How to Become a Dog Trainer in New Jersey

Working with animals is a very beautiful, hard, and rewarding thing at the end of the day.

But there’s always the communication issue.

And being a dog trainer is no easy task.

It requires patience, love, lack of fear, and care for each and every dog that they come in contact with.

If you want to embark on this journey, we’re here to help!

Let’s see how you can take your first steps into becoming the best dog trainer in New Jersey!

How to Become a Dog Trainer in New Jersey?

Although you do not need any special requirements to become a professional dog trainer in New Jersey, you still may need to educate yourself.

Below, we provided a few steps that will help you kick-start your career as a professional dog trainer in New Jersey.

Step 1: Learn dog psychology

This is the main part of the job so you have to pay close attention to it.

You will come in contact with different breeds of dogs daily.

You will have to know their characteristics and get to know their individual personalities in order for your relationship to work out and for them to be obedient enough to listen to your commands.

This is why it is important to be patient with them.

It will not be a hally-go-lucky process every time.

Step 2: Try fieldwork

What better way to learn such a hands-on job than trying it out?

Volunteering is the best and most morally rewarding way you can do this.

It might not be paid, but the experience you gain is priceless in the first steps of your career.

You will surely be under a mentor with experience who can share the pros and cons of the job, as well as give you a few tips and tricks they’ve gathered through the years.

Step 3: Get a job

Once you feel confident enough in your skills, you can start to get serious about job applications.

You can start with another partner, or you can start your own business and work by yourself.

This step may be the hardest so far because you have to rely on other people from this point on.

Step 4: Promote your work

Social media is in the palm of your hands, so use it!

Create social media profiles where anyone and everyone can stumble upon you.

Post daily content to make sure YouTube is through to the right crowd.

It might sound passive, but it only takes one viral video to launch your career!

Might as well take the chance.

Dog Training School in New Jersey

Formal education is not required for you to become a professional dog trainer.

But it can help you to understand further the dogs you’ll be working with if you visit a few classes, workshops, or seminars.

Here is where you can get those services!

Karen Pryor Academy

This academy has online courses and organizes in-person workshops in different locations.

You can attend these workshops with your own dog as well if you want to train it.

The workshops last 2 days.

They are certified and provide a full course for professional dog trainers at the cost of $5.600.

ISCDT

This 18-class training curriculum is designed so you can get started and then advance as you move along through the program leading to the certification at the end of the course.

They prepare you to work in the field of dog training.

The tuition for the course is $499.

Their written courses are designed to take you through a multitude of dog training topics, from breeds and characteristics to unraveling various behavioral issues.

They also provide video materials as a visual guide through your learning process.

You will also get video and written assignments as homework.

Salary

The yearly pay for dog trainers in New Jersey varies from $34,901 to $42,060.

There are a few factors that can make it vary, such as experience, location, and number of clients.

The annual average is $38,427.

Jersey City has the best pay for professional dog trainers.

How to Become a Dog Trainer by State