Dog Trainer Archives - The Online Dog Trainer

The Missing Link: Why You’re Struggling to Train Your Pup and How a Comprehensive Dog Training Program Can Help

The second you bring a new dog into your home, your life changes forever. While most of the changes are positive, you might also find yourself wondering, “what did I get myself into?”

Just like humans, dogs can come with a variety of behavioral challenges that occur in both puppyhood and adulthood. Challenges such as…

Using the toilet indoors.
Destructive behaviors due to stress/separation anxiety.
Biting, growling, and showing aggressive tendencies.
Incessant barking.
Jumping, pulling on the leash, and not coming when called.
And SO much more!

It’s these behaviors that steal the joy out of dog ownership and might have you wondering if you made a mistake by bringing home your new canine companion.

As a good dog parent, I bet that you’ve already spent time scouring the internet for resources to help your dog overcome whatever behavioral challenge they are experiencing.

And like many dog owners, it’s possible you’re still not finding success as you try and piece together all the training techniques you’ve found online.

Sound familiar?

There’s a reason this happens, and today I want to share WHY this happens, along with WHAT YOU CAN DO to once-and-for-all solve your dog’s training issues.

Let’s start by taking a look at the underlying problem…piecing together random training programs.

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Why ‘Pieced Together’ Random Methods are Failing Your Dog

Just like a jigsaw puzzle, you need all the right pieces, fitting together perfectly in order to complete it.

The same is true for dog training…

Of course, there are many wonderful dog training programs out there. And it makes me happy to know that many trainers use kind, gentle methods. However, when you start mixing and matching methods, things can quickly become CONFUSING FOR YOUR DOG.

Now, I want you to think for a minute about how you learned how to tie your shoes as a child.

Did you use the rabbit ear method? Were you taught the criss-cross applesauce technique? Were you instructed to use double knots or single knots?

At the end of the day, all of the methods teach you how to tie your shoes. However, if you attempted to use all the techniques at once, your shoes would end up in a knotted mess…

So before we go any further I’d like to share with you one of the most amazing stories of a lady who experienced what it was like when she put a Consistent, Complete Method in place VERSUS her usual blend of average approaches = The Epic Fail!

(Watch the video below…)

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If you want your dog to understand how you want them to behave you have to “speak” to them in the same language, staying constant with how you ask for and correct various behaviors.

(Looking for a consistent, comprehensive training program?. Try my Complete Pack training program for only $1 here!)

Unfortunately, when dog owners try to piece things together using different training solutions, dogs often become confused and frustrated.

This is often because the foundation is lost—the part that develops the solid connection between you and your dog, that relationship bond, that bit that makes them feel like they should LISTEN!

This frustration can lead to additional challenging behaviors leaving your dog anxious and difficult to manage and you feeling like you’re incapable of training your dog.

The worst part…as dog behavior gets worse, many people turn to harsh training products because they feel they have no other option.

The Danger of Turning to Harsh, Expensive, and Harmful Training Products

I know how exhausting it is to feel like nothing you’re trying is helping to train your dog. It’s this exhaustion and frustration that often leads people to turn to harsh training products such as…

Electric collars.
Choke chains.
Electric fences.
And other harmful tools.

While these solutions might give you a quick fix to your current problems, they most certainly are needed and are often not a long term solution. In fact, harsh training products often cause more problems in the long run.

Why?

Because your dog learns out of FEAR instead of listening to you out of love and respect.

Let’s face it, would you like an electric current shot through your throat when you didn’t obey? Hmmm… That’s food for thought, but it’s true.

In fact, I often say to people, I know I could get my kids to do ANYTHING I asked them to do if I put a shock collar on them.

However, it is completely unnecessary and, in my opinion, inhumane. I feel the same is true for dog training. More than anything else it is not needed when you truly understand how to communicate with your dog.

Even worse, when you use harsh training tools, you often miss the underlying issue. This can lead to your dog developing other behavioral issues such as anxiety or aggressive tendencies – exactly the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve!

The only way to truly train your dog to listen to you when it matters most is by using a comprehensive, calm and gentle training program like The Complete Pack.

