Contact me at david. feldner @ apdt. com
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SURVEY SAYS ….
Contact me at david. feldner @ apdt. com
I would first like to thank the APDT members who continue to share your responses and suggestions through our online membership surveys. We received a tremendous response on our“ APDT Membership Business Survey” sent out earlier this year. A total of 1,115 members completed the 6-question online survey that asked questions on your businesses, services you provide and the challenges you face as a trainer. I would like to share some of the results of the survey to show how you and your peers responded.
The first question asked what services you provide to your clientele. A total of 934 trainers representing 84 percent of all respondents submitted they provide private in-home lessons. After private in-home lessons, group classes were selected by 68 percent of the respondents, followed by day training( 31 percent), board and train( 21 percent) and dog walking( 13 percent). The following services were mentioned frequently in the“ other” category— behavior consulting, boarding, grooming, and pet sitting.
For those trainers who offer private in-home training, it was no surprise the services offered were vast. Basic obedience was selected by 905( 81 percent) of the respondents. This was followed by fear / reactivity( 76 percent), puppy socialization( 64 percent), separation anxiety( 60 percent), dog-dog aggression( 58 percent), people aggression( 53 percent) and service dog training( 20 percent).
For the trainers who offer group classes, 733( 66 percent) of all respondents stated they provide basic obedience( all levels) to their clientele. This was followed by 585 trainers( 52 percent) who offer puppy socialization in their group classes. Others include Canine Good Citizen( 47 percent), trick training( 29 percent), reactivity( 25 percent), agility( 20 percent), nose work( 20 percent), rally obedience( 19 percent) and playgroups( 16 percent). In the other categories, these responses were mentioned frequently; competition, therapy / service dogs and canine fitness.
Not all trainers own a training business or even work full-time as a dog trainer. Those who do own their dog training business face additional challenges than those who work for another trainer or business. A training facility( limited space or scheduling) was selected by 561( 50 percent) of the respondents as a challenge they face in their business. This is a very telling statistic and emphasizes why so many trainers offer private in-home training vs. group classes. Other business challenges include attracting new clients( 40 percent), marketing / advertising( 26 percent), having an advantage over competitors( 21 percent), economy / financial hardship( 17 percent) and market concentration( 15 percent).
Trainers, whether they own a business or not, face industry specific challenges with their clientele. A total of 823( 74 percent) of the respondents said compliance was a challenge they face with their clients. This was followed by scheduling( 34 percent), different methodologies( 23 percent), financial( 21 percent), and proximity( 12 percent).
Whether or not you participated in this business survey, how do you relate to the statistics from the survey from your peers? Are you inline with the business offerings that trainers provide to their clients? Are there services you currently do not provide that you could begin to implement? Do you face the same challenges as a business owner and in your interactions with your clients? Have you implemented processes to overcome these challenges?
The last question of the survey asked what resources you have used to help in your work with your human clients. The options provided were books authored by Risë Van Fleet, Terry Ryan, Patricia McConnell, Nicole Wilde, Jean Donaldson and Jim Barry. The average response for these books was 41 percent with the highest at 74 percent. In the“ other” category; There were more than 40 authors mentioned, from Dr. Ian Dunbar to Sophia Yin to Suzanne Clothier and many more.
As service providers, dog trainers and specifically APDT members, strive to bring more professionalism to the dog training industry through your own development and that of your businesses. Again, I’ d like to thank everyone who participated in this survey and I look for your continued involvement as we reach out to you for your input.
David Feldner, CAE Executive Director
8 Building Better Trainers Through Education