Finding extra revenue for your business is at the top of all dog trainers’ minds. One way to help do this is by providing additional services. Here are some recommendations on how to drive more business and set yourself apart from other trainers in your community.
Adoption Consultation
Choosing a pet is a big decision; the more information a family has, the more prepared they’ll feel to choose a pet that fits them. As a trainer, you have a lot of experience seeing how families interact with pets, and you can use that experience to help your clients with their future adoption consultations.
What could an adoption consultation look like?
- Meet with your client – including all family members that will live with the pet
- Discuss various aspects of their lifestyle – schedule, hobbies, travel
- Discuss what they’re looking for in a pet
- Discuss previous experiences with pets – positive and negative experiences, challenges and joys
- Consult in the home where the pet will live so you can assess the environment
Armed with this information, you can help a family decide if a puppy would be ideal for them, or if a senior dog would be a better fit.
For example, some families may have always wanted an Aussie, but they might have young children. For various reasons, a herding dog may not be a good fit for them. You can provide insights based on both experience and the science of DNA of various breeds and their instincts and typical behaviors. This information will give families a better understanding of what the reality of a pet may be.
Sometimes, hearing directly from a professional who has various experiences with pets of all types and families with different priorities can really help put things into perspective and think about their needs differently.
Meet Your Dog: The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior by Kim Brophey is a great book to help folks understand how genetics, among other scientific disciplines, may play a role in the behavior of a dog.
TIP: Want to add extra value for the client? Provide them with their first training session at a discount if they use your adoption consultation services!
Cat Training
Many of your dog clients may also have a cat. While a lot of people don’t think about training for cats, it is certainly beneficial and with the right training and preparation you can add cat training services to your repertoire. This is something that is still in short supply, so could really set your business apart from others.
Cat training can come in handy in various situations, including:
- Building confidence
- Nail clipping and at-home grooming needs
- Tricks
- Going into cat carriers – great for those stressful veterinary visits
If you are not yet comfortable training cats but it is something that you’re interested in, you can learn more about becoming a Certified Cat Trainer from our partners at the Animal Behavior College.
Ready to start your cat training journey? Fuel your sessions with treats from our family of brands. Buddy Softies for Cats are deliciously formulated to motivate even the most independent cats!