Advice please...

[Chaoslillith]

Ok, as you know I train at Petsmart and in doing so of course have to get people to sign up for classes. We also offer private lessons but I get a lot of requests when I say private to go and do in home training. Of course I cannot do that as a Petsmart employee but it's making me think about starting an inhome dog training side business.

I have set up two meetup groups and may chat with them as well but here's my dilemma at the moment.

I have really only trained for about a month now to be honest and I think I am doing ok. My clients seem pleased, the dogs seem to be doing well enough and I have had people come in and tell me that the advice I gave them while chatting and educating them when they were in the store is helping. However, seeing as how I do not have much of a resume I am not sure if I should try to start anything up.

There seems to be a need for that type of training though and I would charge fairly low rates as I do not have a ton of experience and no overhead and such.

What do you all think?

I am using primarily clicker based methods.

With respect,

Chaos

 

[pafla]

If you are just teaching basic obedience and know enough of judging dog-puppy character so you can send someone who has a dog with problems you cant solve to someone else I think it would be alright.What scholling do you have.I am intrested in starting training for a dog trainer.In Croatia to get a license you have to help two-three times a week in one of dog training clubs for three to five years and take some exams.Your dog,dogs should also have basic obedience exams as a condition to even start helping in a club.there are of course also exams to be taken for you during training.However a lot of people train dogs with out this and most of them are not very good,and the worsest problem show up with people who own dogs who have aggression problems because most of this people simple dont have the knowledge to deal with such problems.

 

[adojrts]

Ok, as you know I train at Petsmart and in doing so of course have to get people to sign up for classes. We also offer private lessons but I get a lot of requests when I say private to go and do in home training. Of course I cannot do that as a Petsmart employee but it's making me think about starting an inhome dog training side business.

I have set up two meetup groups and may chat with them as well but here's my dilemma at the moment.

I have really only trained for about a month now to be honest and I think I am doing ok. My clients seem pleased, the dogs seem to be doing well enough and I have had people come in and tell me that the advice I gave them while chatting and educating them when they were in the store is helping. However, seeing as how I do not have much of a resume I am not sure if I should try to start anything up.

There seems to be a need for that type of training though and I would charge fairly low rates as I do not have a ton of experience and no overhead and such.

What do you all think?

I am using primarily clicker based methods.

With respect,

Chaos

I am curious, did you have any experience in training dogs, showing dogs or competing with dogs on any level before you recieved their training and became a trainer?

Thanks
Lynn

 

[lizzybeth727]

I used to be a Petsmart trainer, I worked there for three years and recently left (now training service dogs). So I understand what you're going through. When I first started at PS I had no training experience, except with my own dog (although I learned that I did everything wrong with her!).

You say you've been training for a month - does that mean that you've been teaching classes for a month or working with the company for a month? How long did it take you to finish your training?

In a month you've only taught half of one or two 8-week classes, right? Are you only teaching beginner/puppy classes, or are you doing intermediate and click-a-trick as well?

I would say that you definately need more experience before starting up your own business. Pet training businesses are notorious for going out of business - you can't afford to charge what, say, Petsmart charges for classes, or else you will go out of business. Many trainers work two or three jobs, in vet offices, doggy day cares, etc., just to help bring in more income. You know, though, at Petsmart, you can't work as a trainer anywhere else (noncompete agreement).

I'd suggest talking to some trainers who've owned their own business for years, and ask them for suggestions and thoughts about your business.

Then I'd suggest getting some sort of certification. The Petsmart accreditation is something, but for most people who know about training, it really doesn't mean anything. I have my certification with CPDT, that's probably the most common one for pet dog trainers. TO get that certification, you have to have 300 hours of teaching experience, recommendations from clients, vets, and colleagues, and pass a 250-question exam. When I got my certification, there were only 7 people in my state who had it, which really means something for your clients.

Bottom line: I'd say stay at Petsmart for about a year at least, during which time you'll be getting experience, and you can study for and pass your CPDT exam; THEN you can reconsider whether you want to start your own business.

 

[Chaoslillith]

Adojrts: I had trained my dog but other than that no formal training. However I am pretty knowledgeable in the basics of obedience due to self study.

Lizzybeth:

I am actually planning on getting the CPDT as well once i get all the hours in. I wasn't planning on quitting Petsmart to do the inhome training because as you have stated I need to pay the bills. I had two more people today ask me about inhome training so I gave them my email address and we will see what comes of it.

I stress that I only teach basic obedience and I charge $15.00 an hour which I think is what I am worth as I am not very experienced. I only have one person who has set a time with me but I am waiting for her payment before I go to her house.

I am only teaching puppy and beginner classes and would like to get into teaching service dogs at some point. I think that would be a challenge. You and I are on the same wavelength Lizzy though because I figure I would be at Petsmart for a year and then transfer with them to a different state as I am sick of AZ and go from there.

Thanks for the advice and help.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Again, since you are under that non-compete agreement, you could be facing some legal troubles if anything happens with your private lessons - if a dog/human/yourself gets hurt, or even if the human is not satisfied.

I understand that home lessons are very valuable, but don't forget that coming to the store every week for lessons is a great socialization experience. I feel like dogs need to get out of the house/neighborhood at least once a week, preferably more. It's also good for teaching a dog to work with distractions - usually, if the dog can do the behavior in the store, he can surely do it in the privacy of home.

In my three years at Petsmart, I only met one dog who I felt really needed home-based training much more than coming into the store - because that dog was so under-socialized he just shut down with all the strange things.

If you haven't read it already, you might want to pick up "It's not the Dogs, it's the People" (I think that's what it's called), about how to teach people. She has a lot of info about doing in-home training, with the added complications of children, dog guarding the house, etc. I found it on Amazon, it might be in big bookstores too.

If you need info about service dog organizations, you can private message me.

 

[Chaoslillith]

I sent you a PM Lizzybeth.

You are right about the dogs coming to class being great at socialization. Most of the time I hear the reason they want privates is scheduling issues. Some people just have crazy schedules and find it hard to commit to that 8 week stretch or we do not have classes going at a good time for them.

I think also it is just easier for them but I won't let them get away with not socializing the puppy.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I think also it is just easier for them but I won't let them get away with not socializing the puppy.

I PMed you back.

Maybe you could figure out how to go on an "outing" during one lesson - meet your student in a store that allows dogs (hardware stores are great, easier than pet stores at first) and teach how to do socialization (greetings, barking, etc.) Course you'll have to get them good at LLW first, and of course it's more dangerous in public, so you'll have to be extra-dilligent with controlling the environment.

 

[Chaoslillith]

I got the PM and Thanks.

I like the outing idea. One person has a very busy neighborhood she lives in so just walking around on the street is socialization in itself but I think the outing would be fun.

I am going to start looking around for a Part time Vet assistant position as well. Maybe get some practice in there as well.