There’s never been a better time to set up a pet business. On average, 4 out of 10 households in the US own a dog and 7 in 10 Millennials (roughly those aged 40 to 25) are pet owners.

With pet ownership on the rise and people willing to spend more on their beloved pooches and kitties, it’s not surprising the pet industry is growing at such a fast pace.

The industry is considered ‘recession-proof’ and offers plenty of business alternatives to leverage—from healthy pet foods to grooming and daycare and everything in between.

However, each business has different requirements in the amount of time, work, and money you’ll need to invest in it to succeed.

Among all these options, dog training is one of the least resource-intensive ones. You can choose to own a training facility or you can join a dog training franchise like Dog Training Elite, which allows you to train dogs in parks or at their owners’ houses, reducing your initial costs and licensing requirements.

With all its business opportunities, dog training is still a tough field to get into. Especially if you start one from scratch. Like any other business, there are several things you’ll need to consider and steps you’ll need to take if you decide to go at it alone.

So what do you need to know to get your dog training business license? And how can you fast-track the process to become a dog training business owner easier? Let’s start from the beginning.

Training and licensing

In states like New York and Illinois, legislation was proposed to regulate the dog training industry. However, the profession is still unregulated.

What does that mean to you as a future dog trainer?

For starters, it means that dog trainers don’t need to earn a certification to work with animals.

Some dog trainers have degrees as animal or veterinary behaviorists. Others have received certifications as dog trainers from associations like the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, or the American Kennel Club.

Ideally, you’ll get some form of training, too. Especially if you plan to handle complicated cases such as aggressive dogs.

How do you choose the right program for you?

Before you commit to one, don’t forget to do your due diligence. Make sure the training program you choose promotes healthy, beneficial, humane methods. The most expensive schools are not necessarily the best ones—they might be well-established but rely on outdated, unproven, or even harmful methods.

Start by reading reviews from former students and dog owners. Alternatively, visit the school to find out if their methods are suitable for you.

While this isn’t required, training will help you decide your path in your journey as a dog trainer.

You’ll have guidance from experienced trainers who can become mentors in the future. Also, training can be a great way to network.

What about a license? Do you need one to become a dog training business owner? It depends on a few things:

Where will you work?

Are you planning to run training facilities or kennels? If so, you will need a license and permits according to the law in your state.

If your goal is to work with clients one-to-one at a park or in their backyard, as our Franchise Owners do, you won’t need a license.

What kind of training will you do?

Commercial dog training doesn’t require a dog training business license. However, some types of dog training, such as bird dog or law enforcement training do require trainers to be licensed.

But what if you just want to teach dogs in your area to walk on a leash or not to bark at strangers? Then, the requirements will be pretty similar to those to set up a regular business on your own.

There are still plenty of steps and requirements. Here are a few additional things to consider when starting your own dog training business by yourself.

What kind of training will you offer?

Dog training is a broad profession, and you can specialize in specific types of training. For example:

• Puppy training
• Obedience and manners
• Service dogs
• Dog sport training
• Phobias and anxiety
• Reactive or aggressive dogs

Some of these areas will require more experience than others. For instance, as a new trainer, it’ll be better to start with puppy training instead of jumping right in on working with aggressive or reactive dogs.

All of these have their particular sets of rewards and challenges. Your interests and business goals will help you decide which ones to settle for.

Which services will you offer?

Once you’ve decided on your niche, you’ll need to think about the type of classes you’ll offer.

Day Classes -

This approach combines daycare with training and it’s popular with puppy owners, as it lets their dog learn basic manners and socialize in a safe environment. However, you will need training grounds to set up a daycare training business.

Group Classes -

In this modality, you’ll work with a small group of dogs and their owners. It’s great for dog socialization, and you'll get to help several dogs at the same time. Needless to say, you’ll need a space for this, too. And even if you plan to do it in a park or other public space, you might need a license.

Private Classes -

Here you’ll work one-on-one with a dog and its owner, usually in their home. Sometimes you could also work with clients at a park or other public area. This approach gives you a lot of flexibility and the chance to get to know dogs and owners better. In turn, you can focus on their goals without being distracted by a group. In this case, you don’t need a license to operate.

Gain experience

If you’re planning to start a dog training business, chances are you already have some interest and previous experience with dogs.

However, if you’re still interested in having more hands-on, diverse experiences with dogs, a few options you can try are volunteering at a local shelter, fostering dogs, or even pet sitting your friends’ dogs.

