It’s nearly impossible not to love dogs. Dogs provide us with endless loyalty, friendship, and support – we really are so lucky to have them. So, if you’re pining to spend more time with man’s best friend, we don’t blame you! There’s a whole host of options out there regarding canine careers, and you don’t necessarily require a degree for them. Animal courses and relevant qualifications are all you need to step in to work with animals!
If you’re interested in making your passion for pups into a career, then here are some of the options available!
Dog Groomer
If you’re handy with a pair of scissors, then it’s quite possible you’ll love being a dog groomer. Dog groomers take in scruffier dogs and make them look and feel fabulous. There are a range of training courses out there you can take that’ll give you the skills required, but a natural aptitude for attentiveness, care and grooming, in general, will give you an advantage.
If you are interested in a career in dog grooming, take a look at our dog grooming qualifications. You also have the opportunity to undertake a practical placement alongside these courses to give you hands-on experience and set you up perfectly for your dog grooming career.
Dog Sitter
Pet and dog sitters are becoming increasingly popular, as more and more owners prefer to leave their beloved pets in the comfort of their own home. Dog sitters are usually paid by the day or the hour to head over to an owner’s home, where you will look after a dog in their own home. This may include a range of activities, such as feeding, walking, washing and more. Essentially, you get to hang out with a dog for several hours, and you get paid for it! Start-up costs to become a dog sitter are fairly minimal, but you may need to invest in some form of insurance. There are also professional qualifications and courses available should you wish to learn more relevant information on this type of role.
You can also have the option to set up your own dog sitting business from home, looking after multiple dogs at one time.
Dog Walker
Are you a fan of long walks, spending time in nature and keeping active? Does the idea of spending your time wandering around your favourite places with lots of dogs as company sound like a dream? If so, a career as a dog walker may be the perfect one for you!
Dog walkers can set up their own business, building a customer base using social media and other online platforms like a website. You may need to develop some marketing skills in order to raise awareness of your service, but there are a lot of websites and resources online that will be able to advise you on how to ensure success.
Service Dog Trainer
Service dogs make a huge difference to the lives of the people they help. As a service dog trainer, you will spend time in close proximity with dogs watching them grow and develop, and training them to become the valuable service dogs we depend on in our society every day. Service dog trainers will bring home the younger dogs as puppies and help train them until they’re old enough – and skilled enough – to start doing all that fantastic work.
There are several training courses available online to choose from when considering your future as a service dog trainer. You may like to check out our Assisted Animal Intervention Diploma Level 3 Qualification. This course will fully prepare you for a career as a service dog trainer through 9 comprehensive units.
Pet Photographer
Dog owners love their dogs, and you only need to take a short look at social media platforms like Instagram to see just how much owners love dog photos too! A pet photographer is a skilled profession, it’s not just a matter of whipping out your mobile and snapping a few photos. As a pet photographer, you will need professional experience of photography and a professional camera. Experience managing and working with dogs will be preferable.
If you’re set on an animal career and want to find out more about the full range of canine courses offered at Animal Courses Direct, click here. We offer a wide array of canine courses and qualifications on a variety of topics, ranging from Level 2 to Level 6. These are a perfect opportunity to build the skills you need for a canine career and to get some courses and qualifications under your belt to boost your CV.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your career working with dogs today!
Also, if you adore animals, you can keep track of all upcoming animal awareness days and events with our FREE calendar! Download it here.
