Welcome to Wear Wag Repeat Episode 40: Shannen Standiford of Pups on the Coast who’s a little different than my regular guests. This dog mom is making a big impact in the lives of dogs through her work in the veterinary field, as a groomer, dog sitter and now a trainer! The biggest takeaway I hope you get from this episode is to take chances and be open minded about where your career path is headed – as long as it is somehow related to dogs, of course!  You don’t always need a fancy degree or decades of experience, you can pursue your dreams just like today’s guest is!  

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS: 

Shannen started working professionally with animals at a young age, and has experience working in the veterinary field, the dog-sitting industry, dog grooming, and now dog training and pet blogging. She believes that every dog job has its pros and cons, and that any animal lover can find their dream job by stepping out of their comfort zone and trying new things. Whether it be a side-gig or a full-time hustle, the animal industry has an incredible amount to offer, and it may not be as out-of-reach than you think.

(00:00) Intro
(00:29) Introducing Shannen Standiford of Pups on the Coast
(02:12) Shannen describes her first job with animals
(06:15) The depths of dog beauty academy
(10:45) Shannen details the pros and cons of each dog job she’s had
(13:03) What Shannen’s favorite dog job is
(15:59) The hiring process for All Things Pup
(20:04) Shannen shares about Chance, her new golden retriever puppy
(24:51) Shannen’s recommendations for learning more about the dog industry

TORI: What was your first job working with animals, and how did you get it?

Shannen: I always loved working with animals even when I was younger training my family’s dogs. I went to college for business for a year and wasn’t a big fan of it. I wanted to try something new, but wasn’t sure what that was going to be. I had a little toy fox terrier named Nicky who was the why behind working with dogs. I reached out to 15 vets in Colorado and 1 got back to me saying I could shadow some of their surgeries for the day. So I went to the clinic and loved it! After I shadowed, they asked me to be an assistant which I gladly accepted!

TORI: What has been your favorite “Dog Job” so far, and why?

Shannen: My favorite dog job is dog training. I was discouraged by the dog grooming business and felt discouraged about my path of becoming a vet tech. I just felt like there was just something else out there for me. I followed this celebrity dog trainer on Instagram and was inspired to try it out.

TORI: How did you get into blogging about dogs?

Shannen: I started this blog a few months ago and love the way it’s turning out. I go over what it’s like to work in a grooming salon, grooming tips, training tricks, etc…I also am sharing my journey about training my little golden puppy because obviously training a puppy is hard. I decided I wanted to bring people along for that and have them see how it goes.

TORI: What advice would you give to someone who is looking to start a career with animals?

Shannen: If you’re going to try and find your dream job, step out of your comfort zone. You can’t just sit around. Keep doing what you should be doing rather than waiting for it to happen. Every job has its pros and cons so go through every opportunity for yourself.

TORI: Do you have any books or resources that you recommend people check out?

Shannen: Definitely check out my blog and my Instagram. I pretty much go into what it’s like to work in a salon, tips and tricks for grooming, as well as tips and tricks for training your puppy. Also, check out the blog All Things Pups as it is geared toward all things dog training. Also Kaelin Munkelwitz, the head of the blog, wrote a book that really dives deep into training for those who really want to focus on it.

Find Pups On The Coast:

Pups On the Coast Website
Pups On the Coast Instagram
Coastal Pups Instagram

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