As discussed in our last post, dog training is an unregulated industry that doesn’t require a practitioner to hold any credentials. Despite that, certification options abound! This makes getting a qualification or certification a bit of a minefield!
‘Certification’ is a hot topic within professional dog training circles right now. Although dog training is a skilled profession, at the moment it’s an unregulated industry. You don’t need any type of proof you can deliver the service you (allegedly) provide.
Contract law was a full-year course when I went to law school. While I found it fascinating, I understand that most people would rather spend all day washing dog saliva out of empty food toys. But, as a business owner, it’s important that you have a basic...
Many advise forming an LLC when starting a business. But for dog trainers, an LLC might not be the best choice.
Shield or Sword? It's Confusing I see a lot of confusion surrounding plagiarism and copyright among pet professionals, and while it may not seem obvious, dog training is a business in which the subjects of plagiarism and copyright come up frequently. Why Is This Even...
The day your business grows busy enough to consider hiring someone to help you is an exciting time. But it is also a time that can be fraught with worry and traps for the unwary. It’s a big step that can land you in a shadowy forest of employment law, wage and hour...
Liability waiver: A legal contract intended to reduce the chance of a lawsuit being filed against you or your business, or to reduce the amount that can be recovered, by shifting liability for your negligence to your client. Also called a "release," because the...
This is the second of a series of interviews that were recorded in mid-2020. As small business owners, we are often isolated from our peer group of other business owners. This feeling of isolation and figuring it out on our own was exacerbated in 2020 by the effects...
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best thing you can do for your business longevity is to make a plan for when things go wrong. When a client asks me what to do first when starting a new business, I tell them to think about insurance. Ask yourself, what...
Why are you giving a discount? Recently I was working with a wonderful young dog trainer on a lengthy contract for specialized training services. She wanted her prices to be part of her contract, so she would be able to record which pricing method her clients...