So why is it much easier to communicate with the dogs than it is with people? I've been asking myself that question a lot lately and have come up with the answer: because dogs don't reject you. I want some advise here, from everyone who is a breeder, owns a kennel or is a trainer. How did you get started? What did people think when you told them "I want to be a dog trainer."

Some background on myself: I'm soon to be 20, unemployed due to a faulty economy, not going to college and living with my grandparents. So I've already got a few strikes against me on this matter. My dreams? To become a trainer, kennel owner and breeder. I have trouble understanding why my goals seems so much lower in the eyes of others than any other career. Artists doodle on a piece of paper every day and try to sell it. Perfectly respectable career, but why? "Dog trainer" to me sounds like "provide a good service to pet owners and serving my community by providing police and service dogs" but seems to come out as "working at Petco the rest of your life."

So tell me, what trouble have you guys had getting started? I seem to have a hard time explaining to my family why this is my life's passion. They believe my time would be better served working at McDonald's and getting a degree in something I'll never use. I don't believe I was ever taught how to communicate. Maybe better socialization as a child would have been good. lol.

Life is doing what you have to do to survive, not what you want to do.

If you haven't built a foundation that allows you to do as you wish, and you don't have someone to help you, then you have to put on your adult britches and work.

If you absolutely cannot fund yourself in your endeavors, then you are at the mercy of those helping you.

Any career in self employment is a long shot. How many people do you actually know that support themselves and their family in the occupation of your choice? Not impossible, but it is a minority.

Maybe it isn't so much that they think you should work at Mac D's and get a degree, as they think you should put your feet on the ground and make your dreams happen.

A day job and a degree may just be the first step towards forever as a trainer/breeder/kennel owner.

Just another perspective.

I second that, if you can fund this dog training venture and support yourself great, if you're relying on others at the moment it's time to knuckle down get a day job and work your butt off in your spare time to make this dream happen. I have a friend who runs his own dog school and boarding kennel, i used to work there but didn't pay the bills and after his 14 years at it it's only been the last couple where he's actually started to make money not just barely scrape by taking on other jobs to keep it going!! Wish you all the luck in the world with your dream but you will have to work very hard to achieve it!

Sorry, but I agree. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it is reality. Go to college and get a degree. It won't be useless. You don't necessarily have to go for a 4 year degree. If you want to be a breeder a degree as a vet tech (not 4 years), or one in biology or zoology (4 years) would never be a waste of your time. Actually, no degree is ever a waste of time.

If you are interested in breeding find a mentor or mentors who are responsible breeders and start learning from them. But NO responsible breeder actually makes money from breeding, especially once they count the costs of showing (in conformation and/or performance events to prove breeding worthiness, have all the appropriate genetic testing for their breed done, count the vet costs, etc.

If you want to eventually become a trainer you must have actually trained dogs, meaning more than one, to a high level of competency as proven by actually getting advanced titles. You will also need to attend training seminars and study under as many competent trainers (with varying training philosophies) as you possibly can. These are things you can do while still attending school.

Perhaps you'd have a better chance convincing your family if you made some adult choices, went back to school, and found a job working with dogs whether it's at Petsmart or with a local breeder/exhibitor.

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

Sorry, but I agree. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it is reality. Go to college and get a degree. It won't be useless. You don't necessarily have to go for a 4 year degree. If you want to be a breeder a degree as a vet tech (not 4 years), or one in biology or zoology (4 years) would never be a waste of your time. Actually, no degree is ever a waste of time.

I like the vet tech idea...
There are lots of good two year programs available at community colleges that would enable you to make some money while you are pursuing a dog training career. Just about anything in the medical field is a sure bet as far as finding a job...

 Quote: Shaniqua Bradley

So tell me, what trouble have you guys had getting started?

I currently live at a house with a small boarding kennel, grooming facility, and training facility.

The first barrier is money. I can't speak to the economy in your area but this property with 10 acres is about $650,000 with the permit fees, and a water system that probably should be upgraded. You will need a real job for a fair number of years or investors to come up with this kind of capital to get in. The buy in for kennels is expensive if you do it right, and the penalties for doing it wrong are very expensive and painful.

The second barrier is knowledge. What kind of person are you wanting to serve in your business? Is it feasible? Is the hours to reward ratio appropriate? Do you know how to run an animal services business? Do you have enough skill/knowledge to really be passing on or using that information?

The third barrier is marketing to the right people and building clientele.

My advice for you is to either go to college for an animal/biology/science related field or join the military and start saving until you have a decent investment portfolio. Then see if that dream is something you still want or if you want to go in another direction. A lot can change in a few years.

Find a job, enroll in college, get your own dog and train it in performance events. To build more experience in dog training volunteer at a local shelter. Volunteer as a puppy raiser/kennel help for a service dog organization. You can't just tell people you're a dog trainer, you've got to build experience and show them.

