Today we are talking about an industry that is booming: the pet industry. According to the American Pet Products Association, consumers in the U.S. spend $70 billion on our pets. There are many pet professionals that are tapping into this boom by providing services such as training, grooming, boarding, and walking. In this episode we focus on dog trainers as independent service professionals:

- How do people become dog trainers? What is the typical career path for dog trainers?
- What’s the scope of services that dog trainers provide?
- How much do dog trainers typically charge?
- Do you need to be licensed or certified?
- How does the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) help dog trainers?
- Is there a consensus in the industry about the right and wrong way to train a dog?
- Are there any major changes happening in the industry that anyone considering a career in dog training should be aware of?

Our guest is Nick Hof who has been a dog trainer for over ten years and holds several nationally recognized certifications from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the Karen Pryor Academy, and more. He is also the Chair for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the largest trade organization for dog training. He owns Paws Look Listen, LLC in Cincinnati, OH which offers private dog training services to busy families.