You’re a dog lover… why not make a career out of your love for dogs?
You enjoy nothing more than spending quality time with a furry puppy by your side, so why not make a living and get paid for your “dog loving”? Dust off your resume, get a doggy day or night job, and you’ll never have to work for a living. So now you’re wondering, what are the best possible jobs for dog lovers?
1. Veterinarian
Becoming a veterinarian is what most folks think of when they consider a career working with animals. In fact, it’s one of the most popular jobs choices for career day kids. Sadly, not many of them actually follow through on their dreams. Because just like becoming a human doctor, you don’t just learn how to be a veterinarian in a few hours of study. It takes a multiple year commitment to the education before you can do this. It’s a highly skilled profession that will take you 8-10 years of study.
Stick with it and you’ll be rewarded with what many consider the most prestigious animal career. You’ll get to spend your days working with a wide variety of animals, improving and saving the lives, and yes, helping them cross over when it’s time.
An alternate choice is to become a veterinary technician. It just takes a two-year course of training, then you can assist in daily veterinary tasks.
2. Dog Walker
Do you like walking in the park with dogs? Because becoming a professional dog walker could be your thing! Lots of people need help exercising and socializing their dogs because they don’t have the time or ability to do it themselves. Find a client, say hi to their pup, grab their dog’s leash and have fun! And yes, get paid for it.
Lots of dogs may be left alone while their people go do other things, like go to work for a living. Their doggos and pup pups need attention and company. You can save the day, help them feel better, and enjoy being with a wide variety of dogs without having to pay for their daily care and foot their food bill.
For a little variety in your daily walks, click here to find dog walkers near you.
3. “Pawtographer”
Love dogs and you love taking pictures? Then this is the job for you! Take Rover’s stunning shots to rave reviews with a career in canine photography! Lots of dog parents want their pups on social media including Instagram, but aren’t very good photographers… You could be the answer to their prayers.
If catching Rover and Spot’s best glam look is your specialty, then look no further. This is a job designed especially for you. Put your portfolio together with your dog’s buddies or other dogs from the dog park. Then start spreading the word to get paid gigs. Consider the fun of being the special guest for weddings with dogs, doggie parties, and glam boutique shoots.
4. Dog Sitter
You love dogs and you love sitting? Here’s a great idea that could be perfect for you! Be a professional dog sitter. Help a fellow dog lover parent out and take care of their pooches while they are on vacation or away on a trip.
Hang out with the pack day or night, several days at a time or just occasionally. It’s a nice break for you, for which you’ll be well paid. Did you know you can meet and dozens – even hundreds – of pups in your side hustle as a dog sitter? Oh yea. You’ll be having fun and scratching your doggie love itch at the same time.
Get the Poop Scoop on Pet Sitting as a Career or Hobby HERE
5. Pet Store Sales Associate
Pet stores are fun places to be, and as a store sales associate you won’t have to be an expert to enjoy spending time helping at the local pet store. All you need is a cheerful, animal loving personality, and a willingness to help out other animal lovers.
6. Dog Trainer
How good does it feel when you ask your dog to do something, and they actually DO IT!? “Sit” and Rover actually sits? You’re a dog training miracle is what you are!
Other dog parents are clueless as to how to get their dogs to behave. If you have a talent for training, then you can feel delicious satisfaction as a dog trainer. This job takes some serious dedication, patience and a keen eye for behavior, with a healthy dollop of canine psychology to boot.
Then, you’ll be able to train all levels and kinds of dogs, at all sizes and breeds a wide range of important skills. Take them from puppy basic obedience training, and good ground manners on the leash, to proper and consistent recall, to playing with the big dogs at dog shows like Crufts and the Westminster Kennel Club!
Check out Positive Dog Training Tips HERE
Listen and learn from celebrity dog trainer and bestselling author, Kyra Sundance on The Real Dr Doolittle Show HERE
7. K9 Officer
There are police officers and then there are a whole separate breed of K9 officers and their handlers who are a step apart from the rest. K9 Officers and their handlers always have each other’s backs, to track and take down the bad guys and keep the streets safe for innocent civilians.