If you want to run your own business, a business degree would be another one to look into. Even if you never use the specific degree you get, the information you receive and discipline you build while going to college will serve you well in your future endeavors.

Even in this economy there are some jobs available they may be fast food or wal-mart checker, but they are out there. To get anything much better than this you're going to need experience or at least a 2 year degree. There is a decent amount of money available for school right now - Pell grants, scholarships - it's out there. Quite possibly between a Wal-Mart type job and grants/scholarships for school you can get an education and fund a dog activity.

Finish college with at least a 2 year degree and have 2 years with hands on dog work (your own and shelter dogs) and some titles on your dog and you start to look attractive to employers in the dog industry.

Becoming a dog trainer is a process. And the proof is in the pudding.

I am in the same boat you are. I am 24, no college (started then decided I wanted to be a trainer), and wanting to create a training business, possibly run/own a rescue organization some day, and possible breeder if my lifestyle will suit it (probably when I "retire" and kids are grown and what not). People have not yet looked down on me for my career choice; in fact they think its pretty cool and must be a lot of fun .

I think the "day job" is necessary until you can create enough business for it to be your only job. I have known of trainers taking years to build up a reputation in their city and surrounding areas and they are highly qualified. Its hard but you just have to be persistant. Be sure to gather as much knowledge as possible because every case will different, not one dog learns just like another. Like Mara said, train your own dog first and build from there, try a friend or family members dog next. The people training part is also big so working on training a friend or family member to train their dog is great practice. Depending on your area you may want to look into the need of the people around you, so ay your in a heavy hunting area..look into teaching hunting dogs, ect. Just try and look for a nich that will place you above the crowd .

Good luck and stay positive!

Shaniqua, I remember from your first post learning that you had saved 12,000 to get you and a friend through the ME course. That is very impressive for someone your age - very.

Now comes the reality part which sucks. $12,000 is no where near enough for your to reach your dream TODAY. It is a drop in the bucket. It gets you "trained" but then comes the part of putting those skills to use and becoming fluent with them. You only have to watch one or two of ME's videos to realize that he makes it look very, very easy, when in fact, it is very difficult. Watching the new folks in his class get up to learn the task makes it very obvious that this is a skill which is developed over time. Meaning you won't come back from the class ready to open up shop and begin training police dogs, would you agree with this?

I used to work with a large, landscape design/installation firm. The man who started the business got into it because he loved grading landscapes and planting plants - making things beautiful. What he had not considered was to run his own business, he needed to know a lot more than how to grade and install plants. His company was highly respected and he was an ethical, honest man with whom to work, but he was always mildly successful "financially" because he did not really understand business. I worked for him for 12 years and wish I had a dollar for everytime I heard him say "I should have gotten a business degree - not a horticultural degree". THAT was this man's reality. He would have been far more successful financially and would have been better able to grow his business if he understood the business end. The passion end - the plants, came naturally to him. Understanding a P&L statement, how to pay taxes, insurance, whether or not you are making a profit and even have a dime to buy new equipment could be the difference between surviving or dying before you get your feet off the ground.

I'll tell you what I'd tell my son. Follow your dream but do it with your feet on the ground and a solid plan. (You wake up from dreams very quickly if they are not based in reality). Right now you are not able to support yourself, which makes it impossible to begin a business, but not impossible to begin working on getting there.

I'd recommend taking 1/2 of the money you saved and instead of sending a friend to ME's school, go get a Business degree, at least a 2 year one. Get a job doing something - I don't care if it is the greeter at Walmart, and save every single dime you make while still living with your grandparents. (Don't soak off of them however, pay them rent or food). (I'd keep the remaining $6,000 in the bank as security... something WILL happen before or while on your way to getting gainfully empoloyed and on your feet... an injury, a sick car, etc...)In what little spare time you have continue to volunteer at the SPCA or rescue places I think you said you used to do.

You may or may not be able to get family and friends supporting your dream, but the chance of that is far greater when they see you going about it methodically, rationally, and with a solid plan vs just a "but this is my passion" mentality. You are 20 years old Shaniqua...you have plenty of time to make this happen. It will take time and effort and a plan. Not just a dream. You can do it if you are serious.

Go to school and get a business degree. You're going to need it if you want to run your own business. Heck, I have one and I don't plan on running my own business. It helps me run my life though.

School isn't a waste of time. As much as I hated it and as much as I'd like to turn around at my college and flip 'em one on both hands, I can't - because I learned more there than I ever would have any other place. And I am eternally grateful for the good professors I had, and even the bad ones, because they teach you to teach yourself.

Good luck in your adventures. But remember what Michael said, life is about what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family, and that isn't always marshmallows and sunflowers.