Crazy Dog Trainer Prices

 In Education

Crazy Trainer’s Prices

I’m writing this blog because I literally just had someone say to me 5 minutes ago, “I can’t afford crazy dog trainer prices. What information can you give me for free?”

//hand-forehead//head-desk//

And believe it or not, I gave this person 1 piece of information. If it helps her, awesome. If it fixes her problem, even better. If not, hire a dog trainer.

But why do dog trainers have such high prices? High prices certainly don’t mean better training. My hourly rate is less than going into a National pet store chain and hiring their dog trainer for 1 hour in their store… and I come to your home!

The dog training industry has ZERO regulations. Literally you, Number One Dog Lover, can be a professional dog trainer. You own a dog. You trained your dog. You helped your sister train her dog. That makes you a dog trainer. You can charge $25/hr. You can charge $200/hr and people will pay you because your sister said you are a great trainer. I’m totally serious. I know a high school kid who just started working at a Board and Train (read my opinion about B&T), and they charge $3500/program. Little did you know you are paying a few thousand dollars for a high school student with no previous experience to train your dog. Results may vary.

So how are dog trainer rates and fees determined? The choice of each individual trainer. This is why I wanted to take a moment and explain what goes into being a dog trainer. I mean, a real professional dog trainer. One with credentials and experiences.

Let’s break it down in a range of dollars!

$30,000: Let’s start with college. It’s likely your great dog trainer has a Bachelor’s degree in some life science or social science or education. I have 2 degrees, Zoology and Speech Communications.

$2,000-10,000: I went back to Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior to intensely study dogs. This is where my dog trainer certification comes from.

$2,000-20,000 (annual): Business incidentals such as LLC, insurance, subscriptions, membership & dues, website, room or location leasing, rentals, marketing and advertising, training supplies for self and for clients, training apparel, services such as CPA and lawyers, taxes, etc.

$1000-$3000 (annual): Required annual CEUs (Continuing Education) to remain certified, seminars, conferences, Expos, classes, etc

$1000: Books, DVDs, other resources, webinars, all to further my own education.

$200-10,000 (monthly): The average person/family needs this per month to live. Mortgage, food, apparel, healthcare, insurance, car, kids, pets, etc.

Let’s add it up!

After education, a dog trainer spends between $4,000-24,000 annually just to keep their business afloat and they haven’t paid themselves a penny yet! Then they pay themselves and need between $200-10,000 to survive monthly.

Now, this is all pretty standard for every business owner in the world. There is an amount to maintain the company, an amount to pay out salaries, but when there is a “Corporate” entity involved, no one challenges rates and fees, they accept without a fight or grunge. Small business owners, who create prices based on what their individual needs may be are the ones that have the struggle to become successful followed by the challenge of the clientele challenging every detail.

A reputable, certified dog trainer worth their salt went to a lot of time, money, and energy to be fortunate enough to get here and if they are lucky, financially successful. They care greatly about your dog and your family but they also need to money to survive, just like you. They just don’t have “Corporate” to make any rules.

Before you get sticker shock from a reputable, certified dog trainer’s “crazy prices,” remember that money is never going to burn a hole in their pocket. It already got spent.

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