Dog agility is an action-packed activity for both dogs and owners. This sport is a blast to watch, and it is a terrific way for an owner to bond with their dog. Some owners love dog agility training so much that they become interested in the possibility of pursuing dog agility training as a side hustle or even a career.
Before anyone commits to becoming a dog agility trainer, there will certainly be a few questions on their minds. People may wonder about the profitability of being a dog agility trainer, and they may be curious about how they can scale their business to make it into a career. Let’s take a closer look at the possibility of making your passion for dog agility into a career.
Is Dog Agility Training A Profitable Business?
Dog agility training can certainly be a profitable business for those who can establish a solid core of customers. However, as with any dog training niche, the amount of money that dog agility trainers can expect to make is difficult to predict.
Factors such as location and competition in your area will impact your earnings. While you may not be able to control these circumstances, you can control factors such as your people skills and ability to promote your business.
Full-time dog agility trainers may make as little as $25,000 per year on the low end, while they could exceed $65,000 per year on the high end. Of course, the amount of money that you earn will be largely dependent on how many customers you are able to attract to your business, so if you do not live in a populated area, it will be difficult to earn a livable salary.
To get a better understanding of how much you could be earning as a dog agility trainer—otherwise known as a dog handler—let’s examine how much dog agility trainers can charge a client per training session.
Group Classes
Group classes are an affordable way to introduce a dog to agility training. During these classes, a handful of dog handlers and their dogs work with one professional trainer. The professional trainer will offer tips to the group and all dog and handler teams will have chances to work on a course.
Professional dog trainers often make these classes an hour long so everyone gets a chance to try out the agility course. Even so, dog and handler teams may still not feel like they get a ton of time on the course since everyone else has to go.
Professional dog trainers may charge $10 per hour for these group classes on the low end, while they could charge upwards of $50 for these group courses on the high end.
Private Dog Agility Training Lessons
Private dog agility training lessons give prospective dog trainers an opportunity for they and their dog to spend one-on-one time with a professional dog agility trainer. This allows the dog agility trainer to spend time focusing on how a specific dog and its handler can improve their skillsets and become better at agility competitions.
Private dog agility training lessons are regarded as more valuable to dogs and dog owners, so those in the dog agility training realm can charge more for these lessons than group lessons.
Private dog agility training lessons are often 30 minutes long since dogs can quickly tire from dog agility training. For these 30 minute sessions, dog agility trainers typically charge no less than $20, while some may charge over $60.
How Can I Grow My Dog Agility Training Services?
Assuming you live in an area with a sizable population, you should have opportunities to grow your dog agility training business. Dog agility training is still a fairly new sport, so interest in this activity continues to increase every year.
If you want to grow your dog agility training services, you will need some skills and qualities to help you along the way. Of course, you will need to be an experienced, talented dog handler before people start lining up to train with you. Those who operate a dog agility training business—or any dog training business for that matter—should establish a system through which customers can review their experiences with you. Prospective customers that see glowing reviews of your business will be more likely to invest in your services.
Those who get into the dog agility training field realize that their dog agility training skills will have to be exceptional, but they often don’t realize that they will also have to possess good people skills. To develop a flourishing dog agility training business, handlers will have to be adept at interacting with dogs and customers alike.
Creating a memorable, professional online presence could set you apart from the competition in your area. If you solely rely on word of mouth to advertise your services, you will be disappointed by the result. Instead, it would be a wise idea to establish a website and promote your services on social media.
The creation of a website for your business can lead to a wide array of new and exciting opportunities for you, as prospective customers could schedule appointments, leave reviews, and make payments through your website. Providing your customers with a seamless user experience will leave them satisfied, more likely to leave a positive review, and inclined to return for additional training sessions.
Having social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for your business will help you to get even more exposure and promote your services in new, creative ways. You can display your dog agility training prowess by uploading photos or videos of dogs that you have trained, or you can promote training sessions while raising awareness of your brand.
No matter how they scale their business, dog agility trainers will want to use any opportunity that they can to grow their business. Scaling up a business will help a dog agility trainer to get more customers, charge higher prices, and open the door for exciting opportunities.
Becoming a dog agility trainer can certainly be a profitable, fulfilling career for those interested in the sport.