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With the Right Tools, Dog Training Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle

The strategy of taking little bits of lots of different training programs and mashing them together rarely works. More often than not, both you and your dog will end up frustrated and confused, which is why you are reading this now…

The last thing I ever want to see is dog owners struggling with their beloved dogs. So my advice is this…

Pick one comprehensive training program that covers all dog training issues—from puppyhood to adulthood—and stick with it.

So let me go through what should be included in a complete training program by going through my own program, The Complete Pack.

This is a collection of my online courses that provides you with everything you need to solve your dog’s issues. More importantly, the calm, gentle approach helps you create a relationship and a safety net and a way of being with your dog that will work for you in every situation moving forward.

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A Look Inside Doggy Dan’s Complete Pack of Courses

Within The Complete Pack, you’ll get access to 6 of my most powerful dog training programs. Here’s a quick look at what’s included…

1. The Dog Calming Code – The foundational program that teaches you how to connect deeply with your dog so that your dog sees you as someone they should listen to all the time. Using this program, you’ll discover the underlying causes of dog aggression, barking, leash pulling, jumping up, not listening and general naughty behavior.

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2. Everyday Tools and Techniques – You need to have the necessary tools and techniques to establish yourself as the leader of your dog, much like parents need to set an example and be the leader for their children. The tools you’ll discover in this program (how to use verbal commands, long lines, the calm freeze, etc.) are the same tools that the pros use to maintain composure when it really matters when training a dog.

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3. Project Moses Video Diary – Just brought home a new puppy? One of the first things you’re going to want to know is how to overcome potty training, mouthing, biting, jumping, etc. My Project Moses video diary provides you with a video diary that walks you through the timeline of everything you need to know about raising a new puppy. You’ll watch me set up an environment and train my new puppy Moses from the time he was 8 weeks old to one year.

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4. Perfect Puppy Program – Most new dog owners struggle with finding solutions to meeting their new puppy’s needs in the first few months of dog ownership. It’s just like bringing home a new baby and wondering why your infant is crying all the time. This program offers all the tips, tools, and resources you need to ensure your puppy is happy, healthy, and is set up for obedience training success!

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5. Dan’s Dog Training 101 – Everyone wants their dog to know some commands. While not everyone wants their dog to learn how to get a beer out of the fridge, commands like sit, stay, and come are very important. My Dog Training 101 program teaches you how to set a solid foundation with basic commands that will become essential as your dog gets older.

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6. All Dog Problems Solved – If you’ve got an older dog and things are starting to fall apart, don’t panic! Old dogs can be taught new tricks! In my “All Dog Problems Solved” program, I’ll walk you through how to fix 37 of the most common dog issues.

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The Forum – While the Complete Pack provides you with everything you need to successfully train your dog, it’s nice to have real, human support in case you get hung up along the way. When you sign up for the Complete Pack, you get access to the forum—an online space where you can ask questions and get help from our resident professional dog trainer, Hayley, who can tailor the training to your dog’s specific needs.

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So there you go, if you’ve been struggling with your dog…

Because of using different bits of different methods, OR
Because you have a special dog who’s a bit more tricky to train

Then maybe it’s time to check out the Complete Pack and put this simple program in place—something over 47,000 people have used.

Imagine the feeling in a couple of hours time as you realise you’ve finally found the program that actually makes sense…to both YOU and your DOG!

Get access to EVERYTHING in The Complete Pack for only $1!

Love and blessings to your relationship together…

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~Doggy Dan 🙂

Training Aggressive Dogs: Understanding Dominant and Fearful Aggression

Over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of unruly and aggressive dogs who were hostile to other dogs. And that’s what this is about…understanding dog-dog aggression.

One encounter that sticks in my memory is a Great Dane Border Collie cross, who weighed close to 80 kg and was so aggressive that when I brought him out of the car on a double leash my dogs hid in the bushes on the far side of the park.

On the other end of the spectrum I’ve also seen tiny little dogs snap away at my biggest dog Jack whilst he calmly ignored them and carried on smelling the flowers!

And from these experiences, I’ve learned that size, breed, color, etc., tend to have nothing to do with why a dog is aggressive.

With that in mind, I know that when working with an aggressive dog, I have to answer a few questions…

‘Why did they do what they did?’

‘What was the goal of their aggression?’

