I Want To Start Working With Dogs?

[Shmurps]

My brother in law works for customs and a couple of years ago he was telling me they were in need of people

to work with customs dogs. Working with dogs and a government job

I work as a casual on weekends and volunteer at 2 shelters during the week. It's physically and mentally hard work, but I enjoy it.

[dandybrush]

I would love to work with animals also, have considered vet nursing, but cant afford the course atm Maybe i should go to some shelters and see about volunteering...*shrug* i think it would be nice to do it with someone though

[GSD FAN]

I have had many animal jobs over the past 10 years and I am still trying to find one that suits me. I have worked as pet shop assistant, dog groomer, trainee vet nurse and now I am a kennel hand/vet nurse assistant. Still dont love my job but with every position I gain more experience that'll help me when I finally find the position that I really want. My advice is to try to get into grooming. In my opinion if you can handle all the naughty dogs that dont like having their faces, butts, legs, ears etc touched than you can pretty much handle anything. Lots of professions will love someone with grooming experience especially vet clinics and animal shelters. Grooming is how I got my foot in the door at a vet clinic.

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

Not in your area but there are a couple of jobs advertised here:

http://www.seek.com.au/jobsearch/?page=1&a...earchfrom=quick

[Kavik]

I am now about to start looking for a job outside the animal care industry

I am sick of the low pay, long hours, unpredictability of shifts (a lot are casual and I am getting past the point of being tolerant of having shifts cancelled at the last minute).

And the work is VERY physical. Not a problem when you have just left school. But I am getting to the point in my life where I have to think about whether I want to spend the rest of my working life cleaning kennels for less money than a check out person's wage.

The only real option for me if I want to continue working with dogs is to start my own dog training business, as I am qualified through NDTF, have experience instructing classes, am confident handling different types of dogs and have enough 'tools' and methods to help people, and compete with my dog. But I don't really know much about running a business and am a bit scared to take that step

[corvus]

I did a zoology degree so I could look at wild animals for a living. I thought at the time that academia wasn't for me and went into the work force as a consultant. I loved it for the first 18 months. It paid well, I got to go out into the field and do lots of trapping, bird watching and frogging, I learnt heaps and got to see some really cool animals, but I soon became horribly disenchanted with the whole industry and the things we were expected to do. Like working from sunrise until 11pm and getting paid for 7.5 hours regardless. They expected us to work for free and when we complained they would tell us it was the industry standard. The problem is, if you have a job that is in high demand you end up getting exploited. If you don't like something they tell you there are plenty of other people who would give their eye teeth for your job and to suck it up. The government is much better, but it's hard to get a permanent position.

I decided I wanted to work on dog behaviour, so I found an academic that works on dog behaviour and started a PhD on it. No idea where this is going to get me in the long run, but hopefully an academic position so I can wallow around researching dogs for the rest of my life. Well, no academic wallows. It's very competitive and demanding, but it pays well and nothing beats research. And you get to meet lots of people that know heaps about dogs. People that tell you scientists know nothing about dogs know nothing about dog scientists.

[Kavik]

The problem is, if you have a job that is in high demand you end up getting exploited. If you don't like something they tell you there are plenty of other people who would give their eye teeth for your job and to suck it up.

Yep, that is the big problem with working in animal care.

That plus the pay does not increase much regardless of experience or qualifications. The vet nurses that get paid well work at specialist centres/emergency. But it is hard to get in there and you do need to be very experienced for them to consider you. GP vets vary in pay, depending on the practice, but it is not much.

I worked in a dog daycare and it was very frustrating that I got payed the same as people with no experience or qualifications, even though I helped to train staff, evaluate dogs, instruct classes and implement policies.

[Cosmolo]

Its true what Corvus said- conditions and pay don't really need to improve because there are so many people wanting to work in the industry.

With regards to the specialised jobs- most still don't pay brilliantly- better than working in kennels pay wise but can still be quite low and jobs don't come up often. I'd be looking to quarantine and customs even in the non dog sections if i was your age- i think within the industry some of the best opportunities lie there.

Starting your own business is great but very hard, especially to start with! Good luck!

[poodlefan]

Perhaps I should be more focused on actually getting a proper part-time/full-time job for now and focus on working with dogs later on?

Work to live well.

Volunteer to enhance your quality of life.

I recall Dr Reiner Klimke (multiple Olympic gold medalist in dressage) being asked what would be the best advice he could give to any aspiring young dressage riders.

"Go out and get a very well paying job" he replied wryly. Dr Klimke was a highly successful lawyer.

