There are many different types of blogs that you can create to help boost your authority, increase visibility and ultimately build trust in your expertise and services as a dog trainer. Blogs enable you to offer incredible value to your readers which can help convert them into clients.
In this guide, I’m going to break down ten different blog post ideas that you can use for your dog training business to help you stand out from the crowd and connect with your ideal clients.
Table of Contents
Blog post ideas to add value and showcase expertise
How-To Blogs
People generally take to Google searching for a product, service, or an answer to a question. How-to blogs exist to answer questions.
There are a ton of questions that a dog owner types into Google, stuff like ‘how to get my dog to stop pulling on the lead’ or ‘how to stop my dog from barking.’
Think about the kinds of clients you would like to work with in an ideal world and create content that answers their questions.
Examples of how-to blogs for dog trainers
- How to toilet train your puppy
- How to crate train your dog
- How to teach your dog to walk nicely on the lead
- How to teach a reliable recall
Couple these with video content to show your reader’s how-to, and you’ll be winning brucey bonus points all round.
You could also include downloadable how-to guides to further help your audience. Add an email sign up and increase subscribers to your mailing list. Follow their sign up with a cracking email sequence and you’ll be wooing them big style!
If you already have handouts that you use with your clients, then these are instant lead generation for you.
You may be thinking, ‘but if I tell them what to do in a blog, then they won’t need me.’ But I promise the opposite is true.
Your reader will likely pick up some helpful tips from your blog, but