What is the most important quality for a dog trainer?

M: What qualifications do you need?
R: I have a degree and worked for the SPCA for almost seven years. SPCA is a worldwide association that provides specialized care to pets. I graduated as a certified dog trainer and behavior councilor from the dog academy of San Francisco SPCA.
M: What sort of person does the job suit?
R: Of course, the person should not be afraid of dogs. But most importantly, he should be understanding.
M: What is the best way into the industry?
R: Try volunteering as a dog walker and a class assistant with dog academy certified trainers at Hong Kong SPCA. And you will learn a lot.
M: What work hours do you keep?
R: Evenings and weekends.
M: Is there a clear career path?
R: There is a clear path overseas, because there are training opportunities unlike in Hong Kong. It is a very specialized skill. Otherwise, if you like animals in general, there are many related careers like animal boarding, dog walking, pet-sitting, etc. M: What’s the best part of your job?
R: Being able to help people build relationships with their dogs, and training dogs using more gentle methods, preventing and resolving behavioral problems.
M: What’s the worst?
R: Dealing with dogs that have been beaten so much that they lose all their trust in people.
M: Who is your role model?
R: I have two: renowned animal behaviorist, Doctor Ian Dunbar, and Jane Dennison, the director of the Academy at San Francisco SPCA.
M: Salary?
R: Mine is between twenty thousand and forty thousand HK dollars a month. But a paid job starts at about seven thousand HK dollars without a degree and about ten thousand HK dollars with a degree.
M: Last word.
R: Working with animals is an interesting and rewarding field to be in, but the pay may not be as good as one hopes.