The Industry of Pet Professionals needs a healthy community, solid support, and true accountability now more than ever.
Dog Trainers, Pet Sitters, Dog Walkers, Boarding Facilities, and the like are an industry made up of people who are passionate about pets and their well-being. In a community where a love for animals often drives the why for people getting into working with pets professionally, the "how", "when", and "with whom" components are often overlooked.
How does loving dogs make someone an overnight 'professional'?
When did they start their professional journey, and what exactly did that journey entail?
With whom did they learn from and train under before charging money for services that friends and family could be offering just the same?
It is hard to go one week without seeing a news headline of yet another awful story surfacing of a dog trainer, sitter, or boarding facility that has imploded with horrible practices of animal husbandry, nonexistent ethics, and complete lack of consideration for the animals or people that they provide services to.
This is largely due to the pet-care industry being a wildly unregulated field across the country.
It is also clear that being self employed *and* spending much of each day primarily with dogs, can be really isolating factors.
Burnout runs rampant in this industry for these two reasons above all else. This has been on my mind for many years... which posed the question: Is there anything I can do about this that can actually make even a small difference?
How does loving dogs make someone an overnight 'professional'?
When did they start their professional journey, and what exactly did that journey entail?
With whom did they learn from and train under before charging money for services that friends and family could be offering just the same?
It is hard to go one week without seeing a news headline of yet another awful story surfacing of a dog trainer, sitter, or boarding facility that has imploded with horrible practices of animal husbandry, nonexistent ethics, and complete lack of consideration for the animals or people that they provide services to.
This is largely due to the pet-care industry being a wildly unregulated field across the country.
It is also clear that being self employed *and* spending much of each day primarily with dogs, can be really isolating factors.
Burnout runs rampant in this industry for these two reasons above all else. This has been on my mind for many years... which posed the question: Is there anything I can do about this that can actually make even a small difference?
Our mission with this community network is to work together with as many pet professionals as we can to provide regular opportunities for connection and support, for both the dogs and the professionals caring for them.
We welcome fellow dog trainers, dog walkers, pet sitters, animal shelter staff, and other pet professionals to participate in our group classes at a discounted rate, as well as offer regular get-togethers at our facility, in hopes of nurturing a wide community-base of supportive pet care professionals.
Bring a client dog and maybe get some pointers from fellow pros with a fresh perspective!
Or bring your own dog out for a change, and get out to enjoy a zero-pressure activity or fun dog sport activity with them!
Even come dog-free and just network with other like-minded people, while keeping your hands and head free from work for a change!
Bring a client dog and maybe get some pointers from fellow pros with a fresh perspective!
Or bring your own dog out for a change, and get out to enjoy a zero-pressure activity or fun dog sport activity with them!
Even come dog-free and just network with other like-minded people, while keeping your hands and head free from work for a change!