Hmmmm, I wonder if you could wear raingear to ABC and come out ok?

Ultimately, many professional trainers got their start, not by going to a school, but by training and exhibiting their own dogs.

So, you've got three times the opportunity!

Get out your treat bag and start training already! Train every command and trick you can possibly think of.
Once you feel competant in that, volunteer training time to a local dog rescue. Many dogs in foster homes need basic obedience training/proofing, or have minor issues that need work.

You can build a reputation very quickly that way, and save a few dogs' lives into the bargain.

You'd be suprised how quick people are offering you money (and begging you) to train their dogs.

Sometimes the proof is in the pudding- most people don't check paper credentials in dog training anyway. They want to see tangible accomplishments. Show me your trained dogs. Show me your successes.

So start training those three beautiful dogs of yours.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

So start training those three beautiful dogs of yours.

I will! I would like to get them all CGC-my first goal with them.
My mom has already been coming to me for training advise for her poodle-she doesn't stay up on the training though...grrr

What you say makes perfect sense. ANd like I said before, I think it has a great deal to do with having spring fever. And maybe that it's been 7 yrs since I graduated and what I have to show for it is a Cosmetology liceanse that I'm only keeping up now for my own uses, not for a job in a salon. :shrug:

The worst part is I had wanted to be a vetrinarian when I was little, then when I was in 7th or 8th grade my mom asked me if I'd be able to put any animals to sleep. I knew then I couldn't. She steered me away from it for god knows what reason. So, I focused on different career choices. I left the idea of working with animals behind me for a long time-until I met my hubby and got my GSD. Then I realized that I should've been working with dogs the whole time. Better late than never, right?

Edited by Keleah Stull (02/13/2009 01:22 PM)
Edit reason: added more

 Quote: Keleah Stull

... I will! I would like to get them all CGC-my first goal with them.

EXCELLENT goal!

I know! I've been lucky enough to find that there are a couple of testers within 75 miles of where I am. All I need to do is contact them and get going.

Hey everyone!
I actually had someone who did the Penn Foster program before becoming an apprentice with me. I got to take a look at the study materials and honestly, they weren't half bad. However, I don't think that book knowledge can be in any way compared to actual hands on practice. I went to medical school for it seems like way too long a time, had to read a LOT of books on dog behavior but if it wouldnt' have been for the hands on things I learned back in Germany, I would probably be dead....implementing what the books say but not knowing how to actually read a dog and see it coming.
Sorry, didn't mean to ramble. I agree on the ABC thing.....heard way too much negative stuff about it and it's a rip off. Supposedly you'll be "certified", but you can only implement the methods THEY consider humane (so no prongs, or E-Collars or anything). Last I heard, at least in VA, there is still NO such thing as a "certified dog trainer". If any of you know of any state that certifies, I'd love to know! There's Nadoi and APDT (don't waste your money) and IACP...I think that's all we got aside from the Schutzhund clubs.
Carmen Childs

Hey Alyssa & the girl with the 3 gorgeous dogs:
I couldn't agree more! It's what you can do and show for, not what you can display on your wall. One thing I had to learn the hard way though....don't give your friends and family just "free" stuff. I know that sounds bad, but whenever you actually give good training away for FREE because you mean well, they don't appreciate it and wont' take your recommendations serious. Maybe it just happens around here, LOL but I've learned to at least charge a little, even my husband hahah. As a result, he actually got off his butt and trained his Great Dane, who meanwhile had taken over 2 couches. How do you explain that to your clients? <chuckle>
Anyway, I think an excellent way is to start with like a local shelter. They are always over flowing with unwanted dogs and even if it means you'll have to get down and dirty and scrub some crates and runs, they'll see that you care and you'll have a way with dogs. Before you know it (literally), you will be talking to the people that are adopting those dogs you cared for and will literally beg you to let them pay you and there you go I also think that a couple of cute tricks can make all the difference in keeping a dog with a family. People are suckers

I did conformation showing here for a while, but grew tired of the politcal crap very quickly. It was all about who you knew and how great of a professional handler you could afford. Then I did competition obedience, which was much more rewarding, but honestly (and please no one take offense), I got tired of so many people throwing treats all over the place, attempting to bribe their dogs through the 5 or 10 minutes in the ring and then get dragged out of it. Not my idea of a well trained dog.
I enjoyed doing Schutzhund a heck of a lot more back in the day because it just was the most rewarding I've ever done. I haven't found a club around my area I really liked
I think I'm done rambling now. Sorry guys. I've been gone for quite some time with medical issues and suppose I have a lot of catching up to do! Hope you're all well. Ed: Don't work too hard. It's not good for your health, but it's good for your wallet, hahha. Carmen Childs

 Quote: alyssa myracle

... They want to see tangible accomplishments. Show me your trained dogs. Show me your successes...

Absolutely!! A piece of paper tells me nothing. I am a novice in dog training, but I'm not blind. I've gone and watched some local obedience classes looking for help... not impressed. If I was watching the dog and could tell what was coming next, and the "trainer" couldn't, I walked out.

I watch those people whose dogs are behaving how I want my dog to behave, and strike up a conversation with them. They have been my best sources of information, including how I found Leerburg.

Like my signature says,

Put your dogs where your mouth is.

I'm not sure how online dog training would work. I've never been able to teach my dog how to use the mouse, let alone type on the keyboard. Not having an oposable thumb is a huge handicap!