Dog Trainer CV Guide

What to include in a Dog Trainer CV

Most, if not all, people have had to write a CV at some point, and many have successfully got an interview invite. The difference between these applicants and those who were unsuccessful would likely be their suitability for the role and the quality of their CVs. Employers and clients do not know you, so producing a high-quality CV is how you create a good first impression and set yourself apart from other candidates.

The predominant information to include in a dog trainer CV is your relevant qualifications, skills, achievements and experience. You want to ensure it is concise and specific to each role you apply for and avoid adding too much information or anything irrelevant. You are basically telling the reader about your academic and professional history and why you are suitable for the dog trainer position. Do not be tempted to send out generic CVs, as it could affect your chances of success.

Knowing where to start and what to include in your CV can often be tricky, but breaking it down into sections can make the task less overwhelming and more manageable. Let us now look at these sections and the information you can include.

Contact information

Let us start with your contact information, which some may say is the easiest part of writing a CV, and it should go at the very top of the page. You want to make it easy for employers and clients to contact you by ensuring these details are clear and up-to-date.

The first piece of information to write is your name. You can add your full name, but most include their first and last names, e.g. “Jane Smith”. Titles such as Mr, Miss, Ms and Mrs are unnecessary.

You can add your job title underneath your name, e.g. “dog trainer”, and where you are based. You do not need to add your full address, just your town, city or county, e.g. “Edgbaston, Birmingham”. Then, add your current phone number and a professional-looking email address.

If you have a LinkedIn profile, a website or an online portfolio, you can include it in your contact information. However, only do so if this information is relevant to the dog trainer position.

Avoid adding your date of birth, a photo, national insurance number and other personal information, such as marital status, gender, nationality or religion. This information is irrelevant and can lead to bias, discrimination and privacy risks.

Here is an example of how you can add your contact information to your CV:

Jane Smith.
Dog Trainer.
Phone: 01234 567890.
Email: jane.smith@example.com.
Address: Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Professional summary (career objective statement)

Underneath your contact information, you should add a brief statement highlighting your key qualifications, skills, experiences, achievements and career goals relevant to the job you are applying for. It is a professional summary, but some may call it a career objective statement, personal statement, or professional profile.

Your professional summary should be impactful and give prospective employers and clients a quick overview of who you are and what you could contribute to the dog trainer position. It should be concise, tailored to each application, and ideally, no longer than five lines. Here are some examples of what to include to capture the attention of readers:

• Professional title – begin with your current or desired job title.
• Years of experience – mention how many years of experience you have in your field.
• Key skills – highlight your most relevant skills and strengths.
• Notable achievements – include any significant accomplishments or experiences that make you stand out.
• Career goals – briefly state your career objectives and what you aim to achieve in the role.
• Passion – demonstrate your love for dogs and dedication to providing high-quality training and care.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a dog trainer:

“Professional dog trainer with 5 years of experience in obedience training, behaviour modification and specialised training for therapy and service dogs. Skilled in positive reinforcement techniques and committed to improving the bond between dogs and their owners. Seeking to leverage my expertise to help more dogs and their families at [Company Name].”

As your professional summary is one of the first things employers and clients will read, it is essential to make it strong and engaging to capture their attention and encourage them to continue reading your CV.

Education

For the next section, you can add your education or work experience. It is your preference, but you may want to consider putting the section first where you have more information, i.e. if you have limited work experience, your education may be better after your professional summary.

The education section of your CV should include qualifications and courses relevant to the dog trainer position and be in reverse chronological order, i.e. most recent. It enables employers and clients to identify whether you have the necessary academic background and training to meet the job requirements and whether you are a suitable candidate.

Here is what to include in the education section of your CV:

• Have a header titled “Education”.
• Start with your most recent education.
• List any specialised courses or obtained certifications related to dog training.
• Mention the degree or course, institution, graduation/completion date (or present if still studying) and grades.
• Include any coursework that is particularly relevant to dog training.
• Highlight practical training, internships or hands-on experience with dogs (where relevant).

You do not need to include lower qualifications, such as GCSEs unless the job posting details them or you have a limited education section and more experience.

Here is an example of an education section for a dog trainer:

Advanced Canine Behaviour Diploma.
Animal Behaviour College, London.
Completed: June 2022.

• Studied canine psychology, behaviour modification techniques and training methods.
• Practical training with over 100 dogs of various breeds.

Certificate in Canine Training and Behaviour.
The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT).
Completed: March 2020.

• Covered topics including obedience training, agility training and puppy socialisation.
• Hands-on experience in group training sessions and one-on-one lessons.

Bachelor of Science in Animal Science.
University of Birmingham.
Completed: July 2018.
Grade: 2:1.

• Focused on animal behaviour, welfare and ethics.
• Conducted research projects on canine cognition and communication.

If you have recently left school, are a recent graduate and have limited work experience, this section will typically be longer. However, if you have more work experience with dogs and training, you may want to focus on this section and have a smaller education section.

Work experience

Your work experience or employment history is crucial in your CV. It showcases your hands-on skills and credibility and demonstrates to prospective employers or clients that you can handle various breeds and temperaments, solve behavioural issues and effectively apply different training techniques. It also reflects your expertise, dedication and commitment to the field.

