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Depending on the type of training being done, a trainer’s day can range from routine to ever changing. For a companion-dog trainer such as Kim Toepfer of Fresno, California, no two days are alike.

“My days vary a great deal, which I enjoy,” she says. “I have a few dogs that I work with while their owners are at work. I pick up the dog from the home and take him to a park or public place to work on behavior problems or just polish his training. I usually have a private client or two, and then teach a class in the evening. Lately, I have begun to do a lot more work online, developing Web sites for other trainers, plus a little bit of freelance writing. I try to fit that into my spare time.”

Some trainers teach obedience classes at local veterinary clinics. That’s how Toepfer got her start as a trainer. Other trainers offer pet manners or obedience classes through community colleges or community recreation programs, and house-call services have grown increasingly popular with dog owners who appreciate the quicker results achieved through intensive one-on-one training. Home visits allow a trainer to customize programs to the specific needs of an owner and his or her dog. Some dog-training businesses make sixty or more house calls per week.

Other trainers prepare dogs for work in movies, theater, or television, either on the side or as a full-time business. In Houston, Jim Burwell has trained dogs for local TV commercials, news shows, and theater productions. New York dog trainer William Berloni (pictured on page 57 with canine performer PI) specializes in theatrical animals. His canine students have appeared in Broadway shows, in ballets, in movies, and on TV.

Trainers who work with animal actors must be well versed in animal welfare requirements, public health regulations, and liability insurance, as well as experienced in obtaining permits and certifications. They must also know what filmmakers want. Generally, that means dogs with good looks, such as Golden Retrievers; dogs with loads of personality, such as Jack Russell Terriers; or scruffy mixed breeds with unusual coloring and attitude to spare.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

TRAINER

A dog trainer should have these characteristics:

 A knack for working with dogs

 Patience

 Good people skills

 Time-management skills

 Problem-solving ability

 Respect for clients, both canine and human

 A desire to improve the relationship between dog and person

 Physical fitness

Captain Haggerty: The Trainer’s Trainer

Arthur J. Haggerty, born in Manhattan on December 3, 1931, grew up around dogs and handled several breeds in dog shows at a young age. While serving in the U.S. Army in the 1950s, he became the commanding officer of the K9 Corps. In 1962, he founded Captain Haggerty’s School for Dogs. The Captain (as he became known) proceeded to blaze a trail as a dog trainer with uncanny abilities. If dogs could do it, he prepared them for it. He worked with sentry dogs in Germany, Okinawa, and the Philippines; with police dogs in London, Hong Kong, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.; with guide dogs in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He spent years working with avalanche dogs; sled dogs; messenger dogs; bird and varmint dogs; scout dogs; patrol dogs; and explosive- and narcotic-detector dogs.

The Captain also supplied dogs for the silver screen, the stage, and television. In the early 1970s he was called to supply dogs for the movie Shamus, starring Burt Reynolds. His distinctive look—tall, broad, and bald—appealed to the director, who hired him to play a “goon.” Bitten by the acting bug, he would go on to appear in or handle dogs for more than 150 feature films and 450 television commercials. His dogs appeared in soap operas such as As the World Turns and All My Children, and he and his dogs were often guests on David Letterman’s late-night talk show.

He also wrote. In 1977, with fellow New York dog trainer Carol Lea Benjamin, he wrote his first book, Dog Tricks, which became, and remains, a best-seller. Other books followed: The American Breeds, How to Get Your Pet into Show Business, How to Teach Your Dog to Talk, The Zen Method of Dog Training, and Service Dogs. Additionally, he wrote some 1,000 articles on dogs for various periodicals. He won many awards from the Dog Writers Association of America, and the Alliance of Purebred Dog Writers offers an annual Haggerty award for excellence in the field of dog writing.

Through training classes, seminars and workshops, books and articles, and television appearances, the Captain inspired thousands of dog lovers and helped many a professional trainer get a start. He also became a noted American Kennel Club judge. A true icon in the field of dog training, Arthur Haggerty died in July 2006, leaving his daughter, Babette, a well-respected and successful trainer in her own right, to carry on.

A dog can be beautiful and personable, but if he isn’t well socialized, he won’t perform reliably. He should be able to stay focused for long periods despite the distractions of strangers or unusual activity. Trainers who work in this field often find their canine stars in animal shelters. These animals are often too rambunctious and smart to fit well into homes, but those same characteristics can make them highly trainable.

In addition to working with paying clients, many trainers do volunteer work. Burwell is past president of the Lone Star Search and Rescue Dog Association, which trains dogs for tracking and air scenting and participates in searches for lost or missing people.