How to Create Your Own Dog Training Group Class Curriculum

How to Create Your Own Dog Training Group Class Curriculum

by | Sep 11, 2017 | Group Classes

dog training group class curriculum creationCreating a great group dog training class curriculum involves a lot more than what behavior’s you’re teaching the dogs. You’ll need to consider the people you’ll be teaching as well so you can set everyone up for success! Below you’ll find the many aspects that should go into your group class curriculum planning.

Set Expectations For Your Dog Training Clients

Arguably, the most important part of establishing a group class curriculum is to set expectations for the clients (and yourself). Be sure to include the following information in your class handouts so that they know how to prepare, what to expect, and what they’ll be working towards. It is also a good idea to review this in class before training begins to make sure the students have all heard the material at least once. Attendance – Describe where classes will be held. Include whether they’ll be indoors, outdoors, or if you’ll hold classes in different locations depending on the week. Explain what your cancellation or no-show policy is, but include steps your client can take if they have an emergency or change in schedule. Explain when they should or should not bring their dog. Include your policy about bringing family members or friends. Location – Clearly identify where the group classes will be held and include specific navigation tips if the location is difficult to find, in a large park, or if parking is restricted to certain areas. The last thing you want to clients to experience is getting lost trying to find the class or coming back to a parking ticket on their car. Materials – You’ll want to be clear about what tools and materials students should bring to class (and what they shouldn’t bring). Be specific! Don’t just say “treats.” Explain that they need 100 or more m&m sized treats in a quart sized plastic bag. Explain that they need a 6ft non-extendible leash with a harness or buckle collar on their dogs. You can get even more detailed by including information on what kind of footwear they should wear, whether they should bring a jacket, a chair, a mat, or a bowl for water for their dog. Entering & Exiting Class – The most hectic time of a group class is the time students enter and exit the class. Consider establishing a policy or formal process for how to do this. Which door should they enter or exit through? Who will exit first? What should students do while they wait for class to start? Think ahead to common scenarios your students may experience to help them navigate this situation more easily. You may even want to explain how to get out of the car so the dog stays focused right off the bat. (Check out Leslie McDevitts’ reorienting default behavior in her book Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program.*) Behaviors – You’ll want to include a list of behaviors you’ll be teaching in the class. You can use images to demonstrate what these behaviors are or describe them in detail. Will you be training a sphinxed down or a relaxed down? What does “loose leash walking” look like? What does “leave it” look like? First-time dog owners may not understand what some common dog training terms mean so put yourself in their shoes get a better understanding for what they’ll experience. Goals – Why should people attend your group class anyways? What is the point of all this training? Speak to the client’s needs and personal goals such as to train your dog to be a great community member and companion, to have a dog you love to show off to your friends, to have a dog that’s a pleasure to walk with every day. Your clients are looking into training because they are experiencing a certain issue. Whether it is hyperactivity, pulling on the leash, or jumping on guests, make sure your group class curriculum highlights the point of all the work they’re about to put into training their dogs. Think along the lines of “how will this group class improve their lives?”

Provide Dog Training Instructions (In More Than One Format)

Before you dive into teaching classes, take some time to think about how you’ll teach the behaviors you’re aiming for. Consider whether your clients will be more effective with luring or shaping and whether you’ll use verbal marker training or if you’ll add a clicker to the mix. Once you have a list of behaviors you’ll be working towards, describe them in detail and note the progression you’ll expect from the dogs as they work towards the final goal behaviors. Break down each behavior into several steps, jot down some ideas for how you’ll change things up if a dog isn’t progressing how you’d like, and include details about how you’ll proof the behaviors as the weeks go on. (While you may not go into this level of detail in student handouts, it is important to think through these scenarios before class so you’re prepared.) Take into consideration how people learn differently. Some people learn better by watching videos, others by hearing instructions, and some by trial and error. Your students may not remember exactly what you said in class so, in addition to written instructions, you may want to create some instructional or demonstration videos to help your students practice at home in between classes.

Prepare Dog Training Exercises For Students

Think about what kind of exercises you can have clients do to practice their new behaviors. Will you set up cones for students to walk around? Will you line them up and have one student walk by with their dog? Will you have one person work on recall while others practice stay? Think about ways you can increase the challenge a little bit to help them work through day-to-day real-life situations they may encounter. This is a great time to review the goals of the class and create some scenarios that can help them work towards their end goals.

Implement Group Class Games For Proofing Behaviors

One way to make training fun and keep people engaged in class is by incorporating group class games. Once the dogs (and their people) are past their basics, you can begin to include games in each class. Check out Terry Ryan’s book, “Gamify Your Dog Training” for game ideas or create some of your own!*

Offer Next Steps For Group Class Graduates

Students that have a blast in your dog training class will want to continue training. Once they realize that training can be fun, that it can improve their dog’s behavior, and that it can be a great reason to get off the couch and enjoy some time outside, they’ll appreciate having a next step to take with their dog. Think about how you can encourage them to come back for more training. Will they be able to “level up” to a new class? Will you introduce them to dog sports? Will you host group community walks? What activities, group classes, or events can you organize to keep them coming back? Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter below to see more dog training business tips and resources! * This is an affiliate link. These links help support the blog so that I can continue to create helpful materials for you!