If you’re considering this career you must be able to work well with these highly trained specialized dogs. You’ll be responsible not only for training your trusty K9 special agent but also will be caring for them at all times. Then you get to drive around with your dog at work all day, hanging out, and yes, getting paid well for it too.
You’ll first get experience as a regular police office. Then, you’ll get months of special training with your dog to prepare you both in how to handle situations that can arise in the field. Chasing down and tracking suspects, sniffing out and locating evidence, finding bombs and narcotics… These kinds of highly trained dogs are unique. They are driven and keenly intelligent. And they have a keen extraordinary sense of smell. What an amazing career you’ll have, one you’ll feel proud of.
8. Dog Baker / Chef
Dogs deserve better than dry, flavorless kibble that doesn’t meet their nutritional needs. Today’s dogs are begging for a higher standard with human grade food. That’s where you come in with chef-inspired meals, with wholesome healthy organic ingredients.
Today’s discerning dog parent wants great canine chefs with innovative, sound baked goods and/or gourmet top shelf meals to take Rover’s dining experience to a whole ‘nother level. If you enjoy baking and cooking, then this super fun, fabulous career can start right in your kitchen. And lucky for you AND for your live in dog taster, you can take this career to the bank as well as the dining room!
Find out what it’s like to be a dog chef! Check out this interview with Cooking For Dogs with Chef Gayle Pruitt on The Real Dr Doolittle Show with Val Heart HERE
9. Groomer
While some dogs are born cute and have no need for the occasional trim, other messy coat fluffies have to work at it. That’s where your scissors and keen eye for balance and style comes in.
You can even specialize in transforming diamonds in the “ruff” in desperate need of a bath and an easy care trim. Did you know you can get on-the-job apprenticeships for training? Yep, you can get paid to learn the ropes from a pro groomer.
10. Canine Agent
Do you enjoy seeing dogs in movies, television and videos? They didn’t get there by accident just because they’re cute. Those animals have their own agents and trainers.
As a canine agent, you get paid for discovering furry four legged superstars. Consider the famous story of Bonny the Shih Tzu. Plucked from Craigslist, this four-legged star of “Seven Psychopaths,” landed on her feet walking on the red carpet thanks to a dog lover agent who discovered her brilliance and guided her to stardom. Do you have a clever, dashing and well-trained dog? Then you could become their agent and manage for your canine A-lister career.
11. Work at a Shelter
One of the most important jobs for dog lovers is helping the homeless, abandoned and rescued find new forever homes. Volunteers don’t get a paycheck, but staff members do.
Both can give you a happy high and a big healthy dose of warm fuzzy feelings when you make another living being’s life better. Volunteers keep animals company, build morale and become a temporary family for animals looking for a permanent home.
Staff members keep things running so pet parents can find their forever dog, and the dogs can find a happy home. You just can’t put a price on that, and it’s definitely time well spent!
12. Become an Animal Communicator
Dogs and all animals communicate mind to mind, heart to heart, using energy and telepathy. You were born knowing how to do this, but like most people may have forgotten as you grew up.
Do you have what it takes to be an animal communicator? Find Out HERE
Being able to communicate with dogs is THE most important animal job skill you can have no matter what other job you decide to do. Veterinarians, trainers, groomers, dog walkers, pet sitters and all the rest depend on your ability to know what the dog is thinking and feeling.
Being able to ask them questions, explain procedures, discuss behavior problems and training, and prepare them for what’s to come makes you not only a better dog lover and guardian, but also makes you more effective at your work with dogs.
So no matter which dog job career you choose, make learning how to talk with dogs your first step so you can access their hidden inner world of thoughts, needs, and feelings!
The Heart School of Animal Communication teaches you the Heart Wisdom Method so it’s easy as 1-2-3! Start HERE with your free ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets
Which job appeals to you the most? Leave a comment below!
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Vet or Vet Tech: Which Animal-Related Career is Right for You?
Some great choices! I think my favorite would be pawtographer. ?
Great Article! I’ve been a pet sitter and I loved it.