I have worked in customer service since I was 15. I went to college so I
would not have to anymore. Now I work in a stuffy law office and cannot wait to get out. I never thought I would miss customer service, but after seeing the same two people every day I am dying to get back into it!
haha, yeah, Im in retail, and I always say I hate people, but deep down I know thats not really true
Admittedly, my teaching abilities are not as good as I would like them to be. I am a visual teacher--I like to show people how to do them and then let them do it. Although it sometimes turns into me just doing it. I have two of Nicole Wilde's books dealing with the subject on my reading list.
anything by Nicole is priceless. I was lucky enough to go to a seminar of hers a year
or two ago... she is forever patient. When she was fielding questions, som' of them imo were a bit, well, bad (either very basic, or asking about what she JUST covered) and she never once acted irritated. Im assuming you have her "want to be a trainer" (or somthing to that effect) book?
Its applying many of the clicker principles to teaching humans. Sounds easy but its also tweeked a bit since humans use language and if its obvious your training them, they get offended. Attend a seminar if you can, I got to go to one at clicker expo being held by the creators.
TAGteach International | Sports, Dance and Special Needs Teaching
honestly, I think its a really good idea to learn this when your making the transition from teaching animals, to teaching people to teach animals.
I would love to know more about APDT. Specifically what kind of teaching tools (seminars, resources, etc.) they provide members. What is the most beneficial part of membership?
They hold a conference every year, I have not gone yet, I'm on the west coast and the last one was on the east coast I believe. There is a forum like this one on the site you can access once you join. There is a magazine FULL of helpful stuff they send out 4 times a year...you get info on insurance also.
Honestly tho, for me, the biggest benefit is just simply looking more credible to the public, and having a credible site list me. Since anyone can just say "im a dog trainer" its important you have som'thing to set you apart. You get to use the logo on your bussiness cards and website also.
but yes I get what you mean, you can't get hired without experience, you can't get experience without being hired. You cant be certified without experience that no one will give you. All the while, these bad trainers run around shouting dominance and taking naive peoples money. Its a silly system.
Have you decided to do classes? privates? what you want to offer? Not offer?