Online Medical Classes - Should I take a job as a dog trainer at Petco? Or keep my Union job?

Should I take a job as a dog trainer at Petco? Or keep my Union job?

I was bored one day and filled out the online application, after one of the stores trainers recommended I do while I was toy shopping one day. Two days later I've got an interview. I have a good job now, some would say really good, I know I was lucky to get it. Railroad job..its union w/ full benefits & a pension & I make about 25$/hr with lots over over & even double time. But I HATE...HHHAAATTTEE my job. The only thing that gets me through the days is I look forward to coming home and playing w/ my pup & I've become the local 'dog' guy. Every weekend I help 1-2 people with training their dogs & I have a backyard agility course me and a few people (I've trained) run our dogs through...and it seems like working with dogs for a living would be the best thing ever. Heck, I do it for fun & free on my weekends. Now I realize Petco isn't the gold standard of dog training, but I figured its a good place to get my feet wet and get some experience on a professional level. I'd taken my pup there for puppy classes because it was cheap and I just wanted to practice w/ distractions ... I've taught dogs agility and dealt with behavioral problems...I didn't need someone to show me 'sit', but it was good socialization in a learning setting I thought. Anywho, I befriended the girl teaching & am all but guaranteed the job if I want it. Does anyone know what they make? Is it based on commission in anyway for selling training lessons? Someone said you might have to work on the floor or register too, is that true? The girl I know also works in the grooming department washing dogs (she's not trained to cut dogs hair), & that seems the ultimate to me, but is that normal? Does anyone know a better way to break into the dog training world? People who I've helped for free tell me I should have charged (...though they weren't offering $$) & some have suggested I just make a web page or hang fliers...but I don't know if I'd feel right acting like I knew it all...I figured a year or two at Petco and at least I'd have someone to fall back on (the other trainers there) for the beginning of this...its easy to tell someone you can't help when they aren't paying you anyways. Anyone worked there....taken classes there from a new trainer...quit a good job because you thought you'd be happier at another one?? I dig holes if anyone cares ...rain, heat, snow & frozen ground ... I dig holes. Big ones ...little ones...round ones...square ones Holes.... It Sucks Mind Numbing Back Breaking Horrible Drugged up Co-Workers Bosses Who are Mental Handicapped Digging Holes SUCKS!! I've got a engineering degree ... and I dig holes God, I'd love to work with animals ... but I don't see me becoming a Vet...as I could never cut one open w/ out puking I'm not going to be vet's receptionist What ta do what to do... ---Bobbie L--- Like any training class anywhere in the world ... the class is only as good as the 'so-called trainer' ... so, petco/smart or and AKC club or the yellow pages or the guy down the street it really doesn't matter. What you saw one time one day with one of your dogs at one petco really doesn't matter or mean a thing to me nor should it to anyone else. I'd never take a class with someone with such an attitude problem as you & LOVED the one puppy class I took at Petco. And I am training dogs not 'use to be' so I know what I'm talking about. A) what is a day club? and B) How many people bring their dogs to people who are AKC obedience judges??.. I'm going to take a wild guess that its not many ... as someone who's taken dogs through obedience & agility trials & helps trains dogs & knows hundreds of people with dogs & done volunteer work at shelters...I've yet to meet 1 So good luck with your attitude...please don't ever talk to me again ---bcdawgma44--- I would be able to pay my rent w/ 1/2 pay, I own my car, I don't drink or do drugs, I don't have a wife or kids, I don't smoke or gamble, I don't chase women or anything...I play the guitar and play with my dog ... I make a lot of $$ and have nothing to do with & wake up miserable every day. Computer engineering & I owned 3 families and flipper real estate while running my own computer co. It all went south almost 2yrs ago now, so I was happy to let someone else write the pay checks for a while. I see you train & with highly credentialed people ..but I noticed you didn't say you were, not that its a bad thing, just pointing out YOU train and do NOT have those. If I take a job at Petco I WILL be making a living as a dog trainer, not a good one, but I can get side work and build something ... it may take years to get what I make now...but at least I wouldn't dread waking up in the morning. ---bcdawgma44--- I hope my last comment did sound insulting as to your credentials .. I was running out of characters to respond. Think of human teachers or 'trainers' if you will. They teach at all levels, pre-school, high school, trade school, ivory league collages & community collages. Even with a single school there are really good teachers and bad. I believe the same to be true with trainers... The ones the make the most $$ are the best sales people, not the best trainers. And people who charge more because they are obedience judges, probably only work with people trying to get their dogs to that level. They probably aren't the best trainers for people trying to work with their troubled pets. Before I got into real estate I worked construction, before I did computers I went to school...so, petco would be my stepping stone, getting paid while being schooled. I've competed but never seriously I'm jealous, sounds like u have lots o fun! THANKS for all the advice! out of