When employers or clients read through your CV, they will assess your suitability and how your previous work experience aligns with their requirements. When adding your work experience to your CV, include it in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and make sure it is relevant or demonstrates transferable skills. You can add relevant paid work experience or voluntary positions, and here are some pointers on what to include:

• Job title: Clearly state your job title, e.g. “Dog Trainer”.
• Employer/organisation name: Name of the employer or organisation you worked for or add self-employed where relevant.
• Location: Town, city or county.
• Dates of employment: Specify employment start and end dates (month/year). If you are currently employed, indicate that by stating “Present”.
• Job description: Briefly summarise your role and responsibilities, and try to focus on what you accomplished. Highlight any specific duties relevant to dog training. Aim for three to five bullet points, and use action verbs to describe your tasks. Here are some examples:
  • Conducted individual and group training sessions, specialising in obedience and behaviour modification.
  • Assessed dog behaviour and created personalised training plans to address specific issues.
  • Successfully trained over 100 dogs, resulting in significant improvements in behaviour and owner satisfaction.
  • Utilised positive reinforcement and clicker training techniques to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Provided guidance and support to dog owners, fostering strong relationships and trust.
• You can add achievements to your work experience section or have separate sections, which we will look at next.

Key skills and achievements

Employers or clients will want to see that you have the necessary skills to carry out the dog trainer role effectively, which is where the next section comes in. Skills are the abilities and expertise developed through learning, practice and experience.

When you add relevant skills to your CV and tailor them to each job, you demonstrate that you have the required competencies for the dog trainer position and are proficient in the areas employers or clients are interested in. It assures them that you have the necessary knowledge and experience to match their requirements, which can increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

There are two main categories of skills, hard and soft, which are valuable and often complement each other. Include a mix of both in your CV to show employers and clients you are the best fit.

• Hard skills – specific, teachable abilities that can be measured and defined and often acquired through education, training programs or on-the-job experience. Some examples of hard skills for a dog trainer may include:
  • Obedience training.
  • Behaviour modification.
  • Clicker training.
  • Puppy training and socialising.
  • Positive reinforcement.
  • Agility training.
  • Dog psychology.
  • Aggression management.
  • Canine first aid.
• Soft skills – interpersonal and social skills that are more subjective and harder to quantify but are equally important. Some examples of soft skills for a dog trainer may include:
  • Patience.
  • Empathy.
  • Communication.
  • Teamwork.
  • Problem-solving.
  • Time management.
  • Customer service.
  • Reliability.

You can also use this section to showcase your achievements, which are notable accomplishments or successes you achieved in your previous roles. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

It is worth noting that some organisations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which look for specific keywords relating to key skills and qualifications. Include these in your CV to help pass through the ATS filter.

Other information

Apart from qualifications, skills and experience, several other pieces of information can be included on a dog trainer CV if relevant and you have the space. Here are some examples:

• Professional development – include any certifications, training programs, workshops, seminars or conferences you have attended that are relevant to dog training. Even online courses and reading about the subject can help.
• Volunteer experience – mention any volunteer work you have done with dogs, such as work at kennels and rescue centres. You can also include looking after other people’s dogs, even if it is just for friends and family. It shows you have experience caring for dogs.
• Professional associations – include any memberships in relevant professional associations, such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers or the Kennel Club.
• Testimonials – where relevant, you could provide positive feedback or testimonials from clients, colleagues or employers that showcase your effectiveness and expertise.
• Projects – detail specific projects or programs you have developed or implemented, such as training programs, puppy classes or behaviour modification plans.
• Publications and presentations – give information about any articles, blogs or presentations you have created or contributed to on dog training.
• Hobbies and interests – mention any hobbies or interests related to dog training, such as participating in dog sports, agility competitions or other canine-related activities. You can also provide details of where you trained your own dog, what you taught them, how you did it, and the outcome, e.g. “Trained my family’s Labrador Retriever, [Dog’s Name], using positive reinforcement techniques, teaching basic commands like sit, stay and come”.

By including these sections, you can create a comprehensive and impressive CV that showcases your qualifications and dedication to dog training.

References

References are important as they provide potential employers or clients with third-party confirmation of your skills, experience and qualifications and can vouch for the accuracy of the information on your CV. They also add an extra layer of credibility, making you a more attractive candidate and giving you a competitive advantage.

The references section of a CV is typically the last, and, like your contact information, it is quite straightforward. It involves listing individuals who can attest to your qualifications, skills, experience and character.

If the job posting does not request specific details of references at this stage and you are struggling for space on your CV, you can add “References available upon request” under the heading. If you are required to provide references, here is how you can add them to your CV:

• Name of reference, e.g. John Smith.
• Their position at the time, e.g. Senior dog trainer.
• Organisation name, e.g. Happy Paws Training Centre.
• Email, e.g. john.smith@happypaws.co.uk.
• Phone, e.g. +44 1234 567890.
• Relationship to you, e.g. supervisor, mentor, manager, etc.

Before you add your references to your CV, you should ask their permission first and ensure their information is current to enable prospective employers or clients to contact them easily.