Hourly Wage for Petco/PetSmart Dog Trainers?

I don't know the exact amount, but I have a friend that trains at PetSmart.  She gets paid a percentage of the class fee for each dog in the class, not an hourly rate.

Last time I worked at PetsMart, that got a commission not an hourly wage.  

Okay, thank you.  I did not realize it was based on commission. 

I'm a trainer at Petco.  The wages may be different in different areas of the country though.  Its sort of based on commission, but also hourly.  Five people or less and I get $10/hr.  A class is around an hour and a half by the time I answer all the questions.  6-10(i think 10) and I get $15/hr.  But, I never have more than six and I don't like that many really.  Private lessons are $20/hr.  But, like I said, this could be different in different areas of the country.

This may sound rude, and it is really not meant to be, I'm actually just curious, but have these two stores changed the requirements for their trainers in the last few years? About 10 years ago I was between electrical jobs, so I went to work as a groomer at a Petsmart in California ( I've been a groomer since 1969). It was about that time that obedience classes were going to be offered at the store, and they were looking for trainers. I expressed an interest and was told no, because I had trained classes in the past, and also had a number of AKC titles on my dogs. They wanted people that could be taught to train the "Petsmart" way, and it didn't matter if these "trainers" had even owned a dog! I thought that that was an odd concept, and read through the training material which seemed pretty straight forward and on a par with most classes I knew about. But my concern has always been, how can a person train another person when they only have book learning and no real world experience? The best trainers are those that have years of experience with many different breeds of dogs, and excellent people skills.

I applied for the trainer job online.  The store I applied to had not even opened yet.  I was interviewed for the job of a companion animal specialist.  We have this thing called a talent portal where the managers can search for applicants for certain positions and they just pulled me up on that one first.  During my interview, it came up that I showed dogs and have taken 4 training classes through my school.  These are sorta normal training classes where we trained dogs, but we also learned how to train people at the same time.  Then I was offered that trainer position as well as my specialist position.  Ive had dogs all of my life and can remember trying to train agility when I was about 6 years old using lowered horse jumps.  I've always been the one people go to for help training so I have trained family's and friend's dogs since I was 10 or so.  I've been training and showing Parson's for 4 years now and have helped train a Borzoi who I will be handling soon.  So, I have quite a bit of experience training even if it isn't on a professional level.  I have certain lesson plans I'm supposed to follow, but I also add other things and teach more than one method. 

ORIGINAL: ColleenC

I'm a trainer at Petco.  The wages may be different in different areas of the country though.  Its sort of based on commission, but also hourly.  Five people or less and I get $10/hr.  A class is around an hour and a half by the time I answer all the questions.  6-10(i think 10) and I get $15/hr.  But, I never have more than six and I don't like that many really.  Private lessons are $20/hr.  But, like I said, this could be different in different areas of the country.

 
ColleenC, thanks for replying.  I wonder if that's how all PetCo stores work or not.  I'm in the Northeast.  Where are you?  I talked to the General Manger today, he said he'd review my application and give me a call "tomorrow."  Hopefully he keeps his word.  After reading dstull's reply, I hope I didn't lessen my chances of getting the job when I mentioned that I'm a volunteer trainer at a private shelter. 
 
Just out of curisoity, do you teach your classes in the middle of the store for all to see?  That is how PetSmart does it, which is practically right next door.  I applied there as well.  Haven't had much luck with them so far though.  If it were me, I would prefer not to have the classses in the middle of the store.  I understand why they do that though.  I think it's enough of a distraction just being in class for the dog.  Nevermind people walking around outside of the class observing.  I would think people would want a little more privacy, especially if they have questiosn that they deem embarrassing to ask. 
 
Also, PetSmart told me in the interview that if the dog has any severe problems they would recomment the owner to a behaviorist.  But you say here that you do "private lessons"?

I have my classes either in a corner of the store, or outside in front of the store.  I have a nice expen that I set up for the classes.  All of the stores are going to have the same type of pay, but a few may have a different pay amount.  Its going to be that type of schedule though.  But, actually, it might even be the same about because the P& lists it like that. 
I enjoy that part of my job, but I really would rather be a private trainer.  But, I have to start somewhere.  Its great experience even if I have to follow stupid rules sometimes. 
As far as severe problems, it really depends.  I think of severe problems as extreme aggression or something like that.  If the dog is extremely dog aggressive, I don't feel comfortable training it at Petco.  It is not a place that will help because there are always many dogs around.  In that case, I have a trainer in town that I can recommend.  I haven't had any with that problem yet though.  Human aggression is another thing that I would not feel comfortable working with in this situation.  There are way too many people around to start working on that.  Problems such as being scared of new people, places, and objects I dont usually have a problem with.  It really depends on the dog.  I had one dog that was about 2 years old and had never been out of the yard, she was a rescue.  I felt comfortable working with her because the owner was willing to work slow and after hearing about the dog, she was fine with people.  We made HUGE progress with that dog.  I have one now that is just a little snot and bites the wife of the family.  Just play biting, but enough that the poor woman is all chewed and scratched up. 
The thing to remember is that you work for Petco.  You have to do what they say.  In the end, they are the ones who give you a paycheck, and if they don't like what youre doing, they can take that away.  Like I said, I'd prefer to be doing my own training, but I need a place to start!