Most work with dogs won't pay a reasonable mortgage or put your kids through uni. A good career will do all those things and you can do volunteer work with dogs.

[Miss BeRidgierent]

Perhaps I should be more focused on actually getting a proper part-time/full-time job for now and focus on working with dogs later on?

Work to live well.

Volunteer to enhance your quality of life.

I recall Dr Reiner Klimke (multiple Olympic gold medalist in dressage) being asked what would be the best advice he could give to any aspiring young dressage riders.

"Go out and get a very well paying job" he replied wryly. Dr Klimke was a highly successful lawyer.

Most work with dogs won't pay a reasonable mortgage or put your kids through uni. A good career will do all those things and you can do volunteer work with dogs.

If you are serious in making a career "one day" out of working with animal do you think its best to do some sort of courses?

[poodlefan]

People that tell you scientists know nothing about dogs know nothing about dog scientists.

I'd never say scientists no nothing about dogs. As with all academia, the higher you climb the ladder of research the more and more you know about an increasingly smaller field.

Scientists have knowledge but they certainly don't have a monopoloy on that. Translating that knowledge into practical applications can stretch quite a few academics. Law is no different.

[corvus]

As with all academia, the higher you climb the ladder of research the more and more you know about an increasingly smaller field.

That depends on how dedicated you are. I know academics that have the most phenomenal memories. It's like "Oh, there was a paper back in 82, I think it was, would have been by Moaning and Grouch, just give me a moment... There you go, I'll send it to you." Their knowledge is cumulative. Most read a lot because it's interesting rather than because it's particularly relevant to what they are doing. They only fall behind when demands on their time force them to prioritise.

Scientists have knowledge but they certainly don't have a monopoloy on that. Translating that knowledge into practical applications can stretch quite a few academics.

That is true, although my experience so far has been that vet scientists in research tend to be pretty good at applied science. I doubt that's all of them, but many are there for the same reasons I am. They want to help people help dogs.

[Ravyk]

I would love to work with animals also, have considered vet nursing, but cant afford the course atm Maybe i should go to some shelters and see about volunteering...*shrug* i think it would be nice to do it with someone though

dandybrush, go and talk to a Tafe near you that does to Vet Nursing and ask about payment options. Most Tafes these days will do a payment plan for those who cannot afford it in one sum [which is generally quite a number of people]. Also talk to centrelink, they also might be able to help.

[halfthewords]

I've worked as a kennelhand at a high-profile dog rescue in Sydney since I was 16 (now 20), and I've worked as a junior vet nurse for the last six months. Neither job is well-paying (around $18 per hour) but at my age it's pretty good. I was ecstatic when I got out of the fish industry and got my kennelhanding job because the pay was better and I was working with my favourite animals!

I will say, though, they have their perks and negatives. As a KH, I get to rehabilitate and work with abused animals (but it involves a LOT of cleaning, medicating, washing, feeding, etc), and on the other hand, as a vet nurse, I deal with a lot of people's spoiled and sometimes neglected animals. I had a stint as a grooming assistant that I hated because of the physicality it's often necessary to use to clip a dog. Short of sedating some, it was near impossible. I never felt comfortable manhandling somebody's pet. It paid considerably more, but long hours and a very sweaty, hairy, ITCHY job.

I got my vet nurse job with zero qualifications, apart from experience as a kennelhand. I am about to go into vet science, which has made doing nursing more important.

I enjoy my jobs but there are certainly bad days. Euthanising animals, seeing homeless dogs, neglect, being around a lot of people with conflicting ideas of how to care for/train their animals...

[aussielover]

I work as a vet nurse at the moment casually, the best way to get into that specific career is to volunteer at a vet for a while.

Some of our other nurses also work for a pet sitting/minding company where they will look after people's pets while they are away. This involves walking dogs, giving medictaion (sometimes), feeding etc all the general stuff.

It might be a good starting point as most "companies" are usually looking for people to do this sort of work (I've had 3 people contact me wokring for them).

Then you can say you've had experience working with animals should you wish do something more.

I don't think dog trainers really make that much money, I heard guide dog trainers get around $40,000 average which is the same (a bit more) than for a new graduate vet. A number of organisations offer cadetships.

It would be really fulfilling and awesome though!

Assistance dogs usually recruits already experienced trainers.

