Animal Trainers (Pet Trainers) are trained instructors who use a variety of techniques in teaching dogs, horses or even marine animals to behave in a certain way. He or she gets animals accustomed to human contact and teaches them to respond to commands. An animal trainer may work with show animals, service animals or family pets.
They also train animals for riding, harness, security, performance or obedience or assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact; and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. They may also train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.
Animal Trainer Eligibility
Though there is no special qualification for it, they should be expected 12th class pass at least.
Animal Trainer Required Skills
- Animal Trainers should have good instructing skills like teaching others how to do something.
- They possess good communication, strong animal handling skills and ability to read animal body language, a love for working with animals and their guardians, patience, ability to adapt quickly and make decisions and physical fitness.
- They should be able to understand behaves and activities of animal, their moods and teach them about following instructions.
- They should also be courageous and bold as sometimes they could have faced some danger in handling animals, and may get some injury.
- Their nature must be friendly towards them as an animal cannot speak, they mostly understanding the language of love and peace.
Institutes offering Courses for Animal Trainer
- Dog Training Institute, Mohali
- Dog Clinic & Pet Shoppe, Panchkula
How to become Animal Trainer?
For becoming Animal Trainer, one has to follow below-mentioned steps:
Step 1
The minimum requirement is a high school diploma to work as an animal trainer. For entry-level positions, Animal Trainers are usually trained on the job by an experienced trainer.
Step 2
Candidates need to have some training and additional education in case they want to become a special trainer for special animals like Dog Trainer, etc. also, if they want to train marine animals, they need to have a Bachelor's Degree in Zoology, Marine Biology, Animal Science, or a related field. Along with this, they also need to be able to swim very well.
Degree courses:
- B.Sc. (Hons.) (Zoology)
- B.Sc. (Zoology)
- B.Sc. (Marine Science)
Educational qualification:
For graduation courses, they should be passed 12th class with one of animal science subjects.
Step 3
Candidates willing to have further Master’s Degree, they can go for it as it gives them a detailed behaviour view of animals. Also in some places, it is necessary for having jobs. They can have post graduation in animal science.
Animal Trainer Job Description
Animal Trainers normally use positive reinforcement which includes toys, food, rubdowns, play, etc. Some others may also use punishment to train the animals. They instruct the animals to respond under diverse conditions and obey particular commands. Many other different animal care responsibilities like preparing food, providing surrounding and habitat which is clean and safe are also supervised by the animal trainers.
Animal Trainer Career Prospects
Animal Trainers are employed in many places like kennels, zoos, stables, animal shelters, pet stores, veterinary clinics and aquariums. Some of the work may be physically or emotionally demanding, and the number of work-related injuries and illnesses is higher than the national average. They can also have jobs in houses for taking care of family pets. They can also do free service for the uplift of animals in society.
Animal Trainer Salary
Animal Trainers, generally, earning a monthly salary of Rs. 10,000 to 20,000 per month in a professionally run Animal Training Academy. At some place, they are paid on per hour basis like Rs.50 or Rs.100, etc. They have also good work scope with film and entertainment industries, government organizations and research facilities, where they could get a better salary on monthly basis.
