If you’re searching for a flexible, rewarding job that allows you to work with animals, a career in dog training is an excellent place to start.
Dog training may be a very satisfying vocation, especially if you are inspired by, drawn to, and care about animals.
Because there are no defined prerequisites for being a dog trainer — and because the profession is unregulated — becoming a good dog trainer may appear to be a simple procedure.
However, there is significantly more to being a great dog trainer than merely having a relationship with animals.
You’ll need a lot of patience and the ability to teach owners and their dogs with diverse learning styles.
Since it is rather an easy entry to this profession and does not require much, their pay isn’t that great either.
In fact, according to Indeed, only 26% of Dog Trainers in the U.S. are satisfied with salaries.
So to find out how much do dog trainers make keep reading!
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Dog Trainers Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $33.600 per year |
| Highest Income | $60,000 per year |
| Qualification | Not needed |
| Training | Not compulsory |
Who Are Dog Trainers?
They are those who train owners how to teach their dogs to obey any command.
Trainers can also assist owners in preventing undesirable pet habits such as leaping on furniture, making late-night noises, or peeing in inconvenient areas.
When dogs stay separate from their owners, they are frequently energetic, scared, or worried.
Some dog trainers specialize in certain breeds, while others focus only on obedience training rather than behavior management.
The success of dog trainers is about a number of factors, including how quickly and readily owners learn and use new training approaches.
Dog trainers can be a big help for law enforcement, search and rescue, herding cattle, hunting, therapy, protection, entertainment, and also more are all areas where dog trainers can help.
How Much Do Dog Trainers Make?
Though working as an animal trainer, particularly as a dog trainer, may be a meaningful and fulfilling profession for many individuals, it’s safe to assume that, in most cases, you won’t be making the most money.
However, dog trainers could earn a lot of money depending on where they work, how much experience they have, how they work, and what specific talents they can teach the animals they work with.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, dog trainers (also known as animal trainers) have a salary of around $33.600 per year.
On the other hand, dog trainers often earn more than animal trainers in general.
In fact, in certain places, the average annual compensation for dog trainers exceeds the national average by more than $40,000.
1. How Much Do Dog Trainers Make an Hour?
Dog Trainers make a minimum of $7.45 an hour and a maximum of $31.25 an hour.
2. How Much Do Dog Trainers Make a Month?
Dog Trainers make a minimum of $1,292 a month and a maximum of $5,417 a month.
3. How Much Do Dog Trainers Make a Year?
Dog Trainers make a minimum of $15,500 a year and a maximum of $65,000 a year.
Highest Salary Of Dog Trainers In 2023
There are not many differences in the earnings between a really experienced dog trainer and a dog trainer who knows how to get stuff done with dog trainers.
This is due to the nature of the profession as there are not many areas that you can develop yourself with as the majority of the customers do not ask for the most exotic stuff.
However, if you run your own business or you are charging your clients premium prices even if you are working with someone, you still have some potential to earn nearly double amount of the average.
In the high end, top %10 of dog trainers around $60,000 annually.
Is Being A Dog Trainer Good Or Bad?
Being a dog trainer and preferring the profession over other professions depends totally on what you want out of what you do.
The main reason for this is that the salary of this profession is not really good and the potential to earn more has limits and can not go up a certain amount of money.
However, if you think you can handle this issue and like to be around dogs or teach something to them, being a dog trainer is a really exciting and fun profession.
Also Read: How Much Do Janitors Make?
Pros & Cons of Being a Dog Trainer
Pros
- You get to be around dogs all-day
- Good income
- Flexible timings
- You get to be your own business
- Does not require education qualification
- High-demand
- Low stress
- You can travel
- Great work-life balance
Cons
- Physically & mentally draining
- Training some dogs can be tough
- May have to face lawsuit
How To Become A Dog Trainer?
Here’s how you can become a Dog Trainer:
- So to become a dog trainer, no formal degree or certification is necessary. While this may lead you to assume that anybody with a dog whistle and a leash can become a dog trainer and flood the market, the fact is that a dog trainer who lacks expertise is unlikely to succeed.
- If you want to be a successful dog trainer, you’ll need to take control of your education. To begin, contact the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and the Association of Pet Trainers for information on what courses and programs to take and how to earn the necessary experience to become a professional dog trainer.
- Once you have gained training and a certificate, you can start by training your own dog, or you can even become an apprentice until you see yourself being able to train a dog.
- Now you can start looking for people who want to get their dogs trained.
Mistakes that Dog Trainers Make
How Many Hours Does Dog Trainer Work?
Dog Trainers can choose to work as per their choice. But typically, most Dog Trainers work for 8 hours a day or 40 hours in a week if this is their full-time profession.
What is the Starting Pay of Dog Trainer?
The starting pay of a Dog Trainer is $7.45 an hour or $1,292 a month. You can make up to $5,417 a month with more experience or by catering to more than one client.
What Should You Know Before You Become a Dog Trainer?
Dog Trainer Training Programs
Several schools teach dog training and provide training at the same time for certifications and for you to have practical experience.
Many training programs, such as the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), and the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers, provide certification programs for people who want to improve their credentials (NADOI).
Many dog trainers are also certified in standard programs that show obedience and ideal canine behavior, such as the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program of the American Kennel Club.
You can get training while you are taking education for these certifications.
Conclusion
As you can see, being a dog trainer is actually not hard and does not take a lot of time, but it takes a good amount of effort to earn good money in your profession.
Many people do not like the profession because the pay is not so good and there are better options financially but if you like dogs and like to be around them, definitely consider this career path.
You May Read: How Much Do Dispatchers Make?
FAQ
How much do dog trainers make when they are in training?
You do not earn money in training as the organizations you work at do not offer training programs, the education schools offer it, and they do not pay you.
How much they make if they are reputable and have many clients as a freelancer?
If they are reputable and have many clients, they can charge premium prices, which will lead them to be in the top %10, earning around $60,000 annually or more.
How much do they make when they have no practical experience apart from their training?
When you are just starting to work without any prior practical experience, you tend to start from the lowest bracket of the income scheme.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
ARTICLE SOURCES
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- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-dog-trainer-do#:~:text=Dog%20trainers%20work%20with%20dogs,them%20for%20shows%20or%20competitions.[↩]
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-DOG-Trainer-Salary-by-State#:~:text=How%20Much%20Do%20Dog%20Trainer%20Jobs%20Pay%20per%20Year%3F&text=%2430%2C000%20is%20the%2025th%20percentile,Salaries%20below%20this%20are%20outliers.&text=%2450%2C000%20is%20the%2075th%20percentile.[↩]
- https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/becoming-dog-trainer[↩]