What You'll Do

  • Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
  • Cue or signal animals during performances.
  • Administer prescribed medications to animals.
  • Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
  • Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
  • Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
  • Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
  • Advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.
  • Train horses or other equines for riding, harness, show, racing, or other work, using knowledge of breed characteristics, training methods, performance standards, and the peculiarities of each animal.
  • Use oral, spur, rein, or hand commands to condition horses to carry riders or to pull horse-drawn equipment.

Essential Skills

Instructing 3.75/5
Speaking 3.5/5
Learning Strategies 3.5/5
Critical Thinking 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.25/5
Active Listening 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.12/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Service Orientation 3.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Dependability, Integrity, Attention to Detail, Self-Control, Independence

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5
Oral Expression 3.62/5
Oral Comprehension 3.38/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5
Speech Clarity 3.25/5
Fluency of Ideas 3.12/5
Originality 3.12/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Atlassian JIRA Customer information control system CICS Database software Epic Systems Facebook Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Oracle Database Oracle PeopleSoft SAP software Tracks Software Work scheduling software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.55/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.39/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.27/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.18/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 4.16/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Agility Instructor Animal Handler Animal Trainer Bronc Breaker Bronc Buster Canine Handler Canine Service Teacher Cat Groomer Dog Groomer Dog Handler Dog Obedience Instructor Dog Show Judge Dog Trainer Dolphin Trainer Elephant Tamer Equestrian Equestrian Trainer Explosive Detection K-9 Handler (Explosive Detection Canine Handler) Guide Dog Instructor Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) Guide Dog Trainer Handler Hearing Dog Trainer Horse Breaker Horse Trainer Horse Wrangler Horseman Licensed Guide Dog Instructor Lion Tamer Lion Trainer Marine Animal Trainer Marine Mammal Trainer Monkey Trainer Obedience Trainer Outrider Pet Groomer Pet Handler Pet Trainer Pet Training Instructor Racehorse Trainer Ring Conductor Seeing Eye Dog Teacher Seeing Eye Dog Trainer Service Dog Trainer Show Dog Trainer Show Horse Driver Snake Charmer Trainer Trick Rodeo Rider Whale Trainer Wrangler