How to Turn Your Love for Dogs Into a Career

To many people, building a career around their passion is something they can barely imagine as possible - let alone if that passion involves loving and being around dogs. But some people still carry with them the fuzzy warm and exciting energy they felt in the presence of dogs during their childhood and are looking to transform it into a permanent state of being.

1. Dog Groomer

One of the most popular jobs involving dogs is dog grooming and it’s already spreading across the world. This job involves grooming and washing a variety of dog breeds, with tasks ranging from detangling and brushing the hair, cleaning the ears and checking for parasites. The wage of a dog groomer typically represents a combination between the base salary and the tips they receive from the pet owners.

If you want to become a dog groomer, you need to graduate from a dog grooming school and have a form of official certification. You’ll have the upper hand in this industry if you’re already involved with dog shows, since it enables you to become familiar with the latest trends and standards in styles and cuts.

2. Dog Day Care Worker

Another opportunity that would allow you to be around dogs the majority of your time would be to apply for a dog day care worker position. Naturally the job would not only imply playtime, but also a series of responsibilities such as cleaning up the mess and accidents, feeding your furry friends, keeping the kennels spotless clean and preventing any dangerous brawls from taking place.

Another thing you need to be prepared for when having this position is to deal with humans as well as you do with dogs. Pet owners will ask questions, will have demands and perhaps even complaints - all of these require excellent communication skills.

3. Dog Trainer

Dog training services are one of the most sought-after services by dog owners all across the globe. This is either because dogs tend to have inappropriate and dangerous behavior that needs to be corrected or their pet owners want them to know certain obedience commands. As a dog trainer, you can work either in a veterinary clinic, a dog shelter, in the police force or in training schools. If you want to become a dog trainer within the police force, for example, you will need an official certification.

The safest and most recommended way to excel in this career would be to firstly get yourself acquainted with dogs as a dog groomer, sitter or walker. In order to become a dog trainer you’ll also need to take a dog training course, after which you can apply for an apprenticeship. You’ll need to gain great insight into dog psychology, have great empathy and understanding, as well as to be friendly, yet firm with your furry student. Lastly, you’ll also need amazing communication skills in your relationship with the dog owners.

4. Dog Photographer

An up-and-coming job involving dogs is dog photography, a gift to dog owners everywhere. This is because they are more and more inclined to have professional shooting sessions of their four-legged friends, so they can have forever memories of them long after they’re gone. As a dog photographer, you’ll have the possibility to portray them in serious, playful or silly stances.

The beauty of this job is that you can actually put this talent to good use, while also being around dogs of all shapes and sizes all the time. Another upside is the flexibility it comes with, since you can work independently, according to your schedule and availability, without an affiliation to a specific company.

At the end of the day, as a dog lover you have many job possibilities that enable you to become more closely involved with dogs, as a lifestyle, while also getting paid for it. With just a bit of patience, practice and training you can start building a career that brings you joy, fulfillment and warmth of the purest kind.