Colleen,
 
Well you sound very knowledgable and experienced enough to do private lessons on your own if you wanted.  You could just take on cases that you thought you could do.  I mean, I'm no expert.  Maybe there's a drawback to doing it that way.
 
I actually need an extra job right now, as the I'm doing currently isn't making me a lot of money currently.  So working as a pet trainer would be suitable.  I have volunteered for nearly a year as a dog trainer at a shelter... so I have that experience.  I had planned on just doing that, and then going to Animal Behavior College... and then I would advertise myself once I had graduated and recieved my certificate.  That was initially my plan.
 
Now that's changed a bit.  I might work at PetCo if they interview and hire me.  Then go to ABC once I finally can afford it. 
 
Have you heard anything about the differences between working at PetSmart and PetCo?  I wonder... because I could still call PetSmart back up and check on them.  Also, it's strange that PetCo endorses Cesar Millan, yet PetCo's training methods are strictly P+ right?  I do like Cesar, he's the one that inspired me in the first place. 

Oh, well.  This is exactly why I hate working for other people.  (I'm actually working from home right now, but making less money that I used to.)
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So I call PetCo on Monday and talk to the General Manager.  He said he'd look at my application and that he'd "call me tomorrow."  I wait for him to call the next day, and the phone never rings.  Typical.
 
I wait until Thursday, yesterday, to call the store.  I called a little late, and he wasn't there.  So I talked to one of the store managers and she took my name and number and she left it on his desk or something.
 
I never get the call today.  So I called at around 3.00pm and he's already left.  I didn't want to call earlier, so that I would give him the chance to call ME.  Oh, well... on to the next idea.  I'm looking at these pet sitter/walker jobs on craigslist. 
 

Wow, they sure don't pay much.  And, I understand that you do have to sign a non-compete clause.  Be careful of that one if you plan to continue training as a career. 

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

Wow, they sure don't pay much.  And, I understand that you do have to sign a non-compete clause.  Be careful of that one if you plan to continue training as a career. 

Would that "non-compete clause" still be in effect even after you leave PetCo?
 
It's funny, everywhere I've read they say that most of those trainers at PetCo and PetSmart are hired wihout any experience at all.  And here I am having worked with dogs with behavioral problems and on a training team at a shelter, I don't get a call back! 

I didn't have to sign any clause at all.  I can still do private lessons on my own, I just cannot solicit through the store.  They do not pay much at all.  I was just thinking of that the other day.  The customer pays $70 for a private lesson, I get $20 minus taxes.  But, just today, I found out about an opportunity that I wouldn't have otherwise.  Eventually, I want to work in canine therapy.  I have a lady who is working towards making her dog a therapy dog and is enrolled in class starting in a few weeks.  I'm going to have CGC classes and I'm working on becoming a certified evaluator.  Today, I was talking to her and she had talked to a director of volunteer something at the hospital and the director is very interested in having a program like that.  Theyve never had one before and she would LOVE for a canine therapy program to come work with rehab patients.  That is EXACTLY what I want to do.  So, I'm going to call her and see if I can head up a program with them.  Possibly be the evaluator for dogs who are allowed to enter.  I would LOVE for my class of CGC students to be the first to go to the hospital.  That is my goal now!  If I hadn't taken this job, and I almost didn't, I would not have this opportunity.  Nothing is set yet, but its definitely closer than I was before!

The Petsmart closest to me has a hotel/daycare in it. They also have a vet. clinic in the back beside the groom shop. We have our obed. classes in the "playroom" of the daycare but we always do our assignments each week in the store itself. This past week we worked on going up to strangers in the store and having them give the sit command and then reward. For the $106 (for 8 weeks and alot of free and discount coupons) so far it's been worthwhile. KoKo has learned his watch me,come, sit, down, stay,wait,take it & leave it, and loose leash walking. We just finished week 5.