Why You Should Attend A Dog Trainer Mastermind Group (+ Our First Meetup!)

Why You Should Attend A Dog Trainer Mastermind Group (+ Our First Meetup!)

by | Aug 31, 2017 | Business, Events

Ever wish you had a group of local, friendly dog trainers to talk to? What about a group of dog trainers you felt comfortable bouncing ideas off of?

A networking event, or better yet a Mastermind Meetup (otherwise known as a peer advisory board), can be extremely useful to gain traction when you’re first starting out or even if you’re stuck in a rut in your current businesses. Getting an outsider’s perspective from someone that’s been in your shoes can be the best way to open new opportunities for you and your business.

mastermind group for dog trainersA mastermind meetup is a group of like-minded individuals that get together from time to time to share their goals, obstacles, experiences, and insights to benefit the group as a whole. You learn from each other, you keep each other accountable, and you support and help each other. There are many benefits, both tangible and intangible, to having a group like this to turn to as you start your own dog training business or grow a business you already have.

1. You Can Make Life-Long Friends And Partnerships

When you’re meeting with like-minded people that are passionate about the same things you are, you’re able to connect on a whole new level. You’ll feel like you’ve found “your people” and share business and personal challenges, goals, or experiences that are helping you succeed or inhibiting your progress. You’ll have an instant, reliable, supportive network to turn to as you start and grow your business.

Not to mention, the endless opportunities for collaboration and cross promotion that will result in having a strong support network of like-minded trainers in your area! Just because a group of trainers service the same area doesn’t mean you necessarily overlap in target audiences, skillsets, availability, types of services, and more! These days, there is usually more business coming in than many dog trainers can handle. The mindset you should have if you’re looking to network and find a mastermind group is that there truly is an abundance of business and dog training clients that need your help.

2. You Discover New, Creative Solutions For Your Business

The benefit of speaking to others who have been in your shoes and are like-minded is that you can collect valuable, honest, and relevant feedback about your business choices and initiatives. You can hear how others of similar backgrounds and passions would approach your challenges and generate ideas to overcome them.

When you’re surrounded by other like-minded individuals, you’ll feel validated that you’re on the right path to reach your goals and your dream. Seeing others succeed will help to motivate you to keep going as well.

Additionally, a facilitator or someone who hosts/organizes the mastermind meetup, also has a wealth of knowledge and resources to share with the group and is going above and beyond to help others grow and succeed as well. They bring their own skill set and experiences to the table.

3. You’ll Be Accountable To Make Improvements

Ideas are great, but taking action is better! 

One of the most valuable aspects of having a mastermind group is that you can hold each other accountable so you all make progress in your businesses. 

Mastermind groups are more than just a networking event. You actually sit down, share your goals, and work together to make actionable plans to make improvements within your businesses. When you share your goals and action items with someone else, you’re more likely to take those steps and reach your goals!

The connections you make in a mastermind group go much further than a handshake at a networking event. You’re truly in it together to help each other stay accountable so everyone in the group can succeed. 

7 reasons to attend a mastermind group for dog trainers4. You’ll Gain Industry Insights Found Nowhere Else

When you get together with other people from within your industry, you can gain insights you won’t find online, in books, or in seminars. Each person brings their own unique learning experiences to the table for all to learn from. One person’s challenge becomes a learning experience for everyone in the group. There is just nothing like it! There is nowhere else to find this kind of knowledge.

5. You Find Relief In Knowing You’re Not Alone

Typically, when you’re starting your own dog training business, you’re considered a “solopreneur” or solo-entrepreneur. It can be isolating when you have no one to turn to or relate to. You have to figure everything out on your own and while you should always trust your gut and do what feels right, you don’t know what you don’t know. Speaking to others who are or have been in your shoes is a great way to build connections and find relief in knowing you aren’t completely alone in this adventure. Others might bring up experiences or insights that you hadn’t thought of or experienced yourself. Mastermind groups help you expand your awareness of what it takes to run a successful dog training business.

6. You Get To Work ON Your Business Instead Of IN Your Business

While learning how to post on Instagram or writing up thorough client notes is important, mastermind group discussions should focus more on the bigger picture. You’ll be able to take a step back, reflect, analyze, learn, and plan your next big business goals.

Many times as solo business owners we spend a lot of time working in our businesses – creating documents, sending emails, working directly with clients. This time away from the office allows you to refresh and reinvigorate yourself for your next business steps.

7. It’s Electrifying

When else will you be able to be completely honest with a group of people? Share the highs and lows of starting your business. Share your expectations versus the reality of what it actually is like. Vent about the challenges your experiencing or share your success with others who understand what it means! Finding your “kind” of people is invigorating! You don’t have to go at it alone.

