Twinkle Twinkle
Well-Known Member
Who has made there career working with dogs 
l need a change of career and would love to do some kind of job with dogs x
l need a change of career and would love to do some kind of job with dogs x
working with dogs
- Thread starter Twinkle Twinkle
- Start date
Alec Swan
...
I once attempted to earn a living, from dogs, and very quickly learnt one simple fact; If you are to earn a wage, you cannot consider yourself to be a charity.
Ask yourself if you know what you're talking about. When you've done that, consider just how many dogs, from start to finish, you've had through your hands. Harsh? Perhaps, but the realities of life can bring us to our knees, sometimes!! Better that we face things at the start, than have to face up to them when it all goes pear shaped!! When we've successfully trained 2 or 3 dogs, we're omnipotent. We aren't, we have a journey before us.
Alec.
Ask yourself if you know what you're talking about. When you've done that, consider just how many dogs, from start to finish, you've had through your hands. Harsh? Perhaps, but the realities of life can bring us to our knees, sometimes!! Better that we face things at the start, than have to face up to them when it all goes pear shaped!! When we've successfully trained 2 or 3 dogs, we're omnipotent. We aren't, we have a journey before us.
Alec.
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
I've been earning a living as a dog groomer for the last decade
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
I guess my living revolves around dogs, be it work (vets) or home (I board) and I also groom dogs and train dogs (infrequently) as thats the way I like the latter.
My OH also walks dogs, he had spinal surgery and it's about the only thing he could do without being in agony. (works out good for us)
My OH also walks dogs, he had spinal surgery and it's about the only thing he could do without being in agony. (works out good for us)
Pendlehog
Well-Known Member
I work in a rescue centre with *ahem* challenging dogs. Before that I worked for myself as a dog walker/pet sitter. Before that I did a little veterinary pharmaceutical stuff. I like my current job the best of the 3 but don't expect to earn much of a living in that kind of role.
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
It does seem that lots of people (particularly if they have pets) want a career with animals if they've had something happen to make them want to change their career path.
Alec Swan talks sense when he says that
1 - you need to know what you're talking about and
2 - you can't make a living if you're doing it JUST out of the goodness of your heart
Yes, I've adlibbed a bit
But it's very true. I cannot tell you how many times over my career that I've had people who try to emotionally blackmail me to do their will which either contravenes the Animal Welfare Bill or is against better judgement. Having the backbone to stand up and say "well,, actually NO, that's not something I will do because it's harmful to me/the dog/my reputation" and yet be so very diplomatic about it so you don't insult them is a very tricky thing.
Being "good with animals" is one thing - and that's a great start. But then it's also being "great in business" if you chose to go it alone. Again, there are better ways to serve the animal industry than firiing straight in there and starting a business.
But it can be done. There are vets, vet nurses, kennel maids, groomers, behaviourists, trainers, people who make and sell collars and all sorts.
A word of caution though, if you're doing direct hands on work with animals as a living, you MIGHT not get the same joy out of it as a hobby that you did before.
Alec Swan talks sense when he says that
1 - you need to know what you're talking about and
2 - you can't make a living if you're doing it JUST out of the goodness of your heart
Yes, I've adlibbed a bit
But it's very true. I cannot tell you how many times over my career that I've had people who try to emotionally blackmail me to do their will which either contravenes the Animal Welfare Bill or is against better judgement. Having the backbone to stand up and say "well,, actually NO, that's not something I will do because it's harmful to me/the dog/my reputation" and yet be so very diplomatic about it so you don't insult them is a very tricky thing.
Being "good with animals" is one thing - and that's a great start. But then it's also being "great in business" if you chose to go it alone. Again, there are better ways to serve the animal industry than firiing straight in there and starting a business.
But it can be done. There are vets, vet nurses, kennel maids, groomers, behaviourists, trainers, people who make and sell collars and all sorts.
A word of caution though, if you're doing direct hands on work with animals as a living, you MIGHT not get the same joy out of it as a hobby that you did before.
Alec Swan
...
O_P, I've just read my last post, and I didn't mean to sound quite so blunt! I apologise.
There are ways of earning a living from dogs. Depending upon your experience, facilities and abilities, and just about everyone, who has a full time job, wants their dogs walked during their working hours. It would be a start, and if you then found other ways of earning a crust, which were a bit more lucrative, then you could let the dog walking go.
If you had kennel room, for instance, there would be a very good line in running on working puppies for pro trainers. You'd first have to demonstrate that you knew what you were doing, but by handing back bold, but well adjusted and well mannered puppies at 9 months, or so, the word would soon get around. I've got 3 puppies here and I really do need to place one of them with a puppy walker. Kennelled, I've been quoted £80 PER WEEK, which I think's a bit strong! If you had, say 4 puppies at £50 per week, that would be a start, wouldn't it?
Anyway, what ever you decide to do, Good Luck!
Alec.
There are ways of earning a living from dogs. Depending upon your experience, facilities and abilities, and just about everyone, who has a full time job, wants their dogs walked during their working hours. It would be a start, and if you then found other ways of earning a crust, which were a bit more lucrative, then you could let the dog walking go.
If you had kennel room, for instance, there would be a very good line in running on working puppies for pro trainers. You'd first have to demonstrate that you knew what you were doing, but by handing back bold, but well adjusted and well mannered puppies at 9 months, or so, the word would soon get around. I've got 3 puppies here and I really do need to place one of them with a puppy walker. Kennelled, I've been quoted £80 PER WEEK, which I think's a bit strong! If you had, say 4 puppies at £50 per week, that would be a start, wouldn't it?
Anyway, what ever you decide to do, Good Luck!
Alec.