How to start with dog training
More and more people are getting pets these days. Many of them do it for the simple fact of getting company, but there is a great market of people whose objective when adopting a pet, is to carry out a therapy of recovery of an illness, to have a guide or a guardian that defends them if it is necessary. These needs have generated the appearance of services like the one we will tell you about today.
Starting a dog training center can become an excellent business idea if you have the knowledge to start, the passion for this activity and enough discipline to start your own project.
Stay until the end to know everything you need. Let’s see.
Know here all the businesses related to pets and animals
First steps in a training centre
Carry out a market study that allows you to identify a strategic area in which you can set up your business and with it, the values that work in the market to offer your training service. Although urban areas are ideal spaces for attracting customers, you should also be careful when installing the training centre. Once this is done, it is time to determine the type of services you will offer after having seen the options. You can choose between obedience for adult dogs, obedience for puppy dogs, signs and commands, specific training, training with private people you live with, etc.
Once you have finished with this part, make a business plan in which you can describe how your business will work and set its own course. Specify details from the location of your business, the cost of rent and equipment, to the services you are going to include, the market study, prices, personnel in charge, among other data that will allow you to have an approximate value of the investment cost.
Operation of a dog training center
The first thing is to understand the activity of this type of business. Well, a dog training center, also known as dog training centers, is responsible for training dogs for various purposes, but also to correct inappropriate behavior within the home that endangers the integrity of any of the people who live with him or that affects the harmony in the home.
As we mentioned, there are other purposes of the company of a dog, such as therapies, such as guide dogs or defense guards, for which a dog training center will offer specialized training services and oriented to each objective. This works as follows:
Therapy: Many dogs are acquired as part of disease recovery therapy. For this, some need specific training to reach certain objects to the convalescent person or simply to stay by his side and be stroked.
Seeing-eye dog: blind people put their eyes on a dog that acts as a seeing-eye dog. The animal in question must know how to guide the person, know when to cross the street (so it must identify the traffic lights and their indications) and which side of the sidewalk to walk on. This training takes some time and is very expensive.
Guardian: Another reason many people have a dog is to protect and defend them from possible intruders in their home. Getting a dog to attack invaders or understand the attack instruction given by its owner requires intense training and a lot of patience, not to mention possible risks to the trainer.
Requirements for opening a dog training business
The first thing you should count on when starting a dog training venture is knowledge. You can attend a course that is taught in the subject or related workshops that allow you to gain information to start. There you will have to learn about the different breeds of dogs, natural behaviors, among other basic aspects. It will be convenient for you to know that you can count on the support of an animal health professional.
To start a business like this, it is necessary to have the necessary permits and licenses issued by the corresponding entity that regulates this type of activity in your city.
Business equipment
To start with, it is recommended to have a medium size property, since you will be training the canines there. This should be clear and allow the fluid circulation of the dogs to be trained, the open spaces are ideal for these activities, however, taking care to have only the space with the dog to avoid any risk.
You will have to buy kits for the body protection of those who are training the dogs, as well as the elements to train them.
How do I promote my business?
Although you must use both physical and digital advertising, we always reiterate that today, the business that is not on the Internet simply does not exist. For physical advertising, a good way to do it is with flyers and business cards that you can leave creating strategic alliances with other market niches in their businesses, so that you can access customers who come directly.
Create a website where you put your contact details, the specialties of your training center, success stories and experiences. This will be an excellent hook for all those who are looking for your services in your own city, so it allows you a greater reach.
Don’t forget to put a name to your business. It should be eye-catching, short and present in all the promotional channels you use.
Tips for success
Every time you have a dog to train, ask the person in charge for all the necessary documentation, such as vaccination card, deworming certificate and pedigree, if applicable.
This type of business requires that entrepreneurs have a minimum of experience with animals. Therefore, a good way to approach them by offering a service that will also allow you to become familiar with their behaviour and so on, is by practising as a dog walker, dog groomer, dog caretaker, among others.
In addition to pet shops, there are other businesses that you can contact so that they will take your services into account whenever a client requests them, among them we find veterinarians, dog walkers and pet caretakers.
Weaknesses: an important factor to consider is that the trainer must have insurance that protects him/her from possible attacks in the process, since he/she is not exempt from the fact that in these procedures, the animal responds aggressively and attacks him/her. This also represents a risk for those around, so it will be a requirement to have a document like this.
Points in favor: as we said, many people acquire pets for various purposes, so there are plenty of reasons to start a Dog Training Venture, since currently moving away from them is not an option and many people prefer to treat their pets’ behavior at the root.
If you have a background in dog training and are looking for a way to create your own enterprise, now is the time to start with a dog training center.
Offer your service to the people closest to you to gain experience and you will soon see your business start to grow.
How do I promote my business?
Although you must use both physical and digital advertising, we always reiterate that today, the business that is not on the Internet simply does not exist. For physical advertising, a good way to do it is with flyers and business cards that you can leave creating strategic alliances with other market niches in their businesses, so that you can access customers who come directly.
Create a website where you put your contact details, the specialties of your training center, success stories and experiences. This will be an excellent hook for all those who are looking for your services in your own city, so it allows you a greater reach.
Don’t forget to put a name to your business. It should be eye-catching, short and present in all the promotional channels you use.
Tips for success
Every time you have a dog to train, ask the person in charge for all the necessary documentation, such as vaccination card, deworming certificate and pedigree, if applicable.
This type of business requires that entrepreneurs have a minimum of experience with animals. Therefore, a good way to approach them by offering a service that will also allow you to become familiar with their behaviour and so on, is by practising as a dog walker, dog groomer, dog caretaker, among others.
In addition to pet shops, there are other businesses that you can contact so that they will take your services into account whenever a client requests them, among them we find veterinarians, dog walkers and pet caretakers.
Weaknesses: an important factor to consider is that the trainer must have insurance that protects him/her from possible attacks in the process, since he/she is not exempt from the fact that in these procedures, the animal responds aggressively and attacks him/her. This also represents a risk for those around, so it will be a requirement to have a document like this.
Points in favor: as we said, many people acquire pets for various purposes, so there are plenty of reasons to start a Dog Training Venture, since currently moving away from them is not an option and many people prefer to treat their pets’ behavior at the root.
If you have a background in dog training and are looking for a way to create your own enterprise, now is the time to start with a dog training center.
Offer your service to the people closest to you to gain experience and you will soon see your business start to grow.