Public Comments

When I worked at petco, the dog trainers were not regular employees. They were payed based on the number of people that signed up for the class. The classes were something like $99 for four weeks, but I can't remember for sure. You will have to work out the specifics with the manager of the store. It sounds like since you already have a good reputation, you could teach private lessons as well. Petco would give you some steady work and something to put on your resume.
ROTFLMAO.................are you certifiable???? Minimum wage drone,scamming the boobs into imagining they're "training" their poor defenseless beasts??? You gotta be nutz!!!
While normally I would say work at a job you like - you are insane to give up that job with that kind of money & benefits. One of the worst things about grooming/training is they rarely give any benefits except for the crappy big boxes is the only way they can get employees. You would be lucky to make half of the money & zero benefits at any decent place worth saying you work there. I know a number of folks who have or are currently working for railroad & no way would they give up their job esp. now. Grooming & training typically pay by commission & most folks are cutting way back on these things. When you can get a decent amount in pension then quit & work with pets all you want.
I'd keep the union job. Unless you don't mind a 50% cut in pay.There's 10 million out of work people who would love to have that union job.
Do NOT quit your great job!!!! You won't make enough at Petco to pay your rent! If you want to help people train dogs join your local AKC Dog Obedience Club. There members volunteer & teach classes to the public. Much better quality of training classes & more credible if you are looking to gain real experience. At your local AKC club you will also meet other "dog" people who share your interests. http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cfm Surely there is something else you can do with that Engineering degree to make a good living. Dogs & dog training can always be a hobby. It's VERY hard to make a living as a dog trainer......VERY hard. I train Obedience & Rally with 3 different AKC Obedience judges & I train Agility with an International Champion handler who is also an Agility judge. Just sayin'. I teach Obedience, Rally Obedience & Agility classes at my local AKC Dog Obedience Club. I also teach & judge 4H kids all over the state Obedience, Rally & Agility. I donate my time & train dogs in Aussie Rescue & Border Collie Rescue. And I'm training & seriously competing with my own 3 dogs right now & building up experience & credentials with the goal of becoming an AKC Agility judge. I understand what you are talking about. I've been a Critical Care nurse for 34 yrs & I am so burned out, I'm crispy. I'd kill to be able to make a living doing what I love, training dogs & judging Agility. But I talk to some of the most qualified trainers I know & they are all having a hard time making a living teaching classes & giving seminars. Some even have boarding kennels to boot, still hard. The ones that are doing OK do a large volume of beginning puppy classes & Novice classes. And they can hardly take a weekend off to show their own dogs. Just not for me right now. I cut my work hours back, live simple & do more of what I love, compete with my own dogs. I'm not saying don't follow your dream. I'm just saying really think long & hard. Maybe teach some classes & train on the side. Or cutback your work hours & take a part-time job training. Just in this depressed economy, don't give up a good paying job with benefits without extremely careful consideration. ;)
You couldn't pay me enough to take a class from a so-called trainer at Petco/PetsMart. I took one of my dogs, just out of curiosity, to see what the trainers were like. Talk about people who know nothing. I use to be an obedience trainer for a well known obedience club, so I do know that I'm talking about. Don't quit your day club. Unless you are an AKC obedience judge, with credentials, forget it! Petco will hire anyone with half a brain.