Dog Health Questions: (UK) Dog Trainer Apprenticeship, dog based work possibilities? to get into the doggy world?

Ok basically i would like to get into dog training, ive looked at uni courses but they are either to biologically scientific or are too based to horses and are non-practical. I would rather work specifically with dogs only to:
a) further gain more knowledge and understanding of their behaviour first hand
b) to have someone show/teach me ways to interact with dogs.
c) to have PRACTICAL experience with dogs on a regular basis

Im 20, been working full time in an office environment since i left college a couple of years ago and to be honest the stress of it all has already got to me, which is NOT good.

Ive never really had any goals in life career wise - no direction at all. The reason why i have found the path "dog trainer" is:
a) Parents recently got a puppy, i moved out just before it arrived so not really mine unfortunately. However myself and my parents are first time dog owners thus i have a real interest in understanding the species, trying to understand dog behaviour. Wanting to bring balance to the dog, to be able to understand when my dog is intimidated so i can protect her as a pack leader.
b) really like the show "dog whisperer" with cesar millan - love how he lets dogs be dogs and the whole pack leader and energy thing.
c)had a dog trainer round for my puppy and it was a real eye opener into the dog world.
d) this sounds really stupid i know, but i would also like to go down this path to find who i am and to have a better more active lifestyle.

Anyhow, getting a bit off topic there (sorry first time on here)

Does anyone know of any dog trainer apprenticeship in dorset preferable closer to the coast than Shaftesbury. Or any practical dog themed jobs even if its just a weekend job or work experience?

Also i would like advice on if this would be a good career path considering my reasons for it.

Sorry bout the length of this, thanks to any and all that read.

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Recommended Answer:
It sounds like you are definitely interested in dogs, but before you choose this path I think you need a little more experience with it and with dogs. Start by volunteering at a dog training school. There are some great schools out there that use positive reinforcement methods. The instructors will give you some great tips and you will learn how to read and interact with dogs. Often times when volunteering with dog trainers other opportunities open up, like going to conferences on certain dog behaviour topics. This can really help you focus on what you want to do with dogs: do you want to have your own training school and teach families and their dogs the basics in obedience and manners? do you want to rehabilitate and rehome abused and abandoned dogs? do you want to work with aggressive dogs?

I would say just start with volunteering after work at a dog training school. They are usually a couple of hours in the evenings. You start by greeting the owners and dogs, the instructor leads the class and you learn from the instructor and help students where you can, then clean up after classes are over. This is a good way for you to learn to read dogs when the dogs are almost always friendly.

If you do decide you want to become a dog trainer than ask the trainer you are working with how they got started. That is the easiest way in to the dog training world. Working with trainers and other people and their dogs will also give you an in in the dog world in general.

Good luck!

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