How to Promote a Dog Obedience School

With so many dog owners, opening an obedience school for canines can be a profitable enterprise. However, you can be the Jedi master of dog trainers, but you won't be successful unless you can attract customers to your door. You must know how to promote your business, even if you don't have a large budget to sustain a marketing campaign.

Instructions

1. Design an eye-catching flyer and business cards. Use a catchy, colorful logo or photograph, come up with a memorable name for your school and include your name, phone number and any dog handling certifications you hold prominently on the flyer. Pick a name that ties in dogs with your expertise.

2. Visit pet stores, dog grooming salons, veterinarian offices and local animal shelters and ask them to post your flyers. Or leave a stack of flyers and your business cards on the desk for clients and patients to pick up. Check back often so you can keep flyers and card supplies replenished.

3. Visit the local animal shelter and offfer one complimentary introductory class to anyone who adopts a dog. Dogs in shelters often have behavioral problems that would need obedience training. Offer the basics in the first class, just enough to prove your value. After that, the dog owner wil have to register for paid follow-ups.

4. Set up a booth at dog shows, especially amateur events that cater to kids or inexperienced dog owners. Bring your own well-trained dog to show off some of the skills you can teach.

5. Start a website and write a dog obedience blog or featured column. Offer a version to your local newspaper. The blog positions you as an expert and gets you name out before the public.

6. Contact dog agility training schools or associations in your area. Offer to erect booths at their meets and ask for referrals. The more experienced dogs running agility courses are typically well behaved, but problems can always arise. Remember too that not all agility trained dogs are veteran course runners; some of the newer competitors could use your services.

7. Use the Internet to promote your dog obedience school. Post ads on any free community websites. Ask a designer to spruce up your own website. Big, colorful pictures of cute dogs sitting up or rolling over or just smiling at the camera will catch the eyes of prospective clients.