Who can be a dog trainer?

What does a trainer look like?

Sometimes, it’s the one standing alone in the field long after the session ends.

It’s the one who stays up at night replaying everything they could’ve done better. It’s the one who hides the shake in their hands while trying to be steady for the dog. How can you be a dog trainer?

It’s not about shouting commands or having the answers—it’s about showing up even when you feel like you don’t belong.

How to be a dog trainer - Because real trainers aren’t built in perfect sessions.

• They’re built in the moments no one sees.

• The quiet doubt. The whispered, “please work.” The sigh when it finally clicks.

• It’s the quiet leadership.

• The patience when it’s hard.

• The tears in your truck when no one’s looking, and the decision to show up anyway.

• You’re not failing. You’re learning.

• You’re not falling behind—you’re laying bricks.

• It won’t feel like progress every day, but it is.

  
  

At SAPPER-K9, we see you. And we believe in the dog trainer you’re becoming.

That’s what a k9 trainer looks like.

by Cindy Searle, Co-Owner & Trainer, SAPPER-K9