Career Overview: What I Do As a Nanny and Trainer
Hanging out with a pack of dogs all day is pretty cute, right? But taking care of literally a flock of animals can be challenging, especially when they’re not all well trained.
In a story that certainly sounds unique to our modern corporate economy, Mike Lam started sitting with the dog, working at home on other programming projects after he quit his corporate job. He found that he was good at both caring for dogs and taking care of the concerns of their owners, and he did it all the time. We spoke to Mike to find out a little more about his work with DogVacay as a sitter and trainer.
Tell us about your current position and how long you have been in it. Do you work with dogs full time or is it more like a part-time job?
I used to be a programmer at Goldman Sachs. I’m tired of corporate life, so I decided to give DogVacay a try. Now I have been working with dogs on a regular basis for over 3 years.
What prompted you to choose your career path? How did you start working with dogs?
I just hated the world of investment banking, so I left to pursue a more technology-oriented company. I signed up for DogVacay for fun as I had free time. After I started hosting, I realized that dog watching was not only cool, but good and profitable. It was a win-win for everyone.
How did you get a job? What kind of education and experience did you need?
I have two Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. But I know this question is about dogs!
In fact, I didn’t even have growing dogs. I’ve always wanted one, but my parents didn’t like pets. I got Toby about a year before joining DogVacay. I watched The Dog Whisperer closely and read Cesar Milan ‘s books on raising and training dogs. Following his methods and philosophy, clients saw a difference when they left their dogs with me. It helped me get reviews on the site and from there things started to grow.
Do you need any licenses or certificates?
As things got better and I decided to make it my own career, I trained at the only NYS Board of Education certified facility. However, I didn’t need it to get started.
What are you doing besides what most people see? What do you actually spend most of your time on?
I spend some time with administrative tasks such as responding to requests, setting up and meeting and greeting, and performing boarding and disembarking. There is also cleaning – the dogs are not as clean as we are!
However, the most amazing task that takes longer than people think is creating, editing and sending images and videos to clients for updates. I like to make sure I get the right shot. As a dog owner, I know that we all love and value good photos of our pet.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
People think caring for multiple dogs is stressful, but I find it the easiest part. In fact, dealing with owners is more difficult. Most people think of their dog as their child, so you must constantly reassure them that their fur child is safe and fun. It’s the same with [my dog] Toby, so I totally understand.
What’s your average uptime?
It can be almost 24/7 work. I spend 1-2 hours about four times a day eating and walking. Then I work on administrative tasks such as scheduling and answering leads. However, the quality of my life and the level of happiness during these hours of work is much higher than before. And now that my newborn has been born, the fact that I’m not stuck in the office and commuting to work 12 hours a day is invaluable.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
For dogs, it is worth teaching every dog at least basic obedience, whether they stay for 2 days or 2 weeks. Having a pack that you can control goes a long way when caring for multiple dogs. And you should always assume that these will be repeat customers, and training will pay dividends many times over in the distant future.
Spreadsheets and templates are critical for administrative tasks. In fact, the spreadsheet that I send to all of my clients to give me information about their dog is so detailed that it gives clients a great first impression of who I am and what my concern is without even meeting me.
What are you doing differently from your colleagues or colleagues in the same profession? What are they doing instead?
First, the spreadsheet I give contains over a hundred lines of input. Most people are likely to ask each client a set of basic and vague questions, such as “Any problems I need to know about,” which often get vague, incomplete, or inaccurate answers.
Secondly, dog training. Not every sitter has training knowledge. Some just pamper the dogs and pamper them. It’s okay with careless dogs that anyone can watch. However, if you plan on making this your career, you need to be able to deal with more challenging dogs for both client satisfaction and your own sanity.
What’s the worst part of a job and how do you deal with it?
People think it’s dog food, but it really doesn’t bother me that much!
The hardest part is having a client that checks and requests updates all the time. This is the same as a micromanager at work. I usually try to set expectations for updates to be sent on a daily basis.
What is the most enjoyable part of the job?
Appreciation of my clients when I make them feel comfortable away from their puppy, or shock when they see the transformation after training when they come back.
It’s amazing how many people just get used to giving up on behavioral problems with their dogs. When you show them that there is another way, the life of the dog and the person is improved. That’s when I really feel like I’ve made a difference.
I have never felt like a cog in a corporate car. In fact, I was pretty much convinced that everything I do is helping the rich get richer, probably at the expense of the rest of society.
What advice can you give to people who need to use your services?
Be honest about your dog. I will take almost any dog, but there are times when I know I might not be the best option, usually because I have a large pack. This is for the benefit not only of me and my pack, but also of your own dog.
When it comes to training, some people expect to just give me a dog with a lot of behavioral problems and get the perfect dog back. I have to make it clear that I mainly train humans, not dogs. Dogs listen to me simply because I can communicate clearly with them. Owners must learn to communicate too.
I usually ask people if they can “advance” in their field, but it might not make any sense here. Do you see how you go up?
In this world, building a business is all about repeat business, testimonials and word of mouth. Customer satisfaction and trust is everything. People call the DogVacay a dog sitting station wagon, but there is a difference. You will be driving with 100 different Uber drivers, but most people will stick with one host they trust.
What do people underestimate or overestimate in what you do? I guess most people think that you are just a guy who loves dogs.
From a training standpoint, some people assume that I can spend 10 minutes a day training and just pampering the dog for the rest of the day. But this is actually a 24/7 mindset, and every interaction you have with this dog encourages or discourages correct or inappropriate behavior. Sometimes I wish I could tear down that wall and just screw up all the dogs, but I feel responsible for bringing each dog back a little better than when they arrived.
From the point of view of the boarding school, people do not understand that this can be a 24/7 job. To begin with, I have a typical dog-owning schedule that includes a fairly strict walking and feeding schedule. Then I need to respond to clients when I hear from them during the day. Responding to potential customers within 5 minutes increases the chance of booking by 50%, so I always try to get back to them as soon as possible.
I also have to consider the people who come and go at any time, and my own pick up and drop off. Then I need to take the time to take pictures and videos, edit and find good ones. Hundreds of images and hours of footage can be viewed (dogs are not always very responsive when filming with a camera).
It’s not 9-5, which is nice, but a very large part of my day is devoted to work. However, my quality of life and my level of happiness are much higher than before.
What advice would you give to those who want to become your profession?
I was told a couple of times that I was an inspiration for them to quit their job and pursue a career in the animal industry.
Don’t just be a dog lover. You will not succeed, and to be honest, you will end up not enjoying what you do. To do this job well, like any other job, takes passion and drive. Even professional gamers have to do their craft 8+ hours a day.
Being responsible, reliable and trustworthy is the most important thing. Customers place their child’s life in your hands, and it is not easy to accept this huge responsibility. Make sure people are happy too.
Finally, learning how to train your dogs will set you apart from the rest, this is not a pun.