‘What made them do it?’

If we can answer those questions then we get a better understand of where a dog is coming from and then form an approach that will help them start to relax and overcome their aggression.

Now clearly, there are many different reasons why a dog may be aggressive. They may have a fear of something happening, their aggression may be linked to some previous abuse, they may feel threatened, be protecting something or somebody or simply have a serious lack of confidence.

If I tried to go into all of those problems, we’d be here for days.

So, today my focus is going to be on how to better understand the difference between dominant and fearful aggression– two of the most common types of aggression and then you’ll be able to get an idea of what you can do to help them.

Fear-Based Aggression

There is a saying that there is only love and fear and with fear based aggression this is certainly true!

So let’s take a look at what fear based aggression actually means and what may have caused it!

Firstly, it’s possible, but unlikely, that a bad experience in the past is the cause of the issue. I say this because many dog owners who adopted their dogs late and have aggression issues seem to think that it must be related to abuse that they know nothing about. However not only does this rarely makes sense but it also leaves them feeling helpless to solve the problem (and I’d like to suggest that there is hope!) On further questioning they confirm that for the first few months during which they had their dog the dog was fine socialising and playing happily. This is rarely the cause of aggression.

So why does fear based occur?

Well, the vast majority of fear aggression is triggered when a dog feels there is a threat of harm to themselves or one of their loved ones be it a puppy or human–and yes that could be you, the owner.

So, if your loyal companion feels you’re in harm’s way, this aggressive fear-based behavior can come out of nowhere to protect you.

Now, a simple indicator that this could be the case is if your dog only reacts like this when you are with them. So, if your dog is aggressive to other dogs when you walk them but they’ll walk and play happily at the dog park when other people take your dog, this is likely to be what’s going on.

And last but not least it’s important to point out that this sort of fear-based aggression can arise for absolutely no reason.

A dog doesn’t have to be abused or fear their owner in danger to suddenly experience fear-based aggression.

So why does it happen? We may never know…

A dog’s brain is very complex, there are 160 million neurons in the cerebral cortex part of the brain alone. To be able to always point to what happened that caused a dog to react with fear-based aggression is impossible.

Think of it this way…

I have a sister who is deathly afraid of birds. My other sister fears spiders. Now, there was never any incident in which either of my sisters had a bad experience with birds or spiders…they simply have irrational phobias.

And the same irrational phobias can develop in dogs too.

Now sometimes the aggressive dog may be a little bit confident and proactively seek out other dogs.

Their tails are often up and their chests are puffed out! A generally fearful dog who finds that little bit of confidence for a few seconds may charge and run 100 meters to get to get to another dog.

Out of fear, they are looking to “get the first punch in” and actively go looking to do it.

On the flip side, some fearful dogs are not confident at all. Period. Their tails are down between their legs, and they won’t leave their owner’s side. They’ll do anything to avoid you…they turn their heads and move away and try to avoid eye contact.

Less confident dogs like this that are fearful will snap, bite or bark only if another dog or person gets too close.

Any type of fearful aggression should be taken seriously. That’s because any fear-based aggression can easily result in actual injury to either another dog or a human.

How do you fix it? We’ll get to that in a minute after we talk about dominance-based aggression.

Dominance-Based Aggression

Aggression to establish dominance is completely different than fear-based aggression.

Dogs instinctually have a structure or hierarchy. And some dogs take this hierarchy more seriously than other dogs.

For example a very dominant dog who wants to be in charge may try to state their position over another dog who’s more submissive. Now generally speaking, so long as the dominant dog gets their own way they’ll be happy. But, if they meet another dog who thinks they are in charge too, then they may need to sort it out.

Usually there’s a couple of seconds of grizzle or an air snap, and it’s all over. That’s it. Done!

Now the good thing about this type of aggression is that it often doesn’t result in injury between the dogs. This is because it’s more of a test of strength than anything else–like two guys having an arm wrestling contest to find out who is stronger.

And so often that hierarchy is established with no aggression at all.

For example, if a dog slowly rolls over and lies on their back, submissively bearing their soft underbelly, it’s all over, nice and peaceful.

It’s when both dogs stand their ground that it can get slightly gnarly. While the more aggressive behavior is not pleasant to watch–may include some terrible noise or a bit of flying hair–it still rarely ends in serious injury to either dog.

