The past few years I have been trying to decide what to do with my life. How I wanted to make a living. I know I need to do something that makes me happy. Something I am passionate about. I am happiest when helping others and making a difference. My options range from social work to dog training/behaviourist.
Becoming a dog trainer seems easy in some aspects, and difficult in others. There are so many different types of trainers, so many different beliefs, and so many different methods. No wonder dogs are so screwed up. Us humans don't know what to believe ourselves.
So far I've looked into a few options of training. Apprenticing with a local dog trainer seems to be the way to go. I tried it. It didn't work. Wasn't well organized, and I didn't agree totally with her methods. I will also admit I didn’t stay around long.
I've looked into schooling with Ben Kerson in B.C www.wonderdogs.bc.ca/dog-training-program.html.
I have talked to local trainers about how to get into it as well.
In October Brad Pattison, author, dog trainer, human life coach, and star of " At The End Of My Leash" will be coming to Halifax to put on a 6 week "become a dog trainer" program. In reality, its an 18 day course and you will become a Brad Pattison certified dog trainer.
I have watched his show. I have done some research. I have read his opinions. Some techniques I watch make total sense, others just baffle my mind.
I am however, very curious about this course. Its around $6000. I am sure I would learn some and take the knowledge with me forever, but for the rest I know I would let it go in one ear and out the other. The course is just convenient. I could work my regular job during the week and do the course on the weekend. It would just give me something to start with. Some basic experience on both the good side and the bad side how a good dog trainer works.
Its a great debate as to what others think of him. My opinion isn't very high, so it is incredibly unlikely I would pursue this.
Will the local market support another dog trainer? That would be the first question I would ask because no point in spending $6K to not get a job out of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat I've learned from training in a bazillion different genres is that you don't have to agree with everything that someone says. You just have to take the best parts away and develop your own knowledge from it. I think we can learn something from every experience in life, even if it's from someone as cranky as Brad P.
That said, if you really want to be a dog trainer I'd go for it! Even if you don't like everything he teaches, having the cert at the end would be worth it. You can always do shorter courses later to augment what you learn from him in a method that you like more. :)
Wow $6,000 ...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nancy's comment about the liklihood of making at living at this ...
Haven't heard of this fella though he sounds like he knows about dogs.
My daughter is learning to be a dog groomer. She's just apprenticing at a local groomers and the good thing is that there is a demand for groomers.
Why don't you call up some local trainers and see what the demand is like in the area.
I'm 60 and retired before I could ever figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up .
Let us know what you decide and how it goes.
All the best.
Good idea to contact groomers as well as local vets. They deal with animals in pain, so if THEY know how to control an animal...volunteering with them will give you hands on experience. Which is better than forking out $6,000 on a course that one guy's ego is demanding. That seems way overpriced as far as I am concerned.
ReplyDeleteYou should get in touch with Mike's cousin Amber in Enfield. I bet she could at least offer some advice on what course to take, and maybe even let you apprentice with her. Let me know if you're interested and I'll put you in touch with her. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHey Amy
ReplyDeleteI live in BC and I have looked at Brad Pattisons School as well as Ben Kerson's and one other here.
Brads school requires that you be in top physical shape. He does a lot of distance running with his students and their dogs. Yes he is cranky but at the end of the day he really loves dogs. He is a fun guy to work with if you are going to be on the same page. Ben Kerson's program is student loan eligible and it is accredited by the Province of BC as a private school. Ben is very cool and there are videos of him working with his dogs.
There is one other school in BC located in Salmon Arm. (it is in the NOrth Okanagan.) this program is 6 weeks long and the cost is $4400.00 and it is the least expensive. I know of two people who are now self employed dog trainers who have graduated with this school and I took one of my dogs there for agility training. their web site is http://www.canadawestcanine.com/backgroundtestimonials/
I am 57 at the end of the day dont waste time thinking of all the reason why you should not do something. Think of all the reasons why you should. If you want to know how big the pet industry is take a look at the cost of purchasing a dog....it has only gone up and check out dog day care facilities. they are a growth industry. Anyway I am off to school to become a dog trainer in March. Maybe I will see you in my school.
Alex