Dog agility is an action-packed activity for both dogs and owners. This sport is a blast to watch, and it is a terrific way for an owner to bond with their dog. Some owners love dog agility training so much that they become interested in the possibility of pursuing dog agility training as a side hustle or even a career.
Before anyone commits to becoming a dog agility trainer, there will certainly be a few questions on their minds. People may wonder about the profitability of being a dog agility trainer, and they may be curious about how they can scale their business to make it into a career. Let’s take a closer look at the possibility of making your passion for dog agility into a career.
Is Dog Agility Training A Profitable Business?
Dog agility training can certainly be a profitable business for those who can establish a solid core of customers. However, as with any dog training niche, the amount of money that dog agility trainers can expect to make is difficult to predict.
Factors such as location and competition in your area will impact your earnings. While you may not be able to control these circumstances, you can control factors such as your people skills and ability to promote your business.
Full-time dog agility trainers may make as little as $25,000 per year on the low end, while they could exceed $65,000 per year on the high end. Of course, the amount of money that you earn will be largely dependent on how many customers you are able to attract to your business, so if you do not live in a populated area, it will be difficult to earn a livable salary.
To get a better understanding of how much you could be earning as a dog agility trainer—otherwise known as a dog handler—let’s examine how much dog agility trainers can charge a client per training session.
Group Classes
Group classes are an affordable way to introduce a dog to agility training. During these classes, a handful of dog handlers and their dogs work with one professional trainer. The professional trainer will offer tips to the group and all dog and handler teams will have chances to work on a course.
Professional dog trainers often make these classes an hour long so everyone gets a chance to try out the agility course. Even so, dog and handler teams may still not feel like they get a ton of time on the course since everyone else has to go.
Professional dog trainers may charge $10 per hour for these group classes on the low end, while they could charge upwards of $50 for these group courses on the high end.
Private Dog Agility Training Lessons
Private dog agility training lessons give prospective dog trainers an opportunity for they and their dog to spend one-on-one time with a professional dog agility trainer. This allows the dog agility trainer to spend time focusing on how a specific dog and its handler can improve their skillsets and become better at agility competitions.
Private dog agility training lessons are regarded as more valuable to dogs and dog owners, so those in the dog agility training realm can charge more for these lessons than group lessons.
Private dog agility training lessons are often 30 minutes long since dogs can quickly tire from dog agility training. For these 30 minute sessions, dog agility trainers typically charge no less than $20, while some may charge over $60.
How Can I Grow My Dog Agility Training Services?
Assuming you live in an area with a sizable population, you should have opportunities to grow your dog agility training business. Dog agility training is still a fairly new sport, so interest in this activity continues to increase every year.
If you want to grow your dog agility training services, you will need some skills and qualities to help you along the way. Of course, you will need to be an experienced, talented dog handler before people start lining up to train with you. Those who operate a dog agility training business—or any dog training business for that matter—should establish a system through which customers can review their experiences with you. Prospective customers that see glowing reviews of your business will be more likely to invest in your services.
Those who get into the dog agility training field realize that their dog agility training skills will have to be exceptional, but they often don’t realize that they will also have to possess good people skills. To develop a flourishing dog agility training business, handlers will have to be adept at interacting with dogs and customers alike.
Creating a memorable, professional online presence could set you apart from the competition in your area. If you solely rely on word of mouth to advertise your services, you will be disappointed by the result. Instead, it would be a wise idea to establish a website and promote your services on social media.
The creation of a website for your business can lead to a wide array of new and exciting opportunities for you, as prospective customers could schedule appointments, leave reviews, and make payments through your website. Providing your customers with a seamless user experience will leave them satisfied, more likely to leave a positive review, and inclined to return for additional training sessions.
Having social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for your business will help you to get even more exposure and promote your services in new, creative ways. You can display your dog agility training prowess by uploading photos or videos of dogs that you have trained, or you can promote training sessions while raising awareness of your brand.
No matter how they scale their business, dog agility trainers will want to use any opportunity that they can to grow their business. Scaling up a business will help a dog agility trainer to get more customers, charge higher prices, and open the door for exciting opportunities.
Becoming a dog agility trainer can certainly be a profitable, fulfilling career for those interested in the sport.