How to get started in becoming gun dog trainer as a career

[duckfly4]

Need a little help in getting started. Do learn under a Pro ,go to school or self taught? Feedback Please!

[kninebirddog]

The best and most successful way is go learn and work with a pro get mentored
be the kennel B---H that goes a long way to the beginning of working with a pro

[Upland Point]

The best and most successful way is go learn and work with a pro get mentored
be the kennel B---H that goes a long way to the beginning of working with a pro

Exactly! Couldn't have said it any better

[Born2Hunt]

+2

[gittrdonebritts]

Realize Right now that there are a lot easier ways of making a buck and that training dogs isn't gonna get you rich over night

[Dashin Gun Dogs]

Learn as much as you can and from as many different trainers as you can. There are a million ways to Rome, and all those ways are dictated by environment and attitudes of dogs.

Oh, as a trainer you are not your own boss. You are your own manager, but you have to answer to many bosses (clients).

[Greg Jennings]

It's a whole lot easier to operate a boarding kennel than a bird dog training operation. You have to be in the right location.

[PntrRookie]

It's a whole lot easier to operate a boarding kennel than a bird dog training operation...

I've also been told by more than one trainer that boarding is where they make the majority of their money.

[ezzy333]

It's a whole lot easier to operate a boarding kennel than a bird dog training operation...

I've also been told by more than one trainer that boarding is where they make the majority of their money.

So very true at least back when I was doing both.

Ezzy

[duckfly4]

It's not about the money,It's about the enjoyment and satisfaction!!!!

[gittrdonebritts]

It's not about the money,It's about the enjoyment and satisfaction!!!!

Enjoyment and satisfaction don't pay the bills or put food on the table.

[Brittlver]

Oh Joe don't be so harsh on the guy. Who knows he may be a multi Millionaire. J/K I asked this question before and after thinking about it I have decided that I would start by boarding and then work into breeding and training. The good thing with boarding is that by the time you learn enough to start training on your own you will have the kennel set up already taken care of and hopefully paid for. You can make a lot of money boarding and will give you the time to learn about different dogs and how they act.

Jesse

[baileydog2007]

Wow. A guy asks a question, looking for help, and all he gets is "you cant make money" "Just do boarding, thats where the money is" "There are easier ways of making money". Impressive. Im sure these are the same "trialers" who "welcome" new comers". LOL. He didnt aski f he should expect to make huge bank, or if it was the easiest way to make a buck. Not sure why a person cant either answer his question.

I, myself, cant answer your question, but if youre interested, I can give you 2 emails of guys who do it, and like to help others out. Apparently this board is full of either trainers who cant do it well and are threatened, or only care about themselves, forgetting they likely got help along the way.

[kninebirddog]

Wow. A guy asks a question, looking for help, and all he gets is "you cant make money" "Just do boarding, thats where the money is" "There are easier ways of making money". Impressive. Im sure these are the same "trialers" who "welcome" new comers". LOL. He didnt aski f he should expect to make huge bank, or if it was the easiest way to make a buck. Not sure why a person cant either answer his question .

I, myself, cant answer your question, but if youre interested, I can give you 2 emails of guys who do it, and like to help others out. Apparently this board is full of either trainers who cant do it well and are threatened, or only care about themselves, forgetting they likely got help along the way.

guess the first two replies didn't answer the question in a legit manner :roll:

[nikegundog]

Wow. A guy asks a question, looking for help, and all he gets is "you cant make money" "Just do boarding, thats where the money is" "There are easier ways of making money". Impressive. Im sure these are the same "trialers" who "welcome" new comers". LOL. He didnt aski f he should expect to make huge bank, or if it was the easiest way to make a buck. Not sure why a person cant either answer his question .

I, myself, cant answer your question, but if youre interested, I can give you 2 emails of guys who do it, and like to help others out. Apparently this board is full of either trainers who cant do it well and are threatened, or only care about themselves, forgetting they likely got help along the way.

Check out this response on a different site, don't know if the guy knows what hes talking about, but he put a lot of time and effort into his response. I believe it is the third response.
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums ... g+training

[baileydog2007]

Wow. A guy asks a question, looking for help, and all he gets is "you cant make money" "Just do boarding, thats where the money is" "There are easier ways of making money". Impressive. Im sure these are the same "trialers" who "welcome" new comers". LOL. He didnt aski f he should expect to make huge bank, or if it was the easiest way to make a buck. Not sure why a person cant either answer his question.