One of my main missions with this blog is to help other positive dog trainers (or whatever you want to call dog trainers that follow Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) principles in training) succeed with their businesses. There is often a ton of focus on learning the science of training dogs with little acknowledgment of how to run the business side of things. However, if you’re in this profession for the long haul, you have to pay attention to both. Without a thorough understanding of how to run a business, you will not be able to take your passion for dog training full-time or be able to sustain it full-time for many years.

Ep 16 – Laura McGaughey and Courtney Kirman on Choosing and Working With a Business Partner

Ep 16 – Laura McGaughey and Courtney Kirman on Choosing and Working With a Business Partner

by | Aug 15, 2017 | Podcast

choosing a dog training business partnerOn this episode, we had Laura McGaughey and Courtney Kirman on the show to discuss the things you should consider if you’re thinking about bringing a business partner into your training business. There are a lot of things to consider before bringing in a business partner into the mix, here are some things to consider before bringing someone else into your business.

Laura McGauhey and Courtney Kirman run Delightful Doggies in Lakewood, Colorado where they specialize in helping dogs with fear, anxiety, reactivity, over arousal, and aggression.

Laura is the owner and head trainer at Delightful Doggies. A Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), her specialty is working with reactive, fearful and aggressive dogs. She obtained her CPDT-KA certification in October, 2014, and certifications as a dog trainer and veterinary assistant from Animal Behavior College in August, 2012 and January, 2013, respectively.

In March, 2013 Laura also achieved primary certification in TAGteach. She is also a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild and co-founder of the Colorado Progressive Reinforcement Trainers group, dedicated to adhering to and promoting force-free training methods.

Laura started on her career path as a dog trainer after spending time as a shelter volunteer. Through the shelter’s training program, she found a whole new love and purpose, and vowed to learn as much as possible about dog training and behavior so she could work to keep more dogs in their homes and out of the shelter and rescue system.

A native of Kentucky, Laura relocated permanently to Denver in 1996 and currently resides in Lakewood with her husband, Chris, and her three dogs, Jasper the “fluffy butt shelter mutt,” Hidalgo the Chihuahua and Kali the terrier mix. Together they enjoy hikes in the hills and doing nose work both for fun and competition.

Courtney Kirman, owner of Tender Hands Animal Training, has dedicated her life to improving the lives of pets and their people. Her passion and affinity for animals was present from a very early age. Courtney has been studying dog obedience since 2006, when a young Husky named Bailey entered her life. Courtney worked as a dog trainer for a large commercial chain before breaking out on her own and discovering the powerful benefits of the Tellington TTouch approach. TTouch was the missing link that Courtney felt was needed to truly help pets and their people. Courtney believes in a positive and gentle approach to pet training that will build a relationship of trust and respect between animals and the people they share their lives with. She is a native of Arizona and a University of Arizona Alumni. Courtney’s passions include animal rescue, hiking, and being in nature with her adopted Brittany and Bluetick Coonhound.

Subscribe to The Modern Dog Trainer Podcast on SoundCloud or iTunes. Follow The Modern Dog Trainer Blog on Twitter at @ModernTrainer, on Facebook at The Modern Dog Trainer Blog Page, and on Instagram at @TheModernDogTrainerBlog. Don’t forget to join our FREE Facebook Group, “Startup Tips for Modern Dog Trainers.” We love hearing from our listeners!

Please leave us a review on iTunes to help support our podcast!

Video versions of the podcast are available on YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Modern Dog Trainer for notification when a new video or episode is added!

Show Notes

You can find Laura and Courtney here:

Ep 15 – Rachel Golub on In-Home Board and Trains and Aggression Cases

Ep 15 – Rachel Golub on In-Home Board and Trains and Aggression Cases

by | Aug 1, 2017 | Podcast

offering a dog board and train programThis episode we had Rachel Golub back on the show to discuss all of the things you should consider when offering a board and train program and taking on aggression cases. Rachel was previously on the podcast discussing how to manage dog training with a family and has written a guest post for this blog providing tips for positive trainers that are just getting started.

Rachel Golub and her husband, Dillon Horgur, run San Diego Animal Training, a facility that specializes in a variety of behavioral training, including working with aggression cases and board and trains. Rachel started her animal training career at the Escondido Humane Society in 2008. She began as an Adoptions Counselor and was quickly promoted to Assistant Trainer in the Behavior Department. Rachel went on to apprentice under some of the top trainers in Southern California, receiving her certification as a Professional Dog Trainer from the CCPDT in 2010, and in 2016 she received her Certified Dog Behavior Consultant certification through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Subscribe to The Modern Dog Trainer Podcast on SoundCloud or iTunes. Follow The Modern Dog Trainer Blog on Twitter at @ModernTrainer, on Facebook at The Modern Dog Trainer Blog Page, and on Instagram at @TheModernDogTrainerBlog. Don’t forget to join our FREE Facebook Group, “Startup Tips for Modern Dog Trainers.” We love hearing from our listeners!

Please leave us a review on iTunes to help support our podcast!