Fun fact: Size has very little to do with dominance! It’s just like people…there are some very dominant small people (Napoleon wasn’t a big fella!), and there are lots of very submissive larger people.

The Solution to Both Fear-Based and Dominance-Based Aggression

The easiest way to get rid of aggression in both fearful dogs and dominant dogs is to remove them from the role of decision maker or pack leader.

Think about it, with dominance-based aggression, if your dog thinks he’s in charge, he’s going to be checking up on all the other dogs with far more attitude. I see it all the time where dogs are running around with chests out and tails up, checking the other dogs out in a very business like way, like it’s part of their job. Remove that role and they will be far more chilled out.

Analogy: I play soccer. I’m not the captain; my mate is. That means that before we kick off there are certain things my mate, Craig, has to do–go to center circle, shake hands, flip a coin, choose an end, chat to the ref–then he returns to his pack/team.

It’s the same with a dog. When a dog thinks they are in charge, he feels there are certain things he has to do–one of them is go check out the other dogs and decide who’s dominate and who’s submissive.

On the flip side, if he knows you’re in charge, he can relax and trust that you will do any sizing up that needs to be done. There is no need to puff out the chest and go and check out all the other dogs.

The same goes for fear-based aggression. In order to get rid of this aggression, your dog has to understand that you are in charge and in control of what’s going on.

So, like a human would turn to a leader in a difficult situation, it’s important that your dog trusts you that you will protect them and have their best interests at heart.

This can take a bit of time, but then they’ll follow your lead, and you’ll be able to keep your dog’s focus on you when it really matters.

So, in a nutshell, whether your dog has fearful aggression or dominant aggression, I suggest spending less time training your dog and spend more time establishing yourself as a calm and gentle leader.

It’s as easy as that!

If you think you’ve discovered the cause of your dog’s aggression and would like help getting your dog to calm down and look to you for direction when he becomes anxious or upset, I want you to check out my program called The Dog Calming Code.

This program has helped me train over 37,000 dogs–many of which have had various types of aggression issues.

Or, if you have a puppy I invite you to give my Puppy Coach training program a try instead!

I wish you the best!

~Doggy Dan 🙂

Dog Training Secrets: An Inside Look at Stopping Inappropriate Behaviors

Those of you who know my work know that my dog training practices are founded on dog owner education.

Why?

Because believe it or not, most of the dogs I train have a problem that needs to be solved by educating a dog owner to change his or her behavior.

That’s the first of my many Dog Training secrets!

(Find out more about my secrets and how I’ve trained over 37,000 dogs here!)

It’s quite amazing how many dog “behavior problems” are actually rooted in bad habits that are created by humans.

Let’s take a look at a simple example…

Many dog owners complain about their dogs begging for food at the table. But, how many times have these same owners slipped their dog a bite of food under the table? A little piece of lamb here, some peanut jelly on toast there, letting the dog lick the dirty plate when no one is looking! The answer is probably most of them probably give the dog way more incorrect messages than they realise.

And so this is simply a behavior that a dog learns due to the owner’s actions.

When the owner and everyone else consistently stops feeding the dog under the table and makes it clear that begging at the table is not acceptable and that the dog should go and lie down elsewhere the begging will stop.

Sometimes behavior change also about consequences–another step in the training process that many dog owners leave out.

You see, most dog owners don’t know how to set consequences for bad behavior. And no, I’m not implying that owners should scream as a dog or hit a dog as punishment. There are gentle and kind consequences that actually work more effectively. I’ll get to those in a bit. But first, I want you to take a few minutes to check out on my recent consults with a West Highland Terrier named Chester.

In this video you’ll see how I work with the owner to change Chester’s naughty slipper stealing habit.

At the end of this clip, you can decide for yourself whether you think my training methods have changed Chester into a different dog or whether his owner is simply doing things differently and giving him difference consequences to his actions.

Watch the video now…

So what do you think? Is Chester a new dog or has his behavior changed because his owner is communicating more effectively with him?

The bottom line is that there’s nothing wrong with Chester.

He is the same dog he was at the beginning of the video.

