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Looking for careers after teaching that let you keep doing what you love—without staying in the classroom? Becoming a dog trainer might be a career change you haven’t considered. In this episode of Teachers in Transition, I talk with Joe Dickinson of Western States K9 College about how your teaching skills can translate into a dog training business.

And before you think, “But I teach people,” that’s actually the point. A big part of dog training is teaching the humans. Breaking skills into manageable steps, explaining something three different ways, tracking progress, and keeping your cool when things get spicy? Teachers have some experience with that.

Joe shares how the college combines dog training, behavior education, and business support to help students prepare to work for themselves. We talk about learning at your own pace, building a business while you’re still employed, and exploring dog training as a side hustle, a second career, or a next chapter after teacher retirement.

Naturally, my Rottweilers make their way into the conversation. We also discuss anxious dogs, measurable progress, and why small steps can make a difference on either end of the leash.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why teachers’ transferable skills are such a natural fit for dog training and client education.
• What Joe’s online dog trainer certification program includes, from training and behavior to business development.
• How support with pricing, branding, websites, and marketing can help with the unfamiliar parts of working for yourself.
• How a gradual transition could let you explore a new career before leaving your teaching paycheck.
• Why observing specific behaviors tells us more than simply labeling a dog “anxious” or “reactive.”
• How teachers approaching retirement are preparing for a business beyond the classroom.

Connect with Joe + save $500

Explore the courses at Western States K9 College and use promo code teachersintransition for a $500 discount. You can also find information about the full certification program, individual courses, and scheduling a conversation with Joe on the website.

Have questions about whether this path fits your goals? Email Joe at joe@westernstatesk9college.com.

Need help figuring out your next chapter?

You don’t have to have your next job title picked out before you ask for help. If you know something needs to change but aren’t sure where your teaching skills could take you, book a discovery call with Vanessa. We can talk about your experience, your possibilities, and what a career outside the classroom could look like for you.

You’re also invited to Career Clarity: From Questions to Coordinates, my free career mapping workshop on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 7 PM Central. We’ll explore what matters to you, what you do well, and how those pieces can point toward your next chapter. Register on the Teachers in Transition homepage.

If this conversation opened a door you hadn’t considered, share it with a teacher who loves dogs. Follow Teachers in Transition on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss an episode, and if the show has helped you, I’d appreciate an honest rating or review.

Your teaching skills translate everywhere, and you are valuable.

Connect with Vanessa

• 💌 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com
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The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzsprout

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