I, myself, cant answer your question, but if youre interested, I can give you 2 emails of guys who do it, and like to help others out. Apparently this board is full of either trainers who cant do it well and are threatened, or only care about themselves, forgetting they likely got help along the way.

guess the first two replies didn't answer the question in a legit manner :roll:

there were obviously a couple who bothered to answer. Yours and a +2. Typical good ol boys club here. FTers and trainers are pretty much just that. Weird the sport is booming.

[baileydog2007]

Wow. A guy asks a question, looking for help, and all he gets is "you cant make money" "Just do boarding, thats where the money is" "There are easier ways of making money". Impressive. Im sure these are the same "trialers" who "welcome" new comers". LOL. He didnt aski f he should expect to make huge bank, or if it was the easiest way to make a buck. Not sure why a person cant either answer his question .

I, myself, cant answer your question, but if youre interested, I can give you 2 emails of guys who do it, and like to help others out. Apparently this board is full of either trainers who cant do it well and are threatened, or only care about themselves, forgetting they likely got help along the way.

Check out this response on a different site, don't know if the guy knows what hes talking about, but he put a lot of time and effort into his response. I believe it is the third response.
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums ... g+training

Thanks for the link. A very good perspective. Thanks. Im sure the OP will like the info....

[tn red]

Learn as much as you can and from as many different trainers as you can. There are a million ways to Rome, and all those ways are dictated by environment and attitudes of dogs.

Oh, as a trainer you are not your own boss. You are your own manager, but you have to answer to many bosses (clients).

This sounds like Dashin just might train dogs.Great honest answer .

[Coveyrise64]

Learn as much as you can and from as many different trainers as you can. There are a million ways to Rome, and all those ways are dictated by environment and attitudes of dogs.

Oh, as a trainer you are not your own boss. You are your own manager, but you have to answer to many bosses (clients).

+1

And there are prerequisites; an understanding wife with a good paying job........

[ACooper]

Learn as much as you can and from as many different trainers as you can. There are a million ways to Rome, and all those ways are dictated by environment and attitudes of dogs.

Oh, as a trainer you are not your own boss. You are your own manager, but you have to answer to many bosses (clients).

+1

And there are prerequisites; an understanding wife with a good paying job........

That's what I am looking for! Don't tell my girlfriend!

[topher40]

I proven track record breaking dogs sure doesnt hurt. Placing them in trials/test's sure wouldnt hurt you any :roll:

[Dashin Gun Dogs]

Yes, a wife with a good paying job and insurance is nice to have. Glad I put her through nurisng school

[gittrdonebritts]

Wow. A guy asks a question, looking for help, and all he gets is "you cant make money" "Just do boarding, thats where the money is" "There are easier ways of making money". Impressive. Im sure these are the same "trialers" who "welcome" new comers". LOL. He didnt aski f he should expect to make huge bank, or if it was the easiest way to make a buck. Not sure why a person cant either answer his question.

I, myself, cant answer your question, but if youre interested, I can give you 2 emails of guys who do it, and like to help others out. Apparently this board is full of either trainers who cant do it well and are threatened, or only care about themselves, forgetting they likely got help along the way.

He asked for Honest Opinions and I gave mine, wasn't trying to stop or discourage him Just letting him know its tough. I came into it wanting to do it because I love dogs and hunting and helping people with there dogs and the enjoyment I get out of it but at the end of the day the bills still gotta get paid and ya gotta put shoes on your baby's feet and food in there mouths and the dog training bill is always the last check to get sent out. I would trade what I do for anything but it can be a struggle. just being a little realistic.
and too your other comments I'll leave them alone since you don't know me and how many people I help all I can for free either over the phone or through e-mails or people that come and train with me.

[kylemac]

Oh, as a trainer you are not your own boss. You are your own manager, but you have to answer to many bosses (clients).

