Professional Practice in Dog Behaviour and Training An Industry Survey on Systems, Sustainability and Standards

Why this survey exists

The dog behaviour and training sector plays a critical role in supporting animal welfare, public safety, and human–animal relationships. Professionals working in this field carry significant responsibility, emotional labour, and ethical accountability.

However, despite the complexity and importance of this work, there is currently limited sector-wide data on how dog behaviour and training professionals actually operate in practice , including the systems they use, the pressures they face, and the structural challenges affecting sustainability and professional wellbeing.

This survey, Professional Practice in Dog Behaviour and Training, has been developed to address that gap.

Its purpose is to capture real-world insights into:

  • professional workflows and service delivery models

  • client intake, assessment and communication systems

  • use of technology and professional tools

  • collaboration with veterinary and allied professionals

  • workload, boundaries and emotional labour

  • pricing structures and business sustainability

  • training, education and support needs within the sector

The aim is not to evaluate individual practitioners, but to build an evidence-informed picture of the profession as a whole identifying where current systems are functioning well, where they are failing, and where structural improvements are most urgently needed.

Findings from this survey will be used to inform the development of:

  • professional training seminars and workshops

  • practical frameworks, templates and tools

  • guidance on ethical and sustainable practice

  • collaborative models across disciplines

  • future professional development resources for the sector

Ultimately, this project seeks to contribute to higher professional standards, improved sustainability, and better long-term outcomes for both practitioners and the animals and clients they support.


Estimated time: 7–12 minutes.

All responses are confidential and will be analysed only in anonymised, aggregated form. No individual or business will be identifiable in any published outputs. Summary statistics and sector-level findings may be published publicly for research, general interest, training and professional development purposes, in line with GDPR.  Data is collected by www.snoutandabout.ie Please email info@snoutandabout.ie if you have any concerns.
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Email *
1) About you
This helps me tailor the content to your role, experience level, and context.
Your name
Business / brand name (if applicable)
Your primary role right now (choose the closest fit) *
If you chose 'Other', tell me your role / work context
Where are you based? *
How long have you been working with clients professionally? *
How do you currently deliver most of your work? *
How busy are you right now? *
1 = quiet / struggling for enquiries • 5 = fully booked / overwhelmed
1
5
2) What do you want to improve? (select ALL that apply)
Tick everything that feels relevant — even if it’s messy or you’re not sure.
Systems + skills you want to improve (multi-select) *
Required
3) Your biggest struggles (tell me the truth 😅)
The more specific you are, the more useful this will be.
What are your TOP 3 biggest struggles right now? (be specific) *
Example: 'Enquiries come in but I lose people before they book' or 'My consults run over and I’m wrecked'.
What ONE thing do you wish you knew how to do (or had a system for)? *
If you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing in your work/business, what is it?
Where do you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or avoidant?
Be honest — avoidance often points directly to the system we need.
What do you currently do that works well? (so we can build on it)
4) Tech comfort & tools
This helps me pitch the seminar at the right level — from tech-shy to automation nerds.
How comfortable are you with technology in your business? *
1 = I dread it / avoid it • 5 = I love it / I automate stuff
1
5
Which tools do you currently use? (tick all that apply)
If you use a CRM or booking system, which one?
5) Enquiry → Booking → Intake (how it works right now)
This section is pure gold for diagnosing what’s leaking time or money.
How do new clients usually find you? (tick all that apply) *
Required
If 'Other', where?
How do clients currently contact you first? (tick all that apply) *
Required
What happens after the first enquiry? *
How do you currently book clients in? (tick all that apply) *
Required
Do you take deposits / pre-payment? *
How often do you lose leads before they book? *
1 = rarely • 5 = constantly / it’s a real issue
1
5
What is the most annoying part of your booking/intake process right now?
6) Assessments & consult delivery
Let’s pinpoint what would make sessions smoother, safer, and more effective.
What best describes your consult structure? *
Which parts feel hardest during sessions? (tick all that apply)
Describe your MOST difficult client conversation recently (what happened?)
No names needed — just the scenario. I’ll use patterns like this to build scripts + troubleshooting.
7) Plans, reports, vet referrals & follow-up
This is where most people lose HOURS — we can fix that with templates + structure.
How do you currently provide the plan after a session? *
How confident are you that your written plans are clear and usable for clients? *
1 = not confident • 5 = very confident
1
5
Approximately how long does your post-consult write-up take you? *
What would you love templates for? (tick all that apply)
What do you wish vets (or other pros) understood about your work?
8) Pricing, boundaries & time management
Sustainability matters. This section helps me build the seminar around real-life constraints.
How confident do you feel about your pricing? *
1 = I undercharge / feel awkward • 5 = solid and confident
1
5
What pricing-related challenges do you face? (tick all that apply)
How often do you feel close to burnout from workload/emotional labour? *
1 = rarely • 5 = often / it’s affecting me
1
5
If you could change ONE thing about your weekly schedule, what would it be?
Where does your time leak most? (tick all that apply)
9) Seminar preferences
This helps me design something you’ll actually attend and finish.
What format would you prefer? (tick all that apply) *
Required
What matters most to you in a training like this? *
Anything else you want me to know?
Say anything: fears, frustrations, hopes, what you’re trying to build, what’s getting in the way.
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
This form was created inside of Snout and About.

Does this form look suspicious? Report

Google Forms