Key Attributes Animal Trainers Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Jacob Brown

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Animal trainers train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact; and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. They may also train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.

The core tasks that animal trainers are likely to carry out include:

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.
Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that animal trainers would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for realistic work environments. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.8%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82.6%