[Kavik]

I've worked as a kennelhand at a high-profile dog rescue in Sydney since I was 16 (now 20), and I've worked as a junior vet nurse for the last six months. Neither job is well-paying (around $18 per hour) but at my age it's pretty good. I was ecstatic when I got out of the fish industry and got my kennelhanding job because the pay was better and I was working with my favourite animals!

I will say, though, they have their perks and negatives. As a KH, I get to rehabilitate and work with abused animals (but it involves a LOT of cleaning, medicating, washing, feeding, etc), and on the other hand, as a vet nurse, I deal with a lot of people's spoiled and sometimes neglected animals. I had a stint as a grooming assistant that I hated because of the physicality it's often necessary to use to clip a dog. Short of sedating some, it was near impossible. I never felt comfortable manhandling somebody's pet. It paid considerably more, but long hours and a very sweaty, hairy, ITCHY job.

I got my vet nurse job with zero qualifications, apart from experience as a kennelhand. I am about to go into vet science, which has made doing nursing more important.

I enjoy my jobs but there are certainly bad days. Euthanising animals, seeing homeless dogs, neglect, being around a lot of people with conflicting ideas of how to care for/train their animals...

$18/hr is AWESOME Far more than I have ever been paid working in animal care. Where do you work? Maybe I should apply

[Kavik]

I work as a vet nurse at the moment casually, the best way to get into that specific career is to volunteer at a vet for a while.

Some of our other nurses also work for a pet sitting/minding company where they will look after people's pets while they are away. This involves walking dogs, giving medictaion (sometimes), feeding etc all the general stuff.

It might be a good starting point as most "companies" are usually looking for people to do this sort of work (I've had 3 people contact me wokring for them).

Then you can say you've had experience working with animals should you wish do something more.

I don't think dog trainers really make that much money, I heard guide dog trainers get around $40,000 average which is the same (a bit more) than for a new graduate vet. A number of organisations offer cadetships.

It would be really fulfilling and awesome though!

Assistance dogs usually recruits already experienced trainers.

To work as a trainer for Guide Dogs you need a degree in helping people with vision problems (not sure of the name of degree). I checked that idea out too

Plus I seem to be on the wrong end of Sydney - training positions seem to come up on the other end

[Staranais]

Most work with dogs won't pay a reasonable mortgage or put your kids through uni. A good career will do all those things and you can do volunteer work with dogs.

That's true - from what I know, most jobs that give you hands on experience with dogs don't pay terribly well. Vet would be about the only exception I can think of.

I'm currently studying vet science, and can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing. Like they say "do a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!" On the other hand, it is hard, hard work, it takes ages, you have to do some rather nasty things along the way, and you generally end up seriously in debt by the end of the degree. So, definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

I'd say to the OP, if you think you might be interested in doing vet or vet nursing, volunteer at a clinic for a few weeks to see if you like it. Vet clinics are generally used to having vet students or vet nurse students there seeing practice, so most clinics will take you on for a week or two if you say you're interested in getting into vet school or becoming a vet nurse.

[aussielover]

Most work with dogs won't pay a reasonable mortgage or put your kids through uni. A good career will do all those things and you can do volunteer work with dogs.

That's true - from what I know, most jobs that give you hands on experience with dogs don't pay terribly well. Vet would be about the only exception I can think of.

I'm currently studying vet science, and can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing. Like they say "do a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!" On the other hand, it is hard, hard work, it takes ages, you have to do some rather nasty things along the way, and you generally end up seriously in debt by the end of the degree. So, definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

I'd say to the OP, if you think you might be interested in doing vet or vet nursing, volunteer at a clinic for a few weeks to see if you like it. Vet clinics are generally used to having vet students or vet nurse students there seeing practice, so most clinics will take you on for a week or two if you say you're interested in getting into vet school or becoming a vet nurse.

I'm sorry, but haven't you been told yet thats vets don't get paid well at all! Except if you are a practice owner (of a very successful practice) or work for a drug company or something. Even specialists don't end up getting that much when you consider how much study they have to do.

The average starting salary in australia is only $38 000 a year. We got told all this in our first year in professional practuce. Probably to weed out the ones only in for money lol!

I notice you are from overseas though, perhaps the pay is a bit better there.

But we don't do it for the money

[RubyStar]

To work as a trainer for Guide Dogs you need a degree in helping people with vision problems (not sure of the name of degree). I checked that idea out too

I think that is to be an Orientation and Mobility Instructor (which I hear pays more than Guide Dog Trainers). Guide Dog Trainers can be recruited internally or on occasion, through cadetships. But the competition is fierce.

Edited July 28, 2010 by RubyStar