I get your meaning, but by that benchmark - no one is there own boss. Everyone is essentially selling something to someone, right?!
But when it is up to you to be successful or not without someone telling you how everyday, then you are working for yourself -- when you personally decide when to get up and you decide how many dogs you want to train and you decide daily how hard to work then you are working for yourself.
If you don't do it well -- you likely won't do it long -- but the decisions you make will decide it, one way or the other. And that is, I believe, what it comes down to – learning to do it well, garnering the ability and deciding to do it well yourself, and having the fortitude to actually do it well day in and day out. With that – you will do great things in whatever you set your mind to.
Now whether you earn enough to cover your expenses is another story all together that the OP didn’t ask about – but I found it worth mentioning, nonetheless. I assume it is like anything – the starting wages likely stink, but there are probably ways to supplement – through boarding and the like.
Regards.

[Ruffshooter]

Going to training seminars and schools (not just gun dog but obedience also) gives you a foundation.
Being a Kennel boy, assistant along with being patient= exposure to proper or improper techniques.
Boarding = money while you learn and get clients. ( you do need to have a kennel facility to house the dogs so why not have one that pays for itself.) (Boarding helps you read dogs body language of all different breeds and mentallities.
Field Trials= exposure and proof of your skills. ( you need to build your reputation.)
Hunting test organizations (NAVHDA, AKC, HRC, UKC if (If you have training skills and can help at training clinics you can gain peoples trust which may lead to refereals.)
Of course you need safe grounds, which may be a lease, your own, or permission from local folks.

I looked into this and still do at times, so I have thought how I would go about it. (In fact have done much of what is written) but my life does not lend its time well to more than what is on my plate now. If you do not need money to pay mortgages and other life expenses right off and this is truly a passion. Go for it.

Good luck.
Rick


Bailey Dog = Wet Blanket.

[PntrRookie]

...best and most successful way is go learn and work with a pro get mentored...

I have seen many successful pros start this way...k9 nailed it

[JKP]

Either...

Win the Lotto......or

marry rich..(you may have to compromise on the looks)

[baileydog2007]

Going to training seminars and schools (not just gun dog but obedience also) gives you a foundation.
Being a Kennel boy, assistant along with being patient= exposure to proper or improper techniques.
Boarding = money while you learn and get clients. ( you do need to have a kennel facility to house the dogs so why not have one that pays for itself.) (Boarding helps you read dogs body language of all different breeds and mentallities.
Field Trials= exposure and proof of your skills. ( you need to build your reputation.)
Hunting test organizations (NAVHDA, AKC, HRC, UKC if (If you have training skills and can help at training clinics you can gain peoples trust which may lead to refereals.)
Of course you need safe grounds, which may be a lease, your own, or permission from local folks.

I looked into this and still do at times, so I have thought how I would go about it. (In fact have done much of what is written) but my life does not lend its time well to more than what is on my plate now. If you do not need money to pay mortgages and other life expenses right off and this is truly a passion. Go for it.

Good luck.
Rick


Bailey Dog = Wet Blanket.

Wow, that stings........LOL. Considering the scource, not really....actually not at all.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wet_blanket


Wet blanket=someone who takes the fun out of a situation=when a poster asks a question, answer it, or ignore it perhaps. According to the "pros" on here its nearly impossible to do successfully. Which probablt tells more about the individual doing it than the career field itself.

[ElhewPointer]

Its awesome that you have a passion and desire to work dogs!! There are fewer of us all the time. As a lot of others have stated before, I would work under someone that is known in the dog world. If they are well known and have made it for a while, then they are doing something right. Not only learning the dog part but learning how to run that kind of biz. Summer camps this time of year are a good way for a "greenhorn" to find work. A lot of pros are always looking for summer help. And you will learn a ton. Good luck!

[kninebirddog]

Slowly reading through some of the old time Books ...Clyde Morton apprenticed under Er M Shelley.
As I get to read more I Can't wait to see what more interesting tidbits of Info comes up in the Fields of Glory some I had already read about in Er Shelleys books both training in the 20th century and Hunting Big Game in Africa with Dogs then also the gladstone Joe Jr 2 day run off in the Modern Setter by Hochwalt

[Birdman250]

I say, good luck-friend..Learn everything you come across and keep what you need..Just remember to be yourself, and NOT what people wish you to be. Remember you root. God speed.

