Animal Training Careers

For individuals with a love for animals, a career assessment may lead them to careers in the field of veterinary science, or animal training. As an animal trainer, individuals will do more than just teach their four-legged students how to sit, stay, and play dead, they will learn to communicate and connect with animals on the levels they need to learn tricks, basic obedience skills, and general respect for their masters. Animal trainers will also learn how to pass on their knowledge to their students' keepers, making their jobs invaluable to the lives of humans touched by the presence of their beloved animals.

What types of animal training are out there?
The most basic animal training begins with the training of household animals like dogs. People may want their dogs trained for any number of reasons: housebreaking, walking on leashes, and basic obedience to keep them well-behaved in their homes. Dogs may also be trained as service animals to assist humans in need of their eyes, ears, and noses. Guide dogs are popular choices for the blind and they require special training to guide their humans and keep them safe during daily outings. Other service dogs may be trained to help during times of emergency if their owners are deaf, epileptic, or elderly. Training dogs to assist their human companions can be a genuinely rewarding experience because it means helping to bring together lifelong companions.

Exotic animal training
Animal training does not end at training service dogs. For the adventurous individuals with a love for exotic animals, exotic animal training may be more suited to their aspirations. Animals living in zoos and sanctuaries require frequent supervision from their trainers and handlers. Zoo animals in particular require attention from their trainers to keep them occupied, to get proper exercise through playtime, and to entertain zoo visitors. Some exotic animal trainers like those seen in the circus can teach their animals, often big cats, to jump through hoops and sit on top of small boxes, but the true reward from training exotic animals comes from that rare connection. Not everyone is equipped to train and handle exotic animals, but for those who can, it is an experience to be cherished.

Animal training is a rewarding experience because it is a rare field where humans have the opportunity to bond with animals. For some people, having a pet is not enough, and for those who genuinely love their four-legged friends, animal training is a worthwhile career choice.

Other types of Medical and healthcare careers for animals: Veterinary Science

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The growth outlook for Animal Training careers is estimated at about 20% while the estimated growth for all career fields over that same span is at about 10.12%. Over the next six years, Animal Training jobs are expected to grow at a 98% higher rate than the national average for annual salaries.