The only difference is that his owner is now doing things differently to help him understand right from wrong and laying down some clear boundaries.

Chester’s behavior hasn’t changed because he was scared or bribed–we never forced him to do anything.

Chester’s behavior changed because he understood what was being asked of him, he understood there were consequences and he made the decision on his own to change his behavior.

My favorite part of this video is at, 8 minutes and 40 seconds time. Go back to the video and watch this clip once more.

This is the part of the video where Chester consciously makes the decision to leave the slipper alone on his own.

How cool is that?

All it took was the tiniest touch on his neck as a reminder to leave the slipper alone.

In a nutshell what’s happening is that we’re showing Chester that we are making the rules and we’re showing him that there’s going to be consequences to his behavior.

Chester knew understand that if he took the slipper, he’d be put back in time out–a place he didn’t want to go.

Consequences are not meant to be mean or harmful. No yelling, screaming, or hitting is ever necessary to show a dog their behavior is undesirable.

In fact something as simple and gentle as a 2 minute time out is often enough to stop a dog from repeating something you didn’t like.

Thats right. A simple 2 minute timeout could save you a lot of trouble further down the track.

Aside from the moment Chester made his own conscious decision to follow the rules, my other favorite part of this video is watching Chester’s owner.

It’s amazing to watch her as she watched Chester’s behavior change in such a short space of time.

She saw that he was making the decision on his own free will–he had self control. She could see there was no food involved, no harsh discipline, and it all happened so fast without the need for hours and hours of training.

Best of all you could see how much she was enjoying the consult. This whole gentle approach makes dog training so much more enjoyable for the owner, the dog, and the dog trainer.

Have you ever seen yourself as a dog trainer?

Fancy spending your afternoons helping fellow dog owners out doing consults much like the one in the video you just watched.

Exciting thought, isn’t it?

If you’re interested in starting a career as a dog training using these gentle and effective training methods, I invite you to post your interest in my Dog trainer Academy.

Throughout the Dog Trainer Academy program, you’ll get to watch me at work as I implement my proven training methods, you can ask me any questions and be given all the necessary help and advice to set up a successful dog training business of your own.

Of course, it’s possible that you’re not quite ready to commit to becoming a dog trainer yet. If that’s the case for you, I highly recommend you check out my program called The Dog Calming Code. Or, if you have a puppy I suggest with my Puppy Coach training program!

In this program, I’ll give you the training tools you need to get any dog to remain calm and listen to you when it matters most. It will help you build a solid foundation as your work toward your goal of becoming a successful trainer.

Best of luck!

5 Essential Traits of a Great Dog Behavior Training Specialist

Becoming a dog behavior training specialist is one of the most fun and interesting jobs you can ever pursue.

There’s not a day that goes by that I find myself bored, unhappy or flustered–something most people can’t say about their current career.

Yet, as fun, wonderful and rewarding as a career as a dog trainer is, it’s not for everybody.

You see, there are several traits that will really help you shine in becoming a truly great dog behavior training specialist.

Why are these traits important to your success and do you have them?

Let’s find out…

Trait #1 – An Ability to Communicate With People

Often people jump into dog training programs with the idea that they will only be responsible for interacting with the animals they are training.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most dog behavioral issues are caused by the owners doing something that causes the problem! (Sometimes there’s actually nothing wrong with the dog at all!)

So, dog training is really primarily about knowledge transfer, or as I like to call it, dog owner education. For this reason, every consult you are a part of will involve working with the owners of the dog you are training. And your role is to get them to change how they interact with their dog!

So needless to say, there are a lot of hours spent each week interacting with people from all different walks of life.

And if you don’t enjoy being around people or are triggered negatively by many different personalities and behaviors, becoming a dog behaviorist while using the approach that I use may not be the ideal career for you.

The better I’ve become with people, the better I’ve been able to educate and share knowledge that has helped shape the behaviors of my clients’ dogs.

When this is done successfully, the results of your training methods will last much longer, making your consults an enjoyable and rewarding experience for you, your client and the dog that’s involved.

It’s fair to say that not only do I get great results working with dogs and their owners, but we also have a great time.

Trait #2 – A Desire to Help People

A big part of being a dog training specialist is having the desire to help both people and their dogs.

