I get it! If I wasn't a dog trainer, I'd probably think dog trainers were asking for the world in a handbasket.
If you have ever looked into dog behavior services in Southern Utah such as Private Lessons, Group Classes, Pack Walks, Day Training (Homeschool), Dog Seminars, GRC Dog Sports or other activities..... you're probably sweating bullets and ready to show the trainer the door!
Bear with me- I know that the cost of training seems like a lot when we tell you how much your package is going to be, but I'd love to share with you the costs (both monetary and time/payroll) that go into running a training business- and you might be shocked! Take a look:
Stat Business licensing
Scheduling (hours, and hours..... and hours of it)
Time and cost of elective higher education (such as our bachelor degrees in English and Psychology)
Accounting and Tax Prep
time and cost of continued education through webinars, seminars, and classes
Time cost spent researching modern training and behavior topics through reading, podcasts, video, mentorship
Vehicle expenses: special vehicle purchase such as an SUV or van, maintenance, crash-resistant kennels for safe dog transport, roadside assistance, gasoline for an all-day appointment route
Time spent traveling
Specialty photo/video editing applications, branding kits, etc
Cost of memberships with professional dog training organizations (NADOI, IAABC, etc)
Time spent on the phone with new and existing clients answering questions
Client support in open and previous cases
Website design, SEO, and maintenance
Time spent collecting media and creating content (so! much! time!)
Finding relevant content to share on social media
Researching media and algorithm trends
In-person marketing such as putting up fliers or delivering business cards
Business networking meetings and workshops
Time spent billing and invoicing
Compensating for lost opportunities due to weather, cancellations, no-call-no-shows, and reschedules (a super common problem!)
Researching and purchasing equipment and supplies
Photography
Time and income lost due to trainer illness, family emergencies etc (here is a hint: small business owners have only themselves to create "paid time off")
Writing/recording lesson plans, case notes, client materials
Expense tracking and reporting
Equipment sets for all aspects of training (basic leashes and collars, platforms, dog sports equipment, climate control for vehicles, etc)
Time and money spent keeping and organizing client files and contact info
Newsletters and blog posts that add value and inform our dog owning community
Electronics such as a laptop and a smartphone with a great camera
Event kits and materials
Giveaway and customer appreciation items (such as holiday cards)
Time spent networking and communicating with other pet industry professionals such as vets, groomers, pet sitters, other trainers, etc
Time spent doing "demo dog work" out in the community and for new consultations
Professional and safe uniforms including vests, scratch pants, winter gear, sun protection, bait bags and aprons, branded apparel, nametags, etc
Time and cost of professional behavior certifications (as well as CPR etc)
Volunteer work such as helping shelters or dog related community service such as seasonal trail cleanup
Pro bono work and guidance for friends and family (plus the frequent "quick question" from that long lost acquaintance on Facebook who surfaced after years of silence)
Basic medical and first aid equipment
Business Insurance & Bonding
Benefits normally provided by large companies and considered standard for workers such as Health Insurance and some kind of retirement plan
Time making and responding to emails
Attendance of events such as dog shows, sporting matches, shelter fundraisers, etc
Cover the cost of bulk purchases for equipment provided by the trainer for programs
Time spent writing letters or being expert witnesses for client legal proceedings
Time spent "onboarding" new clients and gathering data about their cases
Fees associated with involvement in dog showing and dog sports
Setup and maintenance of virtual storefront sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Google Business Profile, Linktree, etc
Graphic design
Contract attorney fees
Building or facility rental (such as for our GRC Dog Sports Club)
Time and cost of small business operations education
Electronic storage of large amounts of media and files
Labor costs for time spent at each appointment
AND SO MUCH MORE
There are also "costs" of doing business that have nothing to do with time or money. Here are some of the main ones:
Compassion Fatigue (resulting from hard/sad cases, behavioral euthanasia, etc)
Physical Exhaustion and Toll: sprains/tears, bites, sunburns, exposure to the elements, heavy lifting, etc.
Mental strain and distress. Seriously- we are literally kept up at night worrying about your case!
As you can see A LOT goes into training! Dog Training and Behavior in Southern Utah is a bona-fide profession that those of us in the industry take very seriously and therefore we charge a professional rate. While pet professionals are in it for their passion and we love dogs, we also have our own bills to pay, families and dogs to feed, and personal goals to reach. We really couldn't do it for free even if we wanted to.
I was recently talking with a trainer friend (Chantel of CKC Training) about pricing and she pointed out that if you divide the cost of training by the number of years the dog is alive, it really does not come out to much to get the most out of those years with the dog by investing in training upfront. And she is so right! Training is an investment! And because it's a big one for most people, it's important to find the right trainer because you don't want to have to make that investment twice. Just like anything else, you get what you pay for. And when you think about what it can cost in lawsuits for biting dogs, vet bills for dogs that ingested an object or got hit by a car, the cost of training really seems pretty dang doable! It's really important to understand that "affordable dog training" does not necessarily mean "cheap dog training."
We hope that pet parents know that, as industry professionals, we do everything possible to keep costs down and make sure our community in Cedar City and Saint George, Utah has access to some level of dog training advice for free- which is why we provide free educational tidbits on our social media accounts, this blog, through newsletters, etc. Really, we just want to do right by dogs and ourselves to the fullest extent possible.
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