People often stay at their boring jobs because new career starts are difficult in the beginning.
The dog training profession is very rewarding and fun, and the best thing is that you can be in contact with dogs every dog.
But every job brings some challenges and difficulties, so we are here to help you and prepare you for your new career start in Montana!
Stay with us and learn how to build a career as a dog trainer in Montana!
Table of Contents
How to Become a Dog Trainer in Montana?
Once you’ve decided and are determined to go down this career path you’ll find out that you don’t know where to actually start.
But read this mini guide that will lead you in the right direction.
Step 1: Try volunteering
Is there a better way to see what the job is than through observing and trying hands-on?
Volunteering may seem like a waste of time because it is time-consuming but think of it as an investment into your future job.
During your volunteering, you will connect with professionals and experienced people who can guide you and help you establish your foundation.
These are your first baby steps as a professional dog trainer.
True professionals will always be happy to give you tips and tell you their mistakes so you can avoid them.
Be more curious and ask them a lot of things.
Maybe they will get interested and will recommend you for some job positions.
Step 2: Educate yourself
After you gain field experience, you’ll be sure if you want to continue to pursue this career or not.
Even though formal education is not needed in this field, you can attend free and paid online and offline classes organized by many schools and organizations.
You can also read up on dog behavior and psychology.
This will help you understand how a dog’s thinking process happens as well as how to deal with different behaviors in the most practical way.
Oh, and extra advice from us: watch videos so you can visually learn many tricks!
Step 3: Learn the basics
Through the last two steps, you will have a foundation to step into the working process.
By learning and practicing, you will find out that dog training is not just a plain field.
There are many types of dog training categories, from military dogs, to show dogs to service dogs!
Pick the field that you feel most comfortable in and build your career on that path.
Step 4: Get a job in the field
In what will either seem like no time or a long time, depending on your whole experience, you will be ready for a job.
You can choose to either start your own business or start working with other trainers in your area.
Either way, try to promote your business through a website and social media.
Promotion and advertising can help you get clients if you are thinking about self-employment.
Dog Training Schools in Montana
Dog trainers in Montana don’t need formal education, but enrolling in classes and schools might significantly improve your success, and you might improve your skills.
This will help you to start your own business as well.
CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
This academy offers three programs for potential dog trainers:
- Core Skills – Pro Dog Trainer
- Basics Pro – Dog Training & Behavior
- Master Class Certification, CCDT
Learning core skills costs $1,212 and you will get a diploma that will help you
get a diploma.
The basics pro program will cost you $2,793 and you will become a professional in the booming dog services industry.
If you want to become a pro, we advise you to take master classes where you will get a certification for $5,025 if paid in full.
At the end of the course, expect to learn the core concepts of dog behavior and training.
You will also learn how to launch a career or business of your choice.
This school offers pairing with a local mentor from any city or state in the United States since you will need some mentor through the learning process.
Animal Behavior College
The classes at Animal Behavior College last 1 year, and no matter your city, you can learn dog behavior from the comfort of your home at your own pace.
This school offers a great network of professional dog trainers that can mentor the students.
The education process consists of online coursework and a hands-on externship
with a local mentor.
The prices vary from $3,499 to $5,647 depending on your payment arrangement and discount.
For this price, you will get 29 educational videos and digital study materials.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| CATCH Canine Trainers Academy | 24 Newark Pompton Turnpike Suite 206 Little Falls, NJ |
| Animal Behavior College | 27509 Avenue Hopkins, First Floor, Valencia CA |
Salary
In Montana, you can earn an average of $31,910 by working as a dog trainer.
You can earn as little as $28,982 or as much as $34,927.
You can expect the best salaries in Billings, Kalispell, and Great Falls.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Billings | $33,579 |
| Missoula | $29,477 |
| Great Falls | $30,741 |
| Butte-Silver Bow | $29,477 |
| Bozeman | $29,477 |
| Helena | $30,001 |
| Kalispell | $31,259 |
| Havre | $30,217 |
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | $29,477 |
| Miles City | $33,055 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard being a self-employed dog trainer in Montana?
Being self-employed and running your own business is always the harder version, however, it brings many benefits.
You will struggle with the schedule at the beginning, free days, and salary, but after a while, you should find your rhythm and you will find your way to success.
What is the average salary for dog trainers in Montana?
The average salary for dog trainers in Montana is $31,910 but this might vary depending on your city, experience, and skills.
Where can I work as a dog trainer in Montana?
You can work as a dog trainer in dog training schools or academies.
But the choice is very wide.
You can also find a job as a dog trainer in animal shelters, rescue organizations, or veterinary clinics.
How to Become a Dog Trainer by State
