A full time career with dogs

In your second chapter, you ask, 'Do you have what it takes?' What does it take to work with dogs?

In order to work with dogs, you need to have a love of animals, knowledge of their health and behavior, and lots of patience. You also need to be able to deal with people too since most dogs come with owners!

A lot of people love dogs, but there is a lot more to it than that, right?

There is a lot more to working with dogs than just loving them. You have to want to spend lots of time with dogs--most of your time, in fact, if you plan to have a full-time career in the dog world.

Many of these jobs might have a very sad side to them. How do people deal with this, and how does a person know that they might be able to deal with this?

Just about every job that involves hand-on dealings with dogs has a sad side to it. Those in the veterinary profession have to deal with seeing sick and injured dogs, and face the realty that some dogs need to be put down. Animal control officers witness terrible abuse and neglect, and have to cope with the tragedy of thousands of innocent dogs put to sleep each year because they have no homes. Even groomers see dogs that are poorly cared for. In order to deal with this, you have to be able to feel that the good you are doing outweighs all the bad you have to witness. People in these professions love dogs and feel awful when they see dogs suffering, but they know their work is helping dogs.

Which of these jobs do you think has the most impact in terms of helping people?

The jobs that are most helpful to people are the veterinary professions, training and grooming. Good veterinarians, technicians and assistants spend a lot of time counseling dog owners about how to care for their pets. In times of tragedy or loss, the owner leans on the vet care staff for emotional support. Trainers help owners teach their dogs to be good family members, and can profoundly affect both canine and human lives by correcting dangerous or destructive behavior. Groomers help people by keeping dogs clean, and looking and smelling good. A clean dog gets lots of petting and hugging--and we know this is good for people!

What are some of the keys to success in working with dogs?

To be successful working with dogs, you need to understand them. Spend time around dogs and learn to understand their body language. Find out how their bodies work too, and what kinds of illnesses they are prone to. Become comfortable with dogs, and let your passion become apparent. Other dog lovers will sense how much you care and will want you to work with their pets.

Is there anything else that you would like to add for readers of the website?

Working with dogs is a labor of love. You can't make a lot of money doing it, but if you really love dogs, you'll find the rewards can be greater than monetary.