[Greg Jennings]

My grand dad, bless his heart, said "If you want to be a ditch digger, get a good ditch digging education and you'll be happy". He also told me, however, some variant of "a failure to plan is a plan for failure".

I'm a planner. That's what I do for a living. That is, put together large projects and manage them.

So, when I think about things, that's what I do. I put together a plan. I try to cover "Why, Who, What, When,Where and How Much". I've run this exercise for a bunch of after-retirement jobs, one of them being running a kennel.

I'm definitely not saying to not follow your dream. I"m just saying to run the drill that I did and see if it's what you really want to do. The devil is sometimes in the details.

[snips]

Many people I see that train full time started out with their personal dogs training and trialing, Rick and I included. When you start winning and get some recognition then it just seems people want you to train their dogs...At some point you are working 2 jobs (one with a few outside dogs) and say, I think I can make a living at this...Is it worth quitting the REAL job with benifits and security to have your own business....?? It was worth it to me.. I started learning by trial and error, talking to lots of people that knew much more than me and watching a couple of people that knew much more too...

[birddog1968]

It also is worth mentioning, some people in the business just are naturals at reading dogs, some have to work very very hard to get there.

Knowing what to do after reading the dog is a product of lots of experience.

[Vman]

DuckFly, Since I was in your shoes once myself I will try and give you some insight.
First off you can do anything you put your mind to do. But let it be known that not everybody can train dogs for a living. Some people are very knowledgeable about dogs. They read everything they can, but it still will not make them a good trainer. I know several people like this. You can read all you want, you can work for a pro, you can help others, but you may never be a good dog trainer. I feel a good trainer needs to have a connection with dogs and animals. As for myself I grew up on a farm and have been around animals my whole life. Dogs like me for some reason, I call it a gift. Not everyone has that gift. If the dogs do not like you, your hands are tied. You can line up five people shoulder to shoulder and let out a tame cat and the cat will walk up too me. I just picked up a stray dog. My neighbor called me to check if it was one of mine. He told me he couldn`t get near it. He is a farmer, lived on this farm his whole life. I told him I would go see if I could get it. The dog seen me and ran away. I followed it around the house right back to where we started. Calmed the dog and talked to him and slowly got close enough to touch and hook a leash on. He is in the office with me right now. I called the Sheriffs Dept. too let them know I have it if someone is missing it. I don`t think too many people could have done that. But I feel it is something that all good trainers have in common.
In order to be a good trainer yo must have a ton of patience and not be a hothead. If you are short on patience you will fail.
You must be able to read dogs and be able to be two steps ahead of them. This should come with experience.
Secondly, let me tell you that training for the public is much different than training your own dog. Some of these dogs are a real pleasure to work with and others are nothing more than turds and the owner wants a polished turd. It is my job to see that the turd gets polished. If I don`t get it polished I don`t get paid. There can be big differences in breeds also. You need to understand how a Spinone hunts, and also how a AA pointer hunts, and everything in-between. You need to be able to FF a GWP and also a ES. You need to be able to recognize a dogs strengths and weaknesses. It helps if you are good with people and they trust you. You need to have a toolchest full of tools and know how and when too use them. If you are hard on a training dog it will show. The dog will appear intimidated. While the dog that was trained using a method that is appropriate for that dog will be happy and stylish and eager to please. You learn that through the years and making mistakes.
If you are good with dogs and have trained other peoples dogs with good success you could probably make a good trainer.
If you can hook up with a pro, do it. If not then you would need to start out with one dog at a time and see how it goes.
I would strongly suggest that you join a NAVHDA Chapter. This will allow you to help train other peoples dogs. You will get some experience in working with breeds that you have never touched before. You will see some good things and you will see some stuff that will make you scratch your head. But after a few years of helping others reach their goal of UT or VC you should have a pretty good idea whether you can do this or not. I was the Director of Training for a local NAVHDA chapter for 5 years. It was very good experience and very rewarding. You will also see people that can do this and also some that can`t do it for the life of them.
If you decide to give it a try, start small and work your way up and don`t quit your day job. If you do a good job the owner will tell one person. If you do a crappy job he will tell everyone he knows.

[Hattrick]

I would say that was sound advice right there ..