02/19/2026
This criticism used to really bother me when I trained full time and now I get defensive on behalf of my fellow trainers and all small business owners who eat s**t for their prices.
Back in the day, I remember charging $65 for private lessons. If you were to DM me now for a lesson, I would quote you $150-175. Thats INSANE. I understand that - but this massive increase is not a matter of ego or even huge profit margins. It is the result of living and existing in capitalism. Ask any dog professional who isn’t abusing the labour of others who work for them (a topic for another post) - the profit margin they earn isn’t huge.
Dog trainers are typically small business owners - they hustle for themselves and their prices often reflect the fact that all of the necessities of life have increased in cost: food, gas, vehicles, rent and housing. Trust me, these people do not want to charge the prices they do.
I am sure this is relevant and relatable across most industries but this is a never ending problem in capitalism - the machine must always be fed and the fall out we experience is evident when every single damn thing we want to access in society is behind a pay wall. Its obscene.
From a buyers perspective, I encourage you to view the trainer in front of you as a human being who needs food, access to shelter and is doing their best to survive this system. Just like you. If you view their work as less deserving than you - look inwards and reflect on why.
And fellow dog professionals : its never a guardians fault for being unable to afford your services or the sservices of any dog professional for that matter.
This is a systemic issue and one we should be critical of as a whole.
