[Porgies Piggies]

hello i have recently trained my husky dog ... i may only be 14 but im looking at starting a dog training service, we have two outdoor pens to have dogs stay for a week or two, maybe even longer up to you. i have a dog safe round pen so can train off the lead, socialiseing with other dogs, and as i work closely with farmers i could also do sheep dog training xx Thanks George x
please can you let me know wether this is a good idea and if you know anybody who would be interested in a started gift at a special price of £40 a week and a free week if there is not a visable improvement in your dog

[mojocafa]

I think that's a great idea and I wish luck in your venture. It would be helpful to know where you are.

[Porgies Piggies]

oh were in llanrhaeadr ym mochnant, thanks x

[Backinwellies]

I'm guessing that is somewhere is Wales?

Good luck

[Porgies Piggies]

yeh just over the border in powys near oswestry and shrewsbury. xx

[colliewobbles]

I think it is a good idea but (sorry there's a but) I think you also need to 'train' the owner.  You could do some fantastic work but if the owner doesn't know how to put it into practise after the week with you then your work could be wasted.  I for one would definitely like to learn all the tips that a good trainer can offer which are specifically for my dog.

Hope you don't mind the suggestion and it is something that perhaps you could build in?  Good luck and I'm sorry we are too far away to come to you.

Donna

[shygirl]

why dont you practise on rescue foster dogs with an aim to rehoming them fully/partially trained? then you could get a decent portfolio together with a view to turning pro when you are older?

[Alistair]

Another good idea would be to start a dog training club, basically find out how much your local school or church hall costs to hire out, and then see if you can get enough interest to make it viable, this way you get the owners to do do the training, you get the experience and the reputation.
In my opinion when it comes to anything to do with dogs an owners the only thing that matters is your reputation (I'm a dog groomer), so whatever you do when your starting remember to keep the customer happy, their dogs are like their children, know more about your subject than they do.

Also, consider professional insurance, there are specialist insurers, try and find dog behaviour courses, first aid courses for dogs etc that can enhance your offerings and knowledge

The best bit if advice I can give is don't price yourself too low, you may well be just starting out but if your cheap you'll get the proper problem dogs, the ones that no one else will deal with, if your not confident say no, remember once they've paid your duty bound to deliver a service and if you don't then you'll be either giving the money back, working for free or at worst both, that's why I'd suggest the dog training club, Orr if you've got transport one on one sessions with the owner ( they'd probably come to you) for max an hour in the evenings?

Good way to advertise is get some cards done, walk your dog, talk to owners, tell them what your doing and give them a card, month or so later the phone starts ringing (that's how I started)

And well done training your husky, not the easiest dog, pat yourself on the back for that one mate

[Alistair]

Sorry for going on, but I (a good few yrs ago I may add) did look into this type of thing...

Try and compete in your chosen field, whether it be obedience, agility, trialling or whatever, it's a damned good way to get a name

Also try and start by just offering a dog walking service, say £5 / 30min, £10 / 1hr for group walks and say double the price for single dog walks, that way people start to trust you, remember (and I mean this is in the most nicest way) your age is going to go against you until you've got that oh so important reputation, so explore EVERY avenue to get access to dogs and owners so they can see what you can do

As Donna said, you need to train the owner as well as the dog

I really hope you make this work, just, and I think this is true in most any business, don't blinker yourself, think of every possible way to make it happen, if one way doesn't work to get customers, there will be another way, don't ever give up, and don't spend money on advertising in papers, just get out there with your dog, your cards and sell yourself

[happygolucky]

Alister hit the nail on the head....where I go for gun dog training, the man who runs the place has now built up a huge fantastic reputation world wide, he started off like you.......so go for it but listen to a man who knows Alister
Health and safety the key issue and it adds to costs, also planning, some places are better than others, I known where I currently live, people have tried to get dog day  care up and running but its been refused....although saying that it may have just been the venue.
Nice to have such a wonderful and worth while hobby....if I had enough money I would do something like that myself   too decrepit now

[in the hills]

 


Good advice from Alistair.


My father trains gundogs for people. No advertising.... just word of mouth. People would see his dogs working and either be interested themselves or tell others who were. Also competed in tests and trials .... another way of being "seen". Also obedience trained dogs because people would see his dogs out and about and admire them ..... he takes his dogs everywhere with him  . So was asked to train their "pets" to do the general stuff. If he kept dogs for weeks in his kennels, then he would ask owners to come on a regular basis to see their dogs progress and most importantly be trained themselves. They were often more trouble than the dogs    and needed more training.


Being seen with your well trained dog will probably be very important, especially because you are still quite young. You will have to show what you can do and that you know your stuff.


   Good luck. Great that you have the interest and drive to start something now.  [size=78%] [/size]

[shygirl]

what about volunteering with something like guide dog puppy fostering or something. would add another few contacts  to your lists.

[Alistair]

I'll tell you what would be a nice addition, a personalised training plan for each owner dog, like a personal trainer would give you in the gym, so you could do a spreadsheet as a basis containing, it's just a bit of value added blurb which makes you stand out and look more professional

Name of owner, dog, dogs details (breed, age, medical conditions, temperament (learn to do a behaviour assessment - local rescue centre may be able to help))

You should do a risk assessment, what are risks (escape, biting etc) identify how you will manage that risk

Aims & objectives - what do you want to teach in that session, do a separate one for each session, what traing aids are needed to do this?

Then do a sheet that has say 10 training sessions on it (for the owner or your records)
Columns being,

Outcome (by the end of the session the dog will be able to do what?), reccomended duration, evaluation- did the dog achieve?, modifications, I.e how do you need to change it

You could then give this to the owner at the end of the session, this would hopefully remind them to carry on the good work, but more importantly would give you a record on a structured traing plan which would be really useful if in the future you where trying to back chain something you wanted the dog to learn

[in the hills]

 ...... and doggy displays ..... at shows, fetes, etc.


 ..... Alistair, I'm enrolling at your doggy training school    [size=78%] [/size]

[Alistair]

...... and doggy displays ..... at shows, fetes, etc.


 ..... Alistair, I'm enrolling at your doggy training school    [size=78%] [/size]

Sadly it doesn't exist - sort of did the obedience thing then got sucked into the evil addiction of agility...
Which if you haven't tried it don't, it's tooooo much fun for anyone sane to endure