When people hear the phrase professional dog listener, they often imagine a life spent simply fixing dogs – solving behaviour problems, calming reactivity, or working through anxiety.
But the truth is far richer, deeper, and far more human than that.
Being a professional dog listener is not really about “fixing” dogs at all. It’s about connection. It’s about empathy. And very often, it’s about supporting people just as much as it is about supporting their dogs.
Kate and Julie recently sat down to talk honestly about what this work actually looks like day to day – and what emerged was a picture of a career that is flexible, creative, deeply meaningful, and constantly evolving.
No Two Days Look the Same
One of the most beautiful things about working as a professional dog listener is that every day is different.
Dogs are different.
People are different.
Families, homes, lifestyles, and emotional landscapes are all unique.
And because of that, this work never becomes boring or repetitive.
Some days might involve supporting a client whose dog is deeply fearful and helping them find steadiness in the middle of that stress. Other days might be quieter – reflective conversations, gentle guidance, or celebrating breakthroughs that once felt impossible.
There’s no rigid script.
There is a shared framework – the foundations of Dog Listening – but how that looks in real life is always shaped by the individual dog and the human in front of you.
A Career That Fits Around Your Life
Kate and Julie’s lives look very different.
Julie is married, has children, and balances family life alongside her work. Kate has other businesses, travels, and works internationally. And yet Dog Listening fits beautifully into both of their lives.
That’s because this work is adaptable.
You can:
- Work one-to-one in people’s homes
- Work online with clients around the world
- Create courses, communities, or resources
- Focus locally or think globally
- Adjust your work as your life changes
For Julie, Dog Listening was a lifeline during early motherhood – something meaningful that kept her grounded and connected to herself. For Kate, it offered freedom after feeling trapped in a more conventional job.
There’s no single “right” way to do this work.
You get to design it around your life, not the other way around.
Creativity, Curiosity, and Ongoing Learning
Another often-overlooked aspect of being a professional dog listener is just how creative the work is.
Every client brings a new puzzle:
- A different dog personality
- A different human dynamic
- A different emotional context
What works beautifully for one family might need adjusting for another. That means listening deeply, staying curious, and being willing to explore different approaches within the Dog Listening framework.
And when something tricky comes up, there’s support. Peer connection, shared learning, and ongoing conversations with other dog listeners are a huge part of the experience.
This is work where you’re always learning – about dogs, about people, and often about yourself.
As Julie says, every day is a school day.
The Moments That Give You Goosebumps
There’s a moment many dog listeners recognise instantly.
It’s when a client “gets it”.
When something shifts – not just in the dog, but in the human.
Maybe they ring you, excited and emotional, because their dog can finally be left alone. Maybe they can have visitors again. Maybe walks are peaceful for the first time in years.
These changes might sound small to an outsider. But for the people living them, they are life-changing.
And witnessing that transformation – knowing you played a part in easing suffering and restoring connection – is profoundly rewarding.
It’s the kind of work that leaves you quietly thinking, this is why I do this.
When Dog Listening Changes More Than One Life
Something extraordinary often happens next.
Some clients don’t just experience change with their dogs – they experience change within themselves.
They become more grounded. More aware. More aligned.
And sometimes, they feel called to take things further.
Many of the students at the School for Professional Dog Listeners began as clients. They felt the impact of this work so deeply that they wanted to share it with others.
That’s how this becomes more than a career.
It becomes a movement.
A growing community of people offering a kinder, calmer, more compassionate way of living with dogs – and with ourselves.
A Life You Get to Shape
Perhaps one of the most empowering parts of being a professional dog listener is the autonomy.
At first, that freedom can feel scary. No boss. No rigid structure. No one telling you what to do.
But over time, it becomes liberating.
You choose:
- How you work
- Who you work with
- Where you work
- How your work evolves
You can stay local. You can work internationally. You can travel, teach, write, create, or keep things simple and one-to-one.
There is room for your personality, your values, and your season of life.
A Gentle Closing Thought
If something in this has quietly resonated, that’s worth listening to.
Often, the path doesn’t begin with a big decision – it begins with a feeling of recognition, a sense that something here simply makes sense.
And sometimes, that’s more than enough to take the very first step.
