Lots of people love dogs, but not every person has what it takes to become a dog trainer. It’s sort of like how lots of people love Bruno Mars, but maybe shouldn’t pick up a microphone. Or they love the Great British Baking Show but couldn’t make a Baked Alaska if their lives depended on it.
Dog training demands a high level of dedication, people skills, dog skills, flexibility, stick-to-it-iveness, and a bucket load of other attributes. Here are 35 signs you might be destined for a successful dog obedience training career:
- You express your wishes in short imperative sentences. “Sit, stay Jim.”
- You carry candy in your pocket to treat your kids for making smart choices.
- You mark the good behavior of others with immediate praise. “Who’s a good boy? Atta girl!”
- You have more pictures of dogs than people.
- You watch 101 Dalmatians and wonder, “Why stop at 101?”
- You choose your clothes according to their ability to withstand dog paws.
- You spend more time browsing in PetSmart than Macy’s.
- Your fondest wish is to play in a ball pit full of puppies.
- When watching movies, you worry more about the fate of dogs than of people.
- You want to pet every dog you see.
- In your eyes, a lush layer of dog hair on your clothing counts as accessorizing.
- You have extraordinary patience with your fellow humans.
- Double that for dogs.
- You have a positive attitude. Other people see hopeless; you envision a dog in a graduation cap.
- You can look at a problem from all angles to solve it creatively, even when it has you pinned to the ground licking your face.
- You only speak English but know how to say “sit” in 4 different languages
- You understand Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was Lassie.
- You have the communication skills to explain #17 to someone who expects Ole Duke to be trained yesterday.
- You don’t mind being jumped on, run over, and pushed around–as long as it’s by a dog and not the dog’s owner.
- You are humble enough to seek the wisdom of others when your toolbox is exhausted.
- You have deep wells of tact. Sometimes you need kid gloves.
- You are so attuned to dogs’ body language it’s like you can read their minds.
- You have empathy for overwhelmed dog owners. The feels.
- You also have empathy for dogs. So many feels.
- You wish all owners would go through obedience training with their dogs so you didn’t have to feel so much.
- You want to help all the unruly doggos learn some manners…so you can pet them easier.
- You understand the beautiful, unshakeable bond that can exist between dog and owner.
- You know dogs can learn amazing things.
- You watch endless YouTube videos looking for cool tricks to teach your dog.
- Your dog can play the Shell Game and win every time. (Your significant other cannot.)
- You have a healthy dose of self-confidence. You could teach every dog to play the Shell Game!
- You dream of having a career that changes lives. Preferably dogs’ lives.
- You recognize that every single dog has a unique personality. They’re like hairy snowflakes.
- You have a sense of humor and can laugh in the face of total, repeated failure. It’s way better than crying.
- You never met a dog you didn’t love.
For the right person, dog training is a career with a lot to offer. Will you pull down six figures? Maybe not. Will you spend your days engaged, surmounting challenges, and surrounded by dogs and people in need of a life-changing experience? Count on it. Becoming a dog trainer allows you to make a real difference.