Show Notes

You can find Rachel here:

Guest Post: Don’t Get In Over Your Head When You’re Starting Out

Guest Post: Don’t Get In Over Your Head When You’re Starting Out

by | Jul 31, 2017 | Business

Today, I’m honored to have a guest post from someone that’s been on the podcast twice (once in 2016 and once in 2017) to talk about a unique challenge that new dog trainers face – taking on clients that you’re not ready for to make ends meet! This scenario has a multitude of implications that I’ll let Rachel explain below.

Some of the most frustrating situations I’ve encountered in my career as a professional dog trainer is when a positive reinforcement-based trainer takes on cases that they don’t have the skill set for. Don’t get me wrong– these trainers have the best intentions and they genuinely want to help these dogs– but a lot of the time they end up doing more harm than good.

We are all, for better or worse, in a highly-competitive field with a high overhead and relatively low-income potential. To compete in an oversaturated market, most of us rely on social media in some aspect or another to increase our visibility. However, we must accept and respect when we post on public forums, groups, or even our own Facebook account and get questions or unsolicited criticism about our methods. Without this system of checks and balances, our careers would be even more susceptible to “whisperers,” dominance trainers, and untrained hacks. While I agree that positive reinforcement trainers should be working together for the greater good of the movement, constructive criticism delivered in a non-confrontational manner encourages learning, improvement in training, and continuing progress in the field.

Aside from inter-industry drama, newer trainers might wonder why it’s a big deal if they take on a dog that exhibits problem behavior beyond that trainer’s particular skill set or comfort level. After all, how are we supposed to learn without experience? Isn’t stepping outside our comfort zone how we all continue to grow? My view is that if the desired behavior change isn’t achieved, we’ve taught the pet parent that positive reinforcement doesn’t work. Not only can this harm how the public views positive reinforcement training, a trainer taking on a case above their experience level inherently places the trainer’s learning experience and income potential above the well-being of the dog and expectations of the owners. This is antithetical to our commitment to our craft, our clients, and the animals themselves.

As a thought experiment, imagine a novice dog owner who has a dog displaying “aggressive” behavior, such as snapping at strangers visiting the house. She’s not sure how to address this behavior, and after doing some research she decides to go with a trainer who markets themselves as R+ savvy and force-free. Many, if not most, of these pet parents have at least one acquaintance or a family member who’s told them to use a shock collar or prong collar when the dog aggresses or states something along the lines of, “You just need to be dominant and show that dog who’s boss.” In fact, any day of the week you can turn on the television at a given time and see this advice peddled on TV shows or infomercials. Despite this, the pet parent isn’t comfortable with heavy-handed methods and ends up hiring the R+ trainer. The pet parent works with the trainer for months, sometimes years, but the dog just isn’t making a quantifiable change in the behavior. The pet parent has spent thousands of dollars, but they still don’t feel confident in the dog’s training. The pet parent is now discouraged and believes that R+ doesn’t work for “aggressive dogs.” Out of desperation, the pet parent hires an aversive-based trainer.

This is where good intentions become damaging: that well-meaning trainer was the catalyst that turned this client– a pet owner who wanted to go about training in a non-confrontational way– into a confrontational-based trainer because the R+ trainer didn’t have the correct skill set for that particular client. Had the trainer been honest with themselves and referred the client to a trainer or behavior consultant who specializes in aggressive behavior, the client would have gotten the help they needed using positive reinforcement methods and achieved timely results.

Just as animals need to learn from small approximations and positive experiences to shape behavior, so do we as dog trainers. A trainer with little or no previous experience with aggressive dogs is taking a huge jump in approximation by agreeing to consult on such cases, and the willingness to take such a leap is as much a sign of training naivety as it is a representation of the person’s enthusiasm and excitement to be working in an industry that we all love. Being well-versed in respondent and operant conditioning and canine behavior is the first step, but slow, gradual, and preferably supervised hands-on experience is just as important with cases where the consequences of making mistakes or simple lack of progress is so dire.

I am the first person to admit that there are many situations outside of my experience base. For example, competition and canine sport training is not my forte. Could I train a dog to compete in obedience and agility? Yes. Are there many others who could train that dog more efficiently? Absolutely! And that’s why I refer out those cases to trainers who are better than me in that particular realm without any hesitation.

So please, if you’re a newer trainer who really wants to help pet parents and their dogs succeed with positive reinforcement-based training methods, refer the difficult cases to someone who knows how to handle them and shadow the trainer or behavior consultant that you refer your client to so that you too can learn how to work these kinds of cases. Don’t try to learn by doing and figuring it out as you go; learn by observing a behavior professional through the lens of your understanding the science of behavior.

About Rachel Golub,  CDBC, CPDT-KA

Rachel started her animal training career at the Escondido Humane Society in 2008. She began as an Adoptions Counselor and was quickly promoted to Assistant Trainer in the Behavior Department. Rachel went on to apprentice under some of the top trainers in Southern California, receiving her certification as a Professional Dog Trainer from the CCPDT in 2010, and in 2016 she received her Certified Dog Behavior Consultant certification through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. In addition to her expertise on dog training, Rachel also has training experience with cats, parrots, exotic animals, and domestic livestock such as horses and pigs.

