores each client’s info and allows you to attach notes to the file. It also allows you to keep track of how many lessons you’ve done with the client and what program they have purchased.
On average, we see five clients per day, six days a week. Each lesson is approximately 50 minutes. The lessons are conducted in the client’s home. Since we are driving to the client’s house, be sure to leave travel time in between your scheduled appointments. We give ourselves 30 minutes of travel time on Long Island.
Now that you have reviewed your cases for the day, it’s time to go to your first lesson. At the lesson you need to go over a lot of information to transfer your knowledge to the pet owner. Therefore, if you are nervous to speak in front of people or just don’t like the company of others, this may not be the right career for you. Thinking this job is working just with dogs is a misconception. You are working with people too.
Your lesson went well and you feel great. Off to the next house!
As a trainer you will most likely have to work nights and weekends, so you can accommodate people’s schedules. You will not mind this schedule if you are doing what you love.
In between your lessons you may have to take time to work with your board-and-train client. A board and train can last anywhere from days to months, depending on your offerings. You need to feed, walk and train the dog in a certain amount of time promised to the client. When we have a board and train, we often decrease the amount of lessons we do in a day.
As a trainer you will be on the road a lot. Be prepared for a lot of mileage use and gas. You will definitely get to know your area very well and where the local fast food places are.
You have finished your last in-home training client and now you get to work with your board and train a bit before going to bed for the night.
Your day moves quickly and is extremely fun and enjoyable. You get to work with people as well as dogs and teach your knowledge to others. You get to make your own schedule and work as much or as little as you’d like. It’s a great gig! If you’d like to get started in a rewarding, fun career in dog training, sign up at ISCDT.com to get trained and certified.
Jessica Freedman
ISCDT - The Dog Trainer's School 