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Bottom Line, IMO: FSDT rocks. If I were u, I’d focus like a laser on working through the course and getting certified. It’ll take time to master / internalize the ideas and then put them into practice. But when you, do, regardless of whether your goal is to be a full- or part-time pro trainer or a serious dog owner, you will be very, very well-prepared. The difference between the two is this: Pro’s must be pros at motivating and teaching both people AND dogs. Teaching people is skill in itself, one requiring patience; the ability to break things down into small, manageable chunks, so clients come away feeling they’ve succeeded more than failed; the ability to criticize constructively, not trash. It also helps to be a good amateur psychologist, so you can quickly read the client and your reactions to the client. The more insight you have and the more flexible you are, the more clients clients you will have and keep, and the more they will recomment your services. A big mistake I made was to assume that new clients are as deeply interested in dogs as you are. Most aren’t. Some become enthusiasts. Others, not so much. Some you can turn into enthusiasts, others not so much.
Nota bene: I’m, at best, a semipro. Pretty good dog trainer. People, less so. Lotsa reasons. I hope you know that to succeed as a pro, you need to be good at the dog AND the people side. You also have to know how to build and manage a business.
Once More: If I were you I would focus laser-like on completely mastering FSDT asap. There’s a huge wealth of knowledge there. You will emerge as a serious pro, well-prepared to work with clients and with dogs to the max possible extent. All the best!
