Dog Trainer Job Description
Unless you have an inherent love for animals, particularly dogs, there is no way that you can work as a dog trainer and be successful at it. However, if being a dog trainer is something that you want to do and love doing, your success is guaranteed.
Animals, specifically dogs, are highly intelligent beings who can very easily sense who likes them and who gives off negative vibes. So if you do not like dogs, chances are, that you will not be much liked by the dog whom you have been assigned to!
To work as a dog trainer, you will have to have a high school diploma or a GED along with an exceptional insight into how to train pet dogs, sniff dogs, guard dogs, or disability dogs.
Dog trainers are usually hired as assistants or apprentices and learn on the job. Once they know how to handle specific training, they can easily assess dogs and determine what their training needs are.
Some particular duties and responsibilities of a dog trainer include:
Dog Trainer Duties and Tasks
• Meet with dog owners to determine their dog training requirements and provide them with suggestions.
• Assess and evaluate dogs to determine their temperaments and specific needs for training.
• Develop and implement programs to meet the individual training needs of each dog in the facility.
• Train dogs to become obedient pets, guard dogs, sniff dogs, disability companions, or performance dogs.
• Ascertain that dogs are fed nutritious meals, specially prepared for them according to their breed types and sizes.
• Observe dogs during and after training sessions to determine how well they have performed and the need for additional training.
• Decipher signs of depression or physical discomfort and ensure that they are addressed immediately.
• Cue dogs during performances to provide them with prompting support.
• Educate owners by providing them with information on their dogs’ nutritional and emotional needs.
• Work with volunteers to provide them with insight into dog care aimed at meeting their physical and emotional needs.
• Provide training to dogs and their owners in a correlating fashion so that owners can replicate them after training sessions.
• Create and implement reward systems to increase training efficiency.
• Maintain records of enrolled dogs including information of injuries or past diseases.