The Cost of a Good Dog Trainer

What does a good dog trainer cost? Do you have a number in mind? Read on to find out if you’re in the ballpark.

The short answer is, of course, it varies. But as dogs grow in esteem as valued family members, the value of having a polite dog is also growing.

And let’s be honest. It’s not always easy to get that polite furry family member.

Our team came back earlier this week from a four day annual conference at Sit Means Sit corporate. There our entire team learned a nearly overwhelming amount of new ideas, techniques, things to avoid, and everything else you can imagine.

As the owners of SMS Metro Detroit, we know that our value in our community and the families we serve lays in the knowledge we provide our clients and the service we offer. This year, we were blessed to take nearly our entire team, ten people. Ten airline tickets, lodging, meals, etc. This is a significant investment of resources. Not just the dollars, but the time.

Why do we make this investment? Because we recognize we provide a tremendous service and we have to have an equal amount of knowledge and experience to match. That, and we can always get better.

It’s true dog trainers don’t come out of a four-year college with large student loans, but the lessons we learn take time and experience. In some ways, it’s more difficult to excel at dog training than other professional services. We need to seek out the knowledge and track it down. We need to decide which areas on which to focus. Performance sports? Pet obedience? Behavior modification? Aggression? Any of a dozen other areas which people come to us for assistance?

In each of the past five years, SMS Metro Detroit has trained north of 600 dogs each year, some years significantly more than that. Thousands of dogs worth of experience.

Even so, when people do not hire us, cost is usually cited as the primary reason. Which made me wonder… how much do people think a dog trainer should cost?

It’s true, most people have a general idea of the cost of group classes for a typical dog training operation. From my experience, I’d say that’s usually under $300. For that money, you get a set number of weeks in a group setting with other people who are struggling with their dogs and shared time with a trainer who needs to focus on all those dogs (and usually the worst one or two demand the majority of the trainer’s time.)

With the exception of puppy class, where our focus is on socialization, our model is different. We start with individual attention or we start with the trainer skill-building with the dog, either in an immersion program or a day train program. Why? Because we don’t so much care about getting you into a group class, we want to get you results and we don’t want you or your dog frustrated. We know placing an untrained dog into a distraction filled environment (group class) is not a very effective way to start. It makes it difficult for the dog to focus and perhaps even more difficult for the handler get traction.

But if you’re thinking that a private lesson is more expensive than a group class, you would be right. Here’s a side by side comparison:

	Competitors / Group Class model	Sit Means Sit
Initial Investment	$150 per class (average 3-4 sessions for a total of $450-600)	$852 and up
Duration	12 weeks to 24 weeks	Anywhere from 12 weeks to lifetime
Private Lessons	No. Additional Cost.	Always included
Group Classes	Usually between 4-6 weeks per session.	Always included Minimum of 8 weeks, most programs come with one year of classes, and go up to lifetime
Result	Variable. On leash control.	Off leash control
Access to Trainer in between sessions	Usually none.	At minimum phone consultation with trainer. Lifetime private lessons and group classes also an option

 

The cost of a dog trainer isn’t really as variable as it may initially seem, but the value is far and away different.

The result is commensurate with the investment. Or, you get what you pay for.

When hiring a dog trainer think about these things:

• What type of experience does the trainer bring?
• Are their programs set up for the success of the dog and handler?
• Does the trainer have access to a local (or national) team of trainers for additional help?
• How much time and resources does the trainer commit to honing their skills on a regular basis?
• What type of result is reasonable to expect? (Will a single session of group classes attain the expected result?)
• Can the trainer provide a list of references, or complimentary professionals (veterinarians or groomers) who regularly refer them?

If you decide to explore Sit Means Sit as an option, we can provide you the answers to all of these questions and much more.

If you’re ready to invest in us, we’re ready to invest in you!