Attending Career Fairs as a Dog Trainer: A Rewarding Experience

At AnchorUp K9 Academy, we are passionate about dog training and educating others about this unique and fulfilling career path. Our company owner has had the privilege of attending three career fairs, sharing insights and experiences with students of all ages who are curious about the world of dog training.

Career Fairs We’ve Attended:

1. Career Day – May 1st, 2024 – SECEP Chesapeake
   • Approx. 100 students
2. Career Fair – March 13th, 2025 – Northside Middle School, Norfolk
   • Approx. 400 students
3. Career Fair – March 27th, 2025 – Chesterfield Academy Elementary School
   • Approx. 320 students

Each of these events provided an excellent opportunity to engage with young minds, answer their questions, and inspire those who might be interested in a career working with dogs.

What We Shared with the Students

During each fair, we covered a variety of topics to give students a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to be a professional dog trainer:

• What My Job Is:
  • As a professional dog trainer, we help dogs and their owners build better communication, improve obedience, and even address behavioral challenges. Whether it’s basic commands, off-leash training, or advanced behavioral work, our role is both challenging and rewarding.
• Education Requirements:
  • While formal education isn’t always required, becoming a skilled dog trainer takes dedication, hands-on experience, and ongoing learning. Many trainers pursue certifications, apprenticeships, and continuous training to refine their skills.
• What I Like/Dislike About My Job:
  • Likes: Seeing the progress of each dog, strengthening the bond between dogs and their owners, and helping solve behavioral issues that improve a family’s daily life.
  • Dislikes: Working with dog aggression can be challenging, even though I love the challenge, I don’t like taking a bite from a dog. This doesn’t happen very often and when it does I can’t hold it against the dog.

• Advice for Future Dog Trainers:
  • Start working with dogs as soon as possible! Volunteer at shelters, shadow a professional trainer, and gain hands-on experience. Patience, consistency, and passion are crucial for success in this field.
• Fun Stories from Training:
  • I love it when I can use what the dog is genetically programmed for and create a fun activity that benefits the dog and family. For instance I worked with a Fox Hound and I showed the owners how they could take her out tracking for fun. They have three young boys and they can hide in the woods from their dog and then use her to find the boys. 

Making It Interactive

To make the experience even more engaging, we brought along some training equipment, fun stickers for the students, and the star of the show—our German Shepherd, Kairo! Kairo demonstrated obedience skills and commands, leaving the students in awe and sparking even more curiosity about dog training.

Attending these career fairs has been an amazing experience for Anchor Up K9 Academy. Seeing the excitement and interest from students reaffirms our belief that educating the next generation about dog training is just as important as the training itself. We look forward to continuing to inspire future trainers and sharing our passion for working with dogs!