I can’t stress how important this is.

If you don’t care, you’ll often find yourself just rambling through consults wanting them to end, and they will ultimately end in failure. This will make future consults difficult. It will also destroy your reputation as a credible dog trainer.

Not to mention, people aren’t stupid. They will be able to pick up on if you’re doing a consult just for the paycheck.

Not good.

It’s also fair to say that the dog you’re working with will know you’re in a rush and that never helps…calm is king!

You won’t find success as a dog behavior training specialist until you truly care about the emotions and feelings of both the dogs and owners you work with.

This is when you get to make a difference in the lives of people.

When you care, you form stronger bonds with clients. And, eventually, word that you truly care gets around and people appreciate it.

This is what drives a successful dog training career.

Trait #3 – A Passion and Love For Dogs

I know, you’d think “loving dogs” is a common-sense trait when it comes to pursuing a job as a dog trainer. But it’s an important trait I feel people need to reflect on before making the decision to train dogs.

Anybody can “like” dogs or tolerate them. But, not everyone is truly passionate about them.

As a dog trainer, you may end up working all day long with dogs so it’s important in this line of work.

If you enjoy a half hour of playtime with your family pet, but get bored after that playtime is up, you’re probably not super passionate about dogs.

On the other hand, if you can’t get enough of hanging out with your dog, learning about what makes him tick, going on walks, cuddling on the couch and playing in the backyard–well, that’s a good sign that you truly have a passion for working with dogs.

Another sub-trait of a dog lover is the ability to love all types of dogs.

If you only love certain breeds or want to work with certain breeds, you’re going to struggle.

Just a quick piece of advice: You don’t need to have had a lot of experience with dogs before you start training. What’s important is that you love dogs and are open to working with different breeds.

And in case you are wondering, yes, dogs are incredibly smart. If you don’t really love a dog, they will know it–you just can’t fool them!

This will have a negative impact on your consult.

So, before you sign yourself up for working with dogs all day long, make sure you’re truly passionate about them.

Trait #4 – The Ability to Stay Focused, a Determination to Overcome and a Positive Attitude

Whatever you want to achieve in life, you must have the right mindset.

The more focused, determined and positive you are, the higher chance you have for succeeding as a dog behavior specialist.

Having these traits really becomes important when you find yourself in the middle of a tricky consult.

I know from personal experience that you’re going to be thrown all sorts of curve balls–from clients that want to pull you off track to dogs that are more difficult to connect with.

The good news…

The more you can stay focused, determined and positive, the greater the chances are that you find success.

When you own a dog training business, things are bound to get rocky from time to time.

When you hit a downward, turn you have to be able to focus and stay with it.

Are you able to raise the bar when it’s time to take your business to the next level?

Can you change and adapt depending on the different situations you’re thrown into?

If your answer is YES to these questions, I have no doubt you’ll be able to succeed as a dog trainer.

Trait #5 – The Ability to Change, Believe and Dream

When I first became a dog trainer, I thought it was the dog that needed to change. After all, the reason I was asked to do a consult was because a dog had a behavioral problem.

However, as I mentioned earlier, I quickly came to realize that a dog’s behavior only changes when the owner changes.

So, as a dog trainer, you are in the change game. What you are really doing is challenging clients to change as fast as they can, as much as they can, permanently. When they do, their dogs will change.

As dog trainers, we also need to be willing to change ourselves. And when you become a dog trainer, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

The effects are profound when you make this change.

I always dreamt of finding this change–finding something amazing and out of this world. I wanted to find a way to connect with dogs on a truly different level–not just training.

I dared to dream and held onto that dream until I unlocked the secret to connecting with dogs in a way that inspired them to change on their own terms.

During this whole process, I never stopped believing that I could find a way, and I made my dream a reality and, at the same time, made big changes and transformed my life.

If you have the power to change, believe and dream, you can become a great dog behavior training specialist, too!

If you feel you have the traits of a great dog trainer, then you’ll love my new training course that will show you a new approach to gentle dog training.

Throughout this program, you’ll get to watch me at work as I implement my proven training methods, ask me any questions and be given the necessary help and advice to set up a successful dog training business of your own.