The more familiar you become with different types of dog temperaments and abilities, the easier it will be for you to get started as a trainer.

Personality

Yes, you love dogs, but how well do you communicate with people? After all, half of the job is to help dog owners to understand their dogs better and get them to replicate the results at home on their own.

Other skills you’ll need are patience, empathy, confidence, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

Name your business

Coming up with a name is one of the fun parts of setting up your business. It’s your chance to get creative and express your personality and approach to dog training.

There are a few things to be mindful of after you’ve come up with a few options:

• Check for availability. Nothing worse than getting all your business cards and website done only to find out there’s already another pet business with the same name in your area.
• Share your ideas with friends. Sometimes, you’ve been thinking about it for so long that you might miss out on details that can be obvious to others. A fresh pair of eyes brings different perspectives.
• Avoid misrepresenting your business. For example, the word ‘behaviorist’ refers to animal behavior professionals with official degrees and certifications.
• Don’t use similar names. Look up other trainers in your area just to make sure the name you come up with isn’t too similar to theirs and leads to confusion.

Business plan

Like any other business, it’s a good idea to start with a business plan.

Writing a business plan can feel like a drag if all you want to do is start working with dogs right away. But putting a few crucial details about your business in writing will be incredibly helpful if you’re serious about owning a successful business, no matter how small you start.

Some ideas to include in your business plan are:

• Your mission and vision
• Your ideal client
• Your market and what the demand for dog training services is in your area
• Your pricing strategy
• The equipment and supplies you’ll need
• Your marketing strategy
• Your business goals

With these details, you’ll have a clearer sense of where your company starts and what you need to do to achieve your goals.

Insurance

Whether or not you run a facility, you will always need insurance. Even the most experienced, responsible dog trainers face unexpected situations from time to time.

Getting the right liability insurance for your business protects everyone—yourself, your clients, and their pets. It creates trust with your clients and allows you to work with confidence.

Several companies in the market specialize in pet business insurance. Shop around for a policy that best suits your needs before settling for one.

Business registration

After deciding on a name, it’s time to legalize the business. Requirements to register a business depend on the scope of your company and operations. If your plan is to work on your own without facilities, you might just need to register your business name with your local and state governments.

A great place to start researching the requirements in your state is the US Small Business Administration website.

Supplies

Even without training grounds, you will still need a few supplies to work as a trainer. Simple items like treat bags, leashes, and target sticks can add up in cost as time passes. So, you’ll need to keep a record of all those purchases and ensure you get only quality supplies.

Marketing

Now that you have your business all set up, it’s time to tell everyone about it and start seeing your first clients.

There’s plenty of ways to promote your business, so it can be a daunting task at first. But with a bit of ingenuity, you can find ways to market your training business even with a small budget.

It’s important to have an online presence, so you’ll need a website, social media accounts, and to register your business on Yelp and Google My Business.

Social media gives you the chance of building communities of loyal followers and clients. It can take a bit of time, but it can work wonders to get new clients.

Finally, don’t forget face-to-face networking and promotion. Start with veterinary clinics and dog walkers, and sign up for events for pet owners and dog lovers in your area.

That’s a lot of work. Is there a better way?

It sounds like a lot of things to take care of just to start a business, right?

The good news is there’s a way to fast-track your journey to becoming a dog training business owner.

It’s as easy as getting a dog training franchise. And Dog Training Elite is now offering franchise opportunities across the United States.

With a Dog Training Elite franchise, most of the initial work is already done for you. Instead of spending a lot of time coming up with a concept from scratch, you can leverage the company’s 40 years of experience and brand recognition.

Also, you won’t need to look around for a dog training certification. When you become a Franchise Owner, you’ll receive all the training you need to make a difference in dog and pet owner’s lives.

Another benefit of getting a franchise as opposed to setting up an independent business is that you’ll receive training and support every step of the way. Founder John Mestas and his team want all Franchise Owners to succeed. For this reason, they’ve set up a wealth of resources—business launch support and consultations with marketing experts.

Something else a franchise gives you is more freedom and flexibility to run your business. You can adopt a hands-on approach to training or go for an absentee model where you handle the business operations and leave training to your staff.

Whatever your choice is, a Dog Training Elite franchise is a fantastic way to start a business that allows you to work with animals and give back to your community. With investments as low as $159,050 and an average revenue of $973,756* with a 92.6%* year-over-year sales growth, DTE is a fantastic option to start your dog training business with a proven business model that’ll get you results.

For more information, please visit our website.

*Numbers obtained from our 2023 FDD

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