When looking for a trainer, you’ll find that the cost varies between them, sometimes by a lot! So why doesn’t everyone just pick the cheapest?
Of course, you have to work within your budget, but make sure to do your research, as good trainers will keep up to date with the science, and that’s expensive for us to do. Equally, don’t assume the most costly are the best, as that’s not always the case either.
Firstly, do you need a dog trainer, or a dog behaviourist?
Anyone can be a dog trainer, including you. If you wanted, you could easily make your own website and post on Facebook, and get customers by tomorrow, even if you know absolutely nothing about dog training. No one will stop you, as the training industry is unfortunately unregulated.
A behaviourist on the other hand, must have a recognised degree in Animal behaviour. (I have a BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training). Behaviourists also focus more on the why, not just the what....
For example, a trainer may see a dog pulling on the lead and will use training to stop them pulling.
A behaviourist may look at that same dog and see that they are pulling due to anxiety, and will therefore use behaviour modification to reduce the anxiety, which in turn, will stop the pulling.
So, why can behaviourists - and trainers - be pricey?
Well, firstly, there’s that degree they’ve paid for. Depending on the level, they will study for between 2 - 6 years, and each year costs £9,000, on top of their study materials.
In addition to this, animal behaviour is a science, and science is always changing. This means that behaviourists must stay ‘in the know’, so they’ll join regular conferences, webinars, workshops, and learning programs. On average, these can cost anywhere between £100-1000, although I am looking at one in the summer which is £3000, and have seen much higher costs too. These programs are crucial for us.
Professionals are likely to join a membership organisation (I am with the Pet Professional Guild), and this is a yearly cost of £70, plus the cost of the regular training (anywhere between £30-£150 for each course).
All trainers and behaviourists should be having insurance which costs upwards of £400 per year.
On top of all of this, there’s the costs of hiring premises for group classes (typically £20 per hour), the initial cost and upkeep of equipment and transport, fuel (typically around £50-80 per week).
So how can some trainers offer less costly services?
Investing in a qualified professional may seem like a more expensive route, but it will likely save you money in the long run. Here’s why…
Well the truth is, highly qualified and cheap rarely go hand in hand in the dog training industry. If someone is offering dog training services at a very low cost, it could be worth looking into their qualifications. If a trainer seems too good to be true, it probably is!
The dog trainers and behaviourists who can truly help you are those who have put their time and money into learning. Dog training is a science, which means it’s always changing, so we constantly have to keep paying for the up-to-date information. We pay for quality education, certifications, accreditations, professional memberships, courses, training programs, conferences, webinars and much more.
But dog training is unregulated, meaning anyone can just set up a Facebook page and be a dog trainer today. They can use any tools, any methods they like.
It’s a classic example of you get what you pay for. Could you find a cheap trainer, sure. You could also find a budget plastic surgeon. It’s up to you who you want to trust.
At best, unqualified training will be ineffective, unreliable, and frustrating. At worst, it will make the issues worse, cause physical and or mental distress to you and your dog, and create a safety risk for you, your dog, and the public.
"But it's only an hour a week!"
I love to help people and their dogs, and I provide tons of free content including blogs, emails, almost daily tips on social media, and even free downloads. All of these take a lot of time, energy, and money to produce. This is why it is always surprising to me that people complain about the cost of dog training or try to haggle - “if you really loved dogs you’d do it for free.” Unfortunately, I do have to earn a living. It is so common for dog trainers and behaviourists to leave the industry because of burn out, and I don’t want that to happen to me.
The cost of my programs reflects not just 'an hour a week', or the time we spend working together in person, but also,
10+ years of studying, including university courses, and continuing education,
The hours spent preparing for each session, which I create custom training plans for, collecting notes and resources.
My availability for support throughout your whole program
The ease and effectiveness of my methods, where most people see a difference in just a week, followed by significant progress (if not a full resolution) by the end of the program.
The knowledge and skills I’ll pass on to you so that my program is not just a solution but also an investment for future training and even future dogs!
So, instead of saying that a behaviourist is too expensive, perhaps bear in mind that you are not just paying for a one hour session, but also their knowledge and experience. If you want to choose a cheaper trainer, perhaps ask if they pay for education, professional memberships, and insurance. By choosing a behaviourist who has paid for the scientific education, you are also getting peace of mind that your dog will be treated ethically and with their physical and mental health and their behaviour as a priority.
Curious to know more? Get in Contact!
My email is: muckypupsdogtraining@outlook.com
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