Career Profile: Animal Trainer	Home	Español
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What I Do: Puppies are adorable – until they chew your favorite pair of shoes or soil your brand new carpet! Usually that’s when their owners bring the pups to me. I’m an animal trainer who specializes in dogs. I work with all kinds of breeds, from beagles and bulldogs to poodles and Pekingese. I teach dogs to obey the basic commands of sit, come, stay, heel, and fetch. I also teach owners how to housebreak their pets and how to deal with problems like barking, chewing, digging, and jumping. Basically, I teach puppies and dogs how to mind their manners!

Best and Hardest Parts of My Job: I love dogs and truly believe them to be man’s best friend. Treat a dog right and you’ve got a companion for life. I’m very proud of the work I do, though it can be challenging. Being a trainer takes a lot of energy, stamina and, above all, patience. No matter how unruly a dog might be, I must remain calm and in control.

How I Got Started: I always knew that I wanted to work with animals, but I didn’t want to be a veterinarian (an animal doctor). I decided to become a trainer after working at a dog obedience school during summer vacation. I learned a lot by watching the director and even had the opportunity to get some hands-on experience myself. In college, I majored in animal husbandry and studied canine (dog) development, behavior, and communication. Now I own my own dog obedience school and am very happy with my career.