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According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of animal care and service workers—a group that includes dog trainers—is expected to grow by 21 percent through 2018. Every year, more and more people acquire dogs as companions. Those new pet owners will need the services of trainers. Even established dog owners continue to need the help of trainers as they become interested in new dog sports or acquire new puppies who need training.

More and more animal shelters are also hiring dog trainers. They recognize the need not only to prepare dogs for adoption but also to help new adopters deal with any behavior problems they may encounter. These “help desks” at shelters are often responsible for keeping animals in their homes instead of being cycled back to the shelters, so working at such a shelter can be rewarding for a trainer.

The income a dog trainer makes can range from a low of around $11 an hour to, well, the sky’s the limit! Dog trainers may charge hourly rates for private lessons or fixed fees for group classes. Rates vary based on such factors as the area of the country, the trainer’s level of experience, and the training venue. Private dog trainers in small towns or rural areas may make only $12 to $15 per hour, while private trainers who make house calls in cities on the East or West Coast may charge from $100 to $500 per hour. A group class at a dog-training facility may cost $150 for four one-hour sessions, while a private session at the same facility is $75 per hour simply because the trainer’s attention is not divided. Trainers who run their own businesses must keep in mind that the recurrent costs of running a business can be high; facility rent, insurance, advertising, and other expenses will all take a bite out of a trainer’s income.

William Berloni works with one of the stars of his troop of theatrical canine actors, Chloe. Chloe took to the New York stage in the Palace Theater’s production of Legally Blonde.

“One also has to look at the economy,” Dennison says. “I diversify as much as possible, writing books and articles, doing speaking engagements, producing DVDs, and selling select products.”

And some clients are not above emotional blackmail. “There were many times people would threaten me with the well-being of their dogs if I would not help them for free or at little cost,” Bulanda says. “People think that because you love dogs or cats, you are willing to work for nothing for the benefit of the pet. They often do not understand that it is your livelihood and that you make a living training dogs and cats. Everyone who wants to be a dog trainer should come to grips with this and decide how to handle it.”

Dog training is not an easy way to make a living, to be sure, but for the right person, it can be extremely rewarding. “I could not be happier that my interests led me to become a trainer,” says Toepfer. “I have the most amazing, dedicated dog owners as clients. They are beautiful people who truly love their pets. It is wonderful to be considered a partner in their dogs’ well-being.”

TRAINER RESOURCES

 Association of Pet Dog Trainers, www.apdt.com

 Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, www.ccpdt.org

 Hollywood Animals’ Animal Actors Agency, www.animalactorsagency.com

 Indiana University, Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, www.indiana.edu/~animal

 Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior, www.karenpryoracademy.com

 Kutztown University, Canine Training and Management Program, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, www.kutztown.edu/academics/learning/canine_management.html

 Legacy Canine Behavior and Training, www.legacycanine.com

 National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, www.nadoi.org

 Pat Miller, Peaceable Paws Dog and Puppy Training, Hagerstown, Maryland, apprentice and intern programs, www.peaceablepaws.com

 Pet Care Services Association, www.petcareservices.org

 San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, www.sfspca.org/programs-services/academy-dog-trainers

 Susan Rhoades, Keepstone Farm, www.keepstonefarm.com

 So You Want to Be a Dog Trainer, by Nicole Wilde, 2nd ed. Phantom Publishing, 2006.