What Do Animal Trainers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Animal Trainers train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact; and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team. They also train horses or other equines for riding, harness, show, racing, or other work, using knowledge of breed characteristics, training methods, performance standards, and the peculiarities of each animal.

Other tasks include:

• Cue or signal animals during performances.
• Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
• Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
• Use oral, spur, rein, or hand commands to condition horses to carry riders or to pull horse-drawn equipment.
• Retrain horses to break bad habits, such as kicking, bolting, or resisting bridling or grooming.
• Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.

We asked Animal Trainers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Animal Trainers place tack or harnesses on horses to accustom horses to the feel of equipment. They talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.

A typical day for an Animal Trainer will also include:

• Observe animals’ physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
• Use oral, spur, rein, or hand commands to condition horses to carry riders or to pull horse-drawn equipment.
• Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
• Retrain horses to break bad habits, such as kicking, bolting, or resisting bridling or grooming.
• Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.

We asked some Animal Trainers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	42% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	74% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	46% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	49% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Animal Trainers also instruct jockeys in handling specific horses during races. They may also advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Animal Trainers Administer prescribed medications to animals. They might also Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.

In addition, they Organize or conduct animal shows.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Evaluate animals for trainability and ability to perform.

To some Animal Trainers, it is also their responsibility to Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Animal Trainer, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/personal-care-and-service/animal-care-and-service-workers.htm

http://www.nationaldoggroomers.com/

http://www.apdt.com/

http://www.petsitters.org/