I often get asked what’s it like to have the best job ever, so here it is: A day in the life of a dog behaviourist.
I normally have between 3-6 dog walks a day, plus 2-4 training sessions, though it can be really random! No day is ever the same.
Going from session to session involves a lot of driving, usually around 80 miles a day. For me, this is the worst bit of my day as it feels almost pointless. I can’t get any work done during this time, I can’t catch up with clients, and of course I don’t get paid for this time either, despite it taking up 2-3 hours of my day.
When I have time between sessions, I write blog posts and social media posts, and this is really important to keep sharing new tips and tricks for people.
After work, when I finish at a reasonable hour, I catch up on record keeping, which involves account keeping and keeping track of clients.
If I have had a behaviour consultation that week, I also have to make time to type up a behaviour and training plan for that dog. This can take up to 10 hours, as each plan is individualised for each dog.
I try to dedicate at least two hours per week to continuing my learning. Dog training is a science, and science is always evolving, which means I need to too. This learning involves attending webinars, conferences, and catching up on new studies and research.
I also have to make time for replying to current clients about any questions or problems, and potential future clients about how I may be able to help them.
Once a month, I plan my social media posts for the following months which normally takes around five hours.
During busier months, I typically work about 10-12 hours per day, often without a break, five days per week. On weekends, I try not to work too much, but still reply to messages from current clients. When it gets quieter (usually November and December), I still work for normally about 7-8 hours five days a week.
So, there you go! It's a busy life, but I do get to meet some amazing dogs who make it totally worthwhile!
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