Unusual Animal Careers
A Series about Careers with Animals
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Unusual Animal Careers Part Seven
Animal Training Careers & Animal Training Jobs
Animal careers, animal schools, & animal courses are just a few topics you will find here. You can read about careers with animals, discover animal programs, and enroll in unique animal career seminars. This is part seven in an unusual animal career series. In this section you will learn about animal training careers.
The first parts of this series briefly discussed types of careers and which ones might be appropriate for you, how to begin researching those career options, and how to find specific information in the area of your interest to help you further clarify your goals and contacts. Now the series is discussing both domestic and exotic animal work and how to begin to get practical experience and prepare for that career. The next few articles will take a closer look at different roles and what kind of training or education is necessary for them.
To simplify some of this information it has been grouped by similar categories. Unique training for some areas not listed will be included in another section. If you see any additions to jobs and want to provide me with a description and the related educational aspects please contact me.
Certainly all of the options will not be here but those that are can help you find related areas of interest or spark another thought to something similar. Since the career field is changing so fast, many new positions will crop up every year.
Wild Animal Trainer
This is one of the most high profile jobs within an organization. Animal trainers work closely with the animals and the public. They are very visible and the job is one of the ones that most people are interested in and are very difficult to get. Many jobs advertised at zoos receive between 75 to over 130 applications and most of these are from experienced people! There are a very limited number of openings in this area.Background experience that would be helpful for a position in this area include courses or knowledge in behavioral psychology, animal behavior, public speaking, communications, education, and theater.
Animal Trainers condition/train and maintain animal behaviors. They also perform in shows for both private and education groups. Trainers also act as animal keepers and are required to maintain a healthy environment for show animals by cleaning the holding and show performance areas, preparing food, documenting health, diet, and logging behavior records. They also will assist with the transport of animals whenever necessary and assist with any Veterinary procedures.
Different roles have different titles according to the facility. Apprentice Trainer, Associate Trainer, Training Assistant, and Senior Trainer are terms used to describe some of those roles. These change with experience, skill, and the types of animals worked with.
Academic training is usually a minimal Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred in psychology, or biology related areas of study. Animal Trainers and keepers work with the animals in any weather (this means cold, rainy, snowy, windy, or hot conditions, and includes emergency situations).
Good health and athletic fitness are mandatory. Most marine animal training applicants will undergo a rigorous swim test and physical when applying for an animal training position at an aquatic park. Ability to communicate with the public along with a positive attitude and a lot of patience are required. Most trainers will announce and narrate at the shows in which the animals perform, so public speaking skills are essential too.
Many times an on-the-job apprenticeship is necessary even if you have had previous experience training animals. This is so you can become familiar with the individual animals' personalities, the species specific characteristics and the training methods used before you interact directly with the animals.
Domestic Animal Trainer
There are a very limited number of openings in this area unless you develop your own business. There are also many areas of specialty. There is horse training, dog training, cat training, and animal actor training. Bird training can fall into the companion animal or the wild animal group.Background experience that would be helpful for a position in this area include courses or knowledge in behavioral psychology, animal behavior, public speaking, communications, education, and theater.
Animal Trainers condition/train and maintain animal behaviors. They also perform a variety of other roles. Trainers will act as animal handlers or kennel attendants too, since they need to maintain a healthy environment for the animals they are working with. Record keeping, developing programs, and training the animals, as well as teaching others how to train, are some of the required roles.
Different roles have different titles according to the facility or business. Apprentice Trainer, Associate Trainer, and Senior Trainer are terms used to describe some of those roles. These change with experience, skill, and the types of animals worked with.
Academic training is usually a minimal Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred in psychology, or biology related areas of study. There are some groups that claim to have accredited programming but there is no nationally recognized group for this; so use caution when you look around. Each state will license certain programs according to the specialty and breed or species of animal.
Good health and athletic fitness are mandatory. Ability to communicate with people, a positive attitude and a lot of patience are required. Many times an on-the-job apprenticeship is necessary even if you have had previous experience training animals. This is so you can become familiar with the individual animals' personalities, the breed specific characteristics, and the training methods used before you interact directly with the animals.
About this animal career specialist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with, and certified by, a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and speaks. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books {What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007)} can be found in this web site and in the shop. Questions for Guerrero should be submitted via the blog comments or membership forum.
