How to Get a Job Working With Dogs

If you love spending time with your own canine companions, you might enjoy a career working with dogs. There are plenty of jobs you can choose from. Would you like to be a dog groomer, a veterinarian, a veterinary technician, a trainer or a behaviorist? Some of these careers are more difficult to achieve than others, but with education and training, you can happily spend your days working with your favorite four-legged friends.

Instructions

    • 1

      Volunteer at local animal shelters. This part-time charity work will give you experience that you can use on a resume. It will also help you pick up some of the basics of dog care, especially if your time volunteering is spent cleaning dog kennels, feeding, playing with or walking the dogs and helping to care for sick or injured dogs.

    • 2

      Search for job openings in your area. Your newspaper may advertise openings at dog grooming salons or doggie day cares. You can also use online resources, such as monster.com or careerbuilder.com, to look for these jobs, and you can keep an eye out for "help wanted" signs. Grooming salons and day cares often hire employees with little or no previous experience. You will be able to train on the job.

    • 3

      Get the necessary education for careers that require specialized knowledge. You will have to go to school if you want to be a veterinarian or even a veterinary technician. Certified applied animal behaviorists (CAAB) must have master's degrees or Ph.D.s in animal behavior. Work toward completing the required education if you desire a career in one of these fields.

    • 4

      Work as an apprentice with a trainer or a certified pet dog trainer (CPDT) if your dream is to be a dog trainer. You will learn what you need to know about canine psychology and training from your mentor. This will also help you get the experience you need to get dog training jobs of your own. Read books on dogs, dog training, dog behavior and dog psychology to increase your knowledge base.