Interested in learning more? CLICK HERE

Not ready to become a dog trainer just yet but are looking for resources to solidify your training skills? If that’s the case, I invite you to check out my program, The Dog Calming Code!

This program will teach you everything you need to know about helping dogs calm down and relax so they listen to you when it matters most.

Check it out here!

Awesome!

I can’t wait to work with you!

~Doggy Dan 🙂

9 Reasons Becoming a Dog Trainer is the Best Job Ever

If you wake up every morning and dread getting out of bed to go to work, you’re not alone.

In fact, for years I woke up at the crack of dawn, made a long commute to my job, sat at a desk for 8+ plus hours, and worked a job I absolutely hated because I felt like I had no other choice.

It was horrible.

I wasted so many years climbing the corporate ladder, chasing numbers, meeting deadlines, and stressing-out over projects I didn’t enjoy. I didn’t believe I had any other options…until one day everything changed.

There came a point in my life where I decided I had to make a change and sought out the advice of a career counselor.

Thanks to that meeting, I discovered that I can indeed follow my passions while making a solid living. It was that day I made the decision to follow my dreams and begin, what I believe is the best job ever…

I became a dog trainer.

If you feel you’re in a similar situation as I was, love dogs, and have a passion for making a difference in the lives of humans and their pets I have no doubt that this is the right career path for you, too.

If the idea of hanging out with beautiful dogs all day and following your dreams isn’t enough, I encourage you to check out the following 9 reasons on why becoming a dog trainer may just be the best decision of your life!

Reason #1 to Become a Dog Trainer – High Demand

In this day in age, dogs are more part of our lives than ever.

But just because people own dogs, doesn’t mean they know how to properly train them.

Here’s the problem…dogs have a certain way of being, a certain way of communicating that is different from humans. And because people are unable think like a dog, a lot of training problems occur.

The big issue is that although thousands of people have dogs, many don’t don’t know how to connect with them.

Even doggy day care facilities and dog boarding kennels don’t always know how to properly train and interact with dogs. Crazy, right?

Sounds horrible, but this is actually great news.

This problem increases the demand for quality dog trainers.

How much demand you ask? Well, believe it or not pet services is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the pet industry, projected to grow 11% from now to 2024.[thrive_fill_counter color=”blue” value=”11″ before=”” after=”%” percentage=”100″ label=”INCREASE”]

It’s incredible.

That’s proof the demand for dog trainers in your community is taking off.

Reason #2 to Become a Dog Trainer – Freedom

It takes a special kind of person to enjoy being chained to a desk for 8 or more hours a day. That person is not me, and considering you’re reading this post, I’m assuming it’s not you either.

The beauty of becoming a dog trainer is that you’re your own boss. You set your own hours and schedule and this buys you a lot of freedom.

Thanks to my job as a dog trainer I spend fewer hours working and more hours doing the things I love, like kite surfing and spending time with my family.
If I decide I want to take week’s vacation–no problem.

If I only want to work Monday through Wednesday–great!

Even between consultations I can find myself relaxing at a cafe with a coffee and caramel slice, enjoying the day with no stress or worries about the next consult…all very different from my corporate life where every second was being timed.

You get the idea.

As a dog trainer you’ll find yourself enjoying far more freedom than a person with a desk job will ever experience.

Reason #3 to Become a Dog Trainer – Time

Working as a dog trainer means your work never has to be rushed.

Here’s what I mean by that…

Every dog learns on his on time. Some dogs may learn to follow a command in an hour, while other might takes weeks to learn the same command.

So you don’t promise that a dog will stop X and Y before the end of the session (this is not a fast food restaurant) but rather that you will show they owners the skills and tools to train their dog.

Because of this, you’re able to control time without deadlines or pressure, unlike normal jobs.

Sure, you can continue to support them as they go but it’s not all down to you!Now how’s that for relief!

Reason #4 to Become a Dog Trainer – Confidence

Many people question the idea of whether they actually have a real gift they can contribute to the world or not.

It’s easy to think “there’s nothing special about me” when you’re stuck behind a desk all day or are spending your days doing something you’re truly dislike.

I had the same thoughts before I became a dog trainer, too.

But once I followed my heart and started working with dogs, I realized I did actually have a gift that I could share with the world. And not only was this gift something I loved, but it also allowed me to make a meaningful difference in the world.

But here’s the best part…

This gift of being able to train dogs also gave me an immense amount of confidence.

It’s amazing how that confidence begins to radiate when you find your purpose in life.

Before I knew it everyone wanted my secrets and skills.

I felt significant and to this day my confidence has continued to grow as I pursue my passion.

Being able to connect with a dog and then communicate them to change their behavior is an amazing thing…and something that most dog owners are desperate to understand.

Reason #5 to Become a Dog Trainer – You Become a Hero

There’s no better joy than leaving a training consult knowing that you’ve changed the life of both an animal and a human.

Look at it this way…

Image you save a little dog who is constantly being zapped by a shock collar because they are misunderstood and don’t understand what is being asked of them.

Simply put into practice some gentle training methods, and now that little guy who cowered in the corner in fear of being shocked can peacefully sleep in the sunshine.

You can even bring relief to an owner who is heartbroken at the idea of having to get rid of a dog with aggression issues.

Become a dog trainer and using my natural training methods, you can literally save the life of an animal and restore the hope in a human being in just a few hours.

If those things don’t make you feel like a hero, I don’t know what else would!

Reason #6 to Become a Dog Trainer – Passion

If you have millions of dollars and never had to work a day in your life again, what would you be doing?

For me, I can honestly say I’d be living my life just how I am now…kiteboarding, hanging out at the beach, being with my family, and of course training dogs.

Why?

Because all of those activities are things I’m passionate about.

It’s actually kind of amazing to think that people are willing to pay me to do what I love every day.

Your job should be something you’re passionate about. If you love animals and people, I have no doubt you’d be passionate about a career as a dog trainer.

Reason #7 to Become a Dog Trainer – Variety

Every day you spend as a dog trainer is different. And that’s a great thing.

Honestly, who wants to follow the same routine day after day. Boring!

Every time I go and do another consult I get to work with new people, new dogs, address new behavioral problems, find new solutions for clients, and so on and so forth.

I promise, with a canine training career you’ll never be bored.

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the countries finest, celebrities, movie stars, sports stars and billionaires… and each of them thanked me and made ME feel special!

However what I’ve enjoyed the most is spending time, learning and sharing with some of the most amazing beautiful, kind, loving, fun and interesting dogs and people you could imagine…

I have stories for a lifetime!

Reason #8 to Become a Dog Trainer – Contribution

I spent years in a career that never felt fulfilling. Actually, my previous careers were more draining than anything else.

This left me feeling like I had little, if nothing at all, to contribute.

Then I started my career as a dog trainer.

Instantly I felt good about the work I was doing. More importantly I felt like I was able to give back to my community and really a difference in the lives of my clients and their dogs.

Training dogs gave me a career that I feel contributes to a worthy cause–keeping dogs and their humans safe and happy.

If you want to explore a career that will make you feel good and gives you a worthy purpose, dog training is a great path to follow.

Reason #9 to Become a Dog Trainer – Growth

Deep down, I think everyone has the desire to continually learn, grow, and improve themselves.

I know I certainly do.

That’s what makes dog training so fun!

Every Time I interact with a dog I learn something new. I’m always growing and developing new skills–without the pressure of having to attend meetings, seminars, and spending hours in a classroom.

As a dog trainer, you’ll be able to experience the same feeling of growth as you pursue your career.

You’re going to love it!

Ready to get started doing the best job ever as a dog trainer?

Over the past 2 years my team and I have been putting together the most amazing training course that will show you a new approach to gentle dog training. I suggest you check it out!

There really is no other program like it!

So if you’re stuck in a rut with your job, see no future in what you do, have no passion for the work or simply have a dream of doing something special… Then maybe it’s time for a change!

I used to think that to be a dog trainer you had to be born one.
Now I realise that like anything in life…it’s a decision you make.
And it could be the best one you make.

If you’re interested then click HERE to find out more.

Or, if you simply want to get started with a great training program that will teach out how to train dogs in a kind, gentle, and calm manner, check out my program called The Dog Calming Code! (Have a puppy? Try my Puppy Coach training program first!)

I look forward to starting this journey with you–it’s going to be great!

~Doggy Dan 🙂