07/08/2026
I keep seeing experienced dog trainers complaining about how many new trainers are entering the industry. They’ve been doing it for years, competition is higher, and clients have more choice than ever.
Fair enough. They’re right about that.
But some trainers have spent years running a business without ever really treating it like one. They haven’t built an email list, developed a proper website, created a sales process, posted consistently on social media, formed local partnerships, run demonstrations, handed out leaflets or followed up with potential clients.
For years, they may have survived because they were the only trainer nearby, not because they were the best option.
Now the market has changed. Clients compare trainers, read reviews and follow people online. They look at your content before they contact you, and they want to see evidence that you understand their problem and can help them solve it.
So yes, there is more competition, but that doesn’t mean the industry is the problem. It means the days of being average and invisible are getting harder.
If dog training is your hobby, carry on. You don’t need to worry about any of this.
But if dog training pays your bills, you’re not simply a dog trainer. You’re an entrepreneur running a business, and that means learning about sales, marketing, communication, customer service and client retention.
You don’t get to ignore the business side and then complain when someone else takes it seriously.
Experience matters, but experience alone does not entitle anyone to clients.
At the School of Canine Science, we’ve spent years building practical tools to help dog trainers become better business owners as well as better trainers.
Next month, inside the High Performers Membership, I’ll be showing members how to build their own professional website using AI. I recently built a full website for one of our members in less than 40 minutes, while demonstrating the entire process from start to finish.
Some parts of running a business are harder now because there is more competition. Other parts have become much easier because the tools available to us are better than they’ve ever been.
The High Performers Membership is currently closed, but the waitlist is open. If you’re ready to start treating your dog training like a proper business, you can join the waitlist through our website.
www.CanineScience.co.uk