FREE DOG TRAINING GUIDE

I was bored one day and filled out the online application, after one of the stores trainers recommended I do while I was toy shopping one day. Two days later I’ve got an interview. I have a good job now, some would say really good, I know I was lucky to get it. Railroad job..its union w/ full benefits & a pension & I make about 25$/hr with lots over over & even double time. But I HATE…HHHAAATTTEE my job. The only thing that gets me through the days is I look forward to coming home and playing w/ my pup & I’ve become the local ‘dog’ guy. Every weekend I help 1-2 people with training their dogs & I have a backyard agility course me and a few people (I’ve trained) run our dogs through…and it seems like working with dogs for a living would be the best thing ever. Heck, I do it for fun & free on my weekends.

Now I realize Petco isn’t the gold standard of dog training, but I figured its a good place to get my feet wet and get some experience on a professional level. I’d taken my pup there for puppy classes because it was cheap and I just wanted to practice w/ distractions … I’ve taught dogs agility and dealt with behavioral problems…I didn’t need someone to show me ’sit’, but it was good socialization in a learning setting I thought. Anywho, I befriended the girl teaching & am all but guaranteed the job if I want it.

Does anyone know what they make? Is it based on commission in anyway for selling training lessons? Someone said you might have to work on the floor or register too, is that true? The girl I know also works in the grooming department washing dogs (she’s not trained to cut dogs hair), & that seems the ultimate to me, but is that normal? Does anyone know a better way to break into the dog training world? People who I’ve helped for free tell me I should have charged (…though they weren’t offering $$) & some have suggested I just make a web page or hang fliers…but I don’t know if I’d feel right acting like I knew it all…I figured a year or two at Petco and at least I’d have someone to fall back on (the other trainers there) for the beginning of this…its easy to tell someone you can’t help when they aren’t paying you anyways.

Anyone worked there….taken classes there from a new trainer…quit a good job because you thought you’d be happier at another one??