Starting a career as a dog trainer is super rewarding and full of exciting challenges. You get to work with dogs and their owners to make a real difference in their lives. Whether you’re just getting started or want to level up your skills, there’s always something new to learn. The professional dog training instructors at Animal Behavior College share some practical tips for dog trainers, from building up your knowledge base to growing your client list. These tips will help you on your journey to becoming a successful and in-demand dog trainer.
How to Approach Marketing in the Digital Age
Marketing in the digital age can feel both daunting and overwhelming. There are so many options available that it can make it difficult to choose where to start. Facebook? Instagram? YouTube? TikTok? Pinterest? While in an ideal scenario you would be active on all platforms, that’s just unrealistic for the vast majority of people.
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential in California
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Academy of Pet Careers, Indeed.com and Talent.com 2024. Hourly rates may vary in your area.
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential in Texas
Dog Trainer Career Earning Potential in Virginia
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Academy of Pet Careers, Indeed.com and Talent.com 2024. Own Your Own Business earnings statistics reference the prices charged in 2025 for private in-person dog training lessons, based on what multiple companies charge across various cities in the specified state. Hourly rates may vary in your area.
How to Begin Networking for Your Business
By Steve Appelbaum, Founder and President of Animal Behavior College
While there is no shortage of advice and information about how to network online, this article will touch on another type of networking that, if done correctly, can be very effective in generating business and name recognition. I am talking about in-person networking with fellow pet professionals.
How to Promote Your Business Using Your Certification and Credentials: Why Certification Matters!
By Steve Appelbaum, Founder and President of Animal Behavior College
Congratulations! You have shown the discipline and taken the time to master a demanding course of study. You are either poised to graduate or have already graduated from Animal Behavior College. So, now you are a certified dog trainer, certified cat trainer, or a certified pet groomer. What exactly does that mean, and what do you do with it?
How to Attract and Keep Clients
By Steve Appelbaum, Founder and President of Animal Behavior College
A great deal has been written about how to attract clients. In the early 1980s, (Yes, I am that old.) I built my first business almost exclusively by networking with other pet professionals. For over a decade, I built a decent network of veterinarians, groomers, and pet stores who referred first me and then my company for dog training services. While I was certainly not the only dog trainer who built a business through referrals, I did approach the companies I wanted to work with a bit differently than what was considered normal. I know this because I was told so on numerous occasions.
How Does Adding Other Skills, Like Cat Training, to Your Dog Trainer’s Toolbox Help You Build Your Business?
By Steve Appelbaum, Founder and President of Animal Behavior College
At first glance, a dog trainer learning to train cats might seem unusual. However, adding additional training skills makes you better-rounded as a trainer and more marketable. So, let’s look at some reasons why dog trainers should consider becoming cat trainers.
Billing: How to Create a System to Properly Bill Hours
You are now trained and officially ready to begin your career… but you are realizing that there are more fine-tuned necessities to running a business than just the art of your given specialty profession. For some, you may not be in a place to begin the journey of having your own business and that’s ok, but others may be ready to hit the ground running. For those who are excited to begin, there are many different items to address early on like branding, marketing, location, etc. One important item to figure out is how to bill your services.