In 2009, Rachel founded her own company dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and placing dogs with behavior issues. This company evolved into San Diego Animal Training where she continues to consult with rescues, shelters, and private individuals to transform difficult dogs into adoptable, loving companions.

Ep 14 – Lynn Webb on the First Years of Running a Dog Training Business

Ep 14 – Lynn Webb on the First Years of Running a Dog Training Business

by | Jul 19, 2017 | Business, Podcast

This episode we had Lynn Webb on the show to discuss what it was like to work through all the unexpected challenges of starting up your own dog training business.  Learning how to train dogs is the easy part. Knowing how to run a business with consistent income is the difficult part. Listen as Kat Camplin and Ines McNeil discuss the challenges that come with starting up your own dog training business.

Lynn Webb is the owner of The Proficient Pup Dog Training and Massage in North County San Diego. She has over 17 years of experience with animals, much of that time spent with birds, mammals, and reptiles at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Working in a zoo gave her the ability to wear many hats, which is also needed when starting and running a dog training business!

Lynn’s education includes a Master’s Degree, certification in dog training through Karen Pryor Academy, certification in Canine Massage through Rocky Mountain School of Animal Accupressure and Massage, and certification in Pet First Aid and CPR through PetTech. Her passions include dogs, learning, and teaching.

Subscribe to The Modern Dog Trainer Podcast on SoundCloud or iTunes. Follow The Modern Dog Trainer Blog on Twitter at @ModernTrainer, on Facebook at The Modern Dog Trainer Blog Page, and on Instagram at @TheModernDogTrainerBlog. Don’t forget to join our FREE Facebook Group, “Startup Tips for Modern Dog Trainers.” We love hearing from our listeners!

Please leave us a review on iTunes to help support our podcast!

Show Notes

You can find Lynn here:

5 Misconceptions Dog Trainers Have About SEO

5 Misconceptions Dog Trainers Have About SEO

by | Jul 10, 2017 | Marketing

Part of having a successful business means you need a website that works for you. Ideally, you want a website to be attracting clients to your business even when you’re sleeping. Many dog trainers are missing out on the benefits of SEO and what it could do for their businesses whether they know SEO exists or not. Thankfully, it’s not as scary as you might think and a lot of SEO can be done in “DIY” fashion on a $0 budget. Today, I’m going to dive into some of the myths I’ve seen other dog trainers believe over the years.

1) You Don’t Know What It Stands For

The acronym is much easier to type and say so “SEO” is used infinitely more often than “Search Engine Optimization.” This means that the term scares people away and is general “marketing speak” amongst many small business owners and dog trainers. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. SEO is an umbrella term used to described any way in which you change your website to improve the way it shows up in search engines. Changes as small as editing a page’s title or changing the description of an image is considered SEO. Don’t let scammers fool you into thinking it is too much more complicated than that.

2) You Think They Can Pay Someone Else To Do It

Unfortunately, as small business owners, we’re constantly bombarded by ads and promotions on how someone can magically snap their fingers and get our website to rank on the first page of Google. All for only $300 per month! Just think of all the new clients you could bring in with that kind of exposure. Too good to be true? Yep…

Unless you’re paying Google directly via AdWords, you’re not going to get your site to rank by paying anyone. There are loads of scams out there preying on unsuspecting business owners that are promised mysterious rankings for a small monthly fee. To get on the first page of Google results, you have to earn it by:

  1. Providing helpful, relevant information to the people that are searching
  2. Optimizing the technical aspects of your website to help it function better for visitors.

3) You Don’t Understand The Point Of It

SEO has remained this mysterious, unclear marketing term that many new business owners shy away from. In reality, it’s easy and important for all businesses to understand. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a FREE way to gain new website visitors and clients. Simply put, there are ways to improve your website so that it will be more easily found in Google and other search engines. You can improve your website by providing the right content, getting listed in (appropriate) online directories, writing relevant blogs, making it appear faster to visitors, and many more ways.

I agree – it can be overwhelming to learn about all the different ways you can improve your website, but you want to keep chipping away at it over time. Every little bit helps your website and your business get found online when people are looking for help. Best of all, when you have a small starting up budget, you can make most improvements for FREE!

Don’t know what improvements to make? Check out my course: DIY SEO for Dog Trainers.

4) You Don’t Do The Right Research (And Make The Wrong Assumptions)

After spending hours in forums online discussing dog training with other professionals, it’s easy to forget how the average dog owner would search for common issues such as resource guarding or leash reactivity. When optimizing for search engines, you should think about the kind of people you want to attract to your website and understand the terms they’re likely to use to find help for their problems.

Here is a comparison of how the terminology might differ between a professional dog trainer and an average dog owner.

Terms Dog Trainers Might Use

  1. Resource guarding
  2. On-leash reactivity
  3. Dog manners group class
  4. Crate training
  5. Positive reinforcement based training

Terms Dog Owners Might Use

  1. Snapping and growling with toys
  2. Barking at other dogs on walks
  3. Dog obedience training
  4. Puppy potty training/house breaking
  5. Positive dog training

With this understanding, you want to make sure your website is written with the vocabulary that is familiar and natural to your target audience. They’re using the search engine to find YOU!

5) They Don’t Even Realize Their Website Is Hurting Them

Living in a smaller town means that many small businesses have not invested in websites that perform well and many don’t even have websites to begin with! I come across horrific websites all the time that a) don’t make me want to go to their business and b) that I can’t even find the business hours or location even if I did want to visit them. Don’t be that business.

With most people turning to mobile searches instead of to their neighbors to find help these days, you cannot afford to miss out on potential customers looking for trainers just like you in your area. A bad website could:

  • Load so slowly that the visitor hits the back button before they even get to see your site.
  • Be so complicated that the visitor just goes back to search for another business to help them.
  • Make the location of the business so vague or unapparent that the visitor can’t tell what state, let alone what city, the business is in.
  • Rank so poorly in search engines that you can’t find the business’s website even if you were to type in the exact name of the business.

“Nearly 60 percent of searches now from mobile devices.” – Search Engine Land

Outside of not being able to be found online or a super slow load time, your website could be hurting your reputation, too. An outdated or 90’s looking website could look unprofessional and could even lead people to believe that you’re out of business! A website is your virtual storefront. Take care to make it visually appealing and helpful so potential customers give you a chance to earn their business.

An SEO Course For Dog Trainers

online course for dog trainers for SEOFeeling overwhelmed? Wish someone would walk you through the right steps to optimize your website? I’ve put all my tips and tricks into a 5 week, open enrollment, email course to walk you through:

  • an SEO Audit – learn about how your website is performing and what is missing so you know where you stand.
  • technical SEO improvements – changes you can make yourself without hiring outside help.
  • a content strategy – learn about what content your website’s pages need to include to attract the right customers.
  • a blogging strategy – know what to write about to attract local dog owners to your site without wasting your time.
Learn more about the DIY SEO for Dog Trainers Course
Uses for Interactive Pet Cameras in Dog Training

Uses for Interactive Pet Cameras in Dog Training

by | Jun 19, 2017 | Training Methods

Petcams, like nanny-cams, are the next big thing in the pet industry. Beyond their entertainment value, there are some real reasons to get one and encourage your clients to get one too.

Benefits Of Pet Cameras In Dog Training

At first glance, petcams appear to be mostly for entertainment and for pet owners to talk or view their pets while they’re away at work or vacation. However, after having the opportunity to use a petcam for my own dogs, I quickly discovered there were many more reasons to have a petcam, especially as it relates to dog training.

Dog Behavior Observation – You can use a petcam to observe a dog’s behavior while the owners are away to screen for separation anxiety, reactivity, or destructive behavior. Getting insights into what the antecedent to a behavior is will drastically help your dog training results.

Marketing Your Dog Training Business – As a dog trainer, you could get a petcam to live-stream your dog training classes online or to live-stream training sessions during a board and train program. Showing customers what goes on behind closed doors builds trust in you and your business to create passionate fans and returning customers.

Interrupting Behavior – Many petcams now allow you to talk to a dog on the other side of the screen. You can use this feature to interrupt barking or other destructive behavior right when it happens, even if no one is home. Of course, interrupting behavior is only a temporary solution and a proper behavior modification plan should be in place, but this could be helpful.

Features To Look For In A Petcam

Sound Detection – One of the benefits of a petcam is to detect when the dog is barking or reacting to outside disturbances. Unless you plan on staring at the petcam every minute while you’re away, a petcam that can detect sound can be a really great way to keep tabs on the activity within your or your clients home.

Motion Detection – It can be very helpful to know if a dog is lying calmly throughout the day or pacing repeatedly to determine their level of anxiety while being left alone. Choosing a petcam that can detect not only sound but also motion is key for using one in dog training.

Two-Way Communication  – If you’re interested in using a petcam to interrupt behaviors initially, you should look for a camera that has two-way communication. You’ll want to be able to hear what noise is going on in the background that may be causing the disturbance and  talk to the dog to redirect their attention. Two-way communication is a key part of using a petcam for dog training.

Wide-Angle View – A wide-angle view allows you to see more of the room. This allows you to see things that the dog might be doing in the corner of the room or see what they’re staring at outside.

Live Steaming! – As a professional dog trainer, you could even use a petcam to promote your business and live stream any aspect of your day! You should find a camera that allows you to regularly schedule live broadcasts or at least lets you toggle on or off the live stream option.

Our Experience With The Petcube a Remote Wi-Fi Pet Camera | Pet Monitor System

Every once in a while, I get a request from a company to do a product review. I don’t accept all products as that isn’t the main point of this blog, but sometimes I see a product that interests me and that I think would interest my readers. The Petcube is one of those products I didn’t want to pass up and I’m glad I didn’t.

(You can get your own Petcube by going through this affiliate link to get $10 off: http://mbsy.co/petcube/TheModernDogTrainer)

The Petcube had more uses and value than I had initially expected. Since I work from home, I don’t often leave the house for long periods of time so I hadn’t thought about getting a petcam before.

The Petcube was surprisingly small (it’s only 3x3ix3 in). It easily fit in the palm of my hand and was stationed on my current entertainment center without being an eye sore. Its design in the shape of a box is both modern and stable so you don’t have to worry about knocking it over.

It has 1080p HD video with 138° wide angle view and daytime and automatic nighttime mode so you always have visibility of what’s going on. You can choose your own settings for motion detection, sound detection, recording videos or not, notifications of activity, and much more.

The setup was extremely easy and they have a great setup walk through with the app. Everything about the camera is controlled on the app on your Android or iPhone. One thing to note is that since it is app-based, you can’t view the video online unless you start a live Facebook stream.

Here’s a video from the Petcube showing the quality of the video and the wide-angle view.

 

Here’s another quick video to demonstrate their neat night mode option.

 

 

The user interface of the Petcube app is pretty user friendly. Settings can be found in a couple different locations, but I think they are making improvements to that. You can share your camera with their integrated social network.

You can register in the app whether or not you have a Petcube. Once registered, you can also view or interact with other people’s pets, not just your own. Thankfully, you have total control over who sees your pets and how they are able to interact with them.

 

 

One feature of the Petcube that I wouldn’t recommend using is the built-in laser. They included this with the “Petcube Play” version, but as many dog trainers know, dogs can become light sensitive and begin obsessing over lights and lasers.

I tried out the talking feature to see what my dog’s reaction would be. They heard my voice, stood up, looked around confused, and whined a bit because they did not understand where my voice was coming from. It was briefly entertaining but I wouldn’t continue it because it would increase my dog’s anxiety while I’m away which is the opposite of what I want. Additionally, their obedience cues have not been proofed to the point of just hearing the sound of my voice.

 

Benefits of the Petcube

Schedule When You Stream – The Petcube allows you to schedule when you’d like to share the video from your petcam to stream online and you can even stream right to Facebook. As a dog trainer, you could schedule training demonstrations or simply broadcast a group class so that potential customers can see what they’re missing out on. This could be a unique, fun way to promote your services to potential clients and stand out from other training facilities.

Motion Detection, Sound Detection & Two-Way Communication – The Petcube and its various settings allow you to keep track of the activity that matters most to you and utilize it in a multitude of ways depending on what you need for training.

Get the Petcube Bites – This upcoming new version of the Petcube offers a treat delivery feature which further increases its value as a dog training tool. With this new feature, it will become a powerful competitor to the PetTutor. The treat delivery itself is unique in that it doesn’t simply drop a treat, it tosses it so you can see the dog catch and enjoy the treat.

You can learn more about the Petcube petcams and get your own Petcube by going through this affiliate link to get $10 off: http://mbsy.co/petcube/TheModernDogTrainer

What petcams are you fond of? Leave us a comment below!

7 Important Parts of a Successful Dog Training Group Class

7 Important Parts of a Successful Dog Training Group Class

by | Jun 15, 2017 | Group Classes, Training Methods

Group dog training classes are one of the most popular ways that dog trainers interact with their clients. Group classes allow past clients to come back to refresh their skills, new clients to get started in basic dog training, and for private lesson clients to grow their skills and their dog’s skills around more distractions.

There are a variety of group classes you could hold. Some dog trainers start with basic puppy and obedience classes then progress to group tricks classes or nosework classes. More experienced dog trainers hold reactive dog classes or confidence building classes for overly-shy dogs and their clients.

Why Teach Group Dog Training Classes?

Group classes help owners receive dog training help at a reduced cost since group classes are typically less expensive than private, one-to-one lessons. Classes also allow your clients to meet others in their situation which is great when they are struggling and need some encouragement. As a dog trainer holding group classes, you have the power to reach many more people and you can work to create a real, connected community to help you build a successful, sustainable dog training business.

When you’re first starting out, some important pieces of a great group class may elude you. Unless you’ve observed a mentor or taken a group class yourself (and perhaps even if you have), you may not be aware of some of the critical aspects of a successful dog training group class. Here are some recommendations to help you make it the best experience possible for your students.

1. Initial Written Expectations

Start by thinking about what your clients want to get out of the class. What do they want to be able to do with their dogs? Put clear expectations about what will be expected of them to achieve this result. In a welcome email, you can include information about where the class will be held, when you’ll meet, what they should bring, and you could even go into specifics such as how they should enter or exit the room to avoid dog-dog confrontations. The more detailed and specific you are, the more organized you’ll appear and the more prepared your clients will be.

(Related Article: How to Prevent Overwhelm and Increase Compliance in New Dog Training Clients)

You’ll want to send out expectations via email a couple of times before the class begins. I would never expect someone to read an email I send out less than 48hours before a class. You can also request a reply to your email to confirm all the students have received it and it didn’t end up in their spam folder. If you request a reply and don’t receive one, follow up with a phone call to make sure they read the instructions and are aware that you’ll be sending communication via email.

Well thought out expectations and communication is key to a successful group class.

2. Space

Find a space for your group dog training classes that will help dogs and their owners feel safe and comfortable. Think about ways you can improve the level of comfort in the class. Should you offer chairs? Should you ask students to bring a non-slip mat for their dogs? Should you bring visual barriers to help dogs keep calm?

Control the space your students are occupying by placing markers or barriers between them to make sure everyone stays at a safe distance from each other.

3. Curriculum

When deciding on your curriculum, consider your student’s experience. Will students in your class know the mechanical skills required to train their dogs already? Do they know what positive reinforcement is and how it works? If not, you’ll want to have a sort of orientation to get your students acquainted with how dogs learn, dog body language, what is and isn’t realistic when it comes to their behavior, and more. Once your students understand the way they’ll be training, then you can coach them on how to utilize this information to train their own dogs.

There are hundreds of choices when it comes to group class curriculum. You can create your own from scratch or collaborate with other trainers that are willing to share what they have.

A fairly common curriculum I’ve seen is Sue Ailsby’s Training Levels Program. The first few levels are a great starting point for basic obedience and dog sports.

For reactive dog classes, I’d strongly recommend reading Emma Parson’s book, “Teaching the Reactive Dog Class: Leading the Journey from Reactivity to Reliability.“

You can hold classes with a specific start and end date or you could host open enrollment classes that allow you to continuously accept new students in your class.

4. Confidence

Make sure you are confident enough to speak in front of a few other people and lead them through the steps of the curriculum.

Project your voice. Have the confidence to let your voice be heard. You know more about dogs and dog training than anyone else in the room. Your students have already invested their time and money to listen to you speak so speak with confidence and project your voice so that everyone can clearly hear what you have to say.

Step in when a student is struggling. A group class should always have a few minutes of one-to-one attention so that each student can be successful. Step in when you see a student getting frustrated or annoyed at their dog before things escalate too much.

Ask students to listen. If you have any chatty-Cathys in your class or children that are being disruptive, do not be afraid to redirect their attention for the sake of the whole class. Other students appreciate it when the teach asks for order – they’ve all paid to listen to you teach, not listen to anyone else. If you can’t control the class, your students will have an unpleasant experience and may not return.

Let people know when they should be listening and when they should be practicing with a signal. You can even use a visual (red light/green light card) or an audible bell to let people know when to begin otherwise some may get distracted or start practicing before you’re done instructing. This signal only improves communication and expectations.

5. Games

If your students are starting to master the material, have a few games up your sleeve to increase the difficulty and level of fun. There’s a book with many different games you can play in your group dog training classes called “Gamify Your Dog Training” by Terry Ryan.

6. Community

In a group classes, unlike with private instruction, you can great a really fun sense of community. I would even argue that this benefit of group classes is underutilized by most dog trainers, but it can be critical for building long-lasting relationships with your clients that keep them coming back for more. Get people talking to each other and make real connections with your students so that they feel supported and want to come back.

7. Next Steps For Students

Part of creating a great experience for your students is having a clear next-step to take with their dog so that they aren’t left without direction. Take the lead and introduce some possible next steps for your group class graduates. Will you offer a Level 2? A class with more games or even a beginner dog sport class to keep people motivated and practicing? Will you offer an ongoing meetup they can attend with their newly well-behaved dog? Will you offer additional private lessons to help them overcome specific scenarios they’re struggling with? What next steps should your students take to continue working with you?

Offering ongoing services either in group form or private lesson form is important to maintain your income as a dog trainer. Many people, including me when I first started out, rarely work with clients again after their initial goals have been met. How can you position your services to help your clients maintain their dog’s training while you continue to generate income over time for your business?

Ep. 13 – Sarah Filipiak, CDBC, on Becoming a Pro Dog Trainer

Ep. 13 – Sarah Filipiak, CDBC, on Becoming a Pro Dog Trainer

by | May 14, 2017 | Podcast

Sarah Filipiak, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, is a skilled professional dog behavior expert and has now turned to helping others become professional dog trainers. On today’s podcast, she talks to us about what it takes to be a true “professional” in the dog training industry. She’s started her own online “Becoming a Pro Dog Trainer” course, beginning May 22nd, to help other dog trainers starting out or improve their practice as dog trainers. (Should you click the link and purchase the course, The Modern Dog Trainer will make a small commission. These commissions help us maintain our website, Facebook groups, and keep more materials available for free.)

Subscribe to The Modern Dog Trainer Podcast on SoundCloud or iTunes. Follow The Modern Dog Trainer Blog on Twitter at @ModernTrainer, on Facebook at The Modern Dog Trainer Blog Page, and on Instagram at @TheModernDogTrainerBlog. Don’t forget to join our FREE Facebook Group, “Startup Tips for Modern Dog Trainers.” We love hearing from our listeners!

Please leave us a review on iTunes to help support our podcast!

Show Notes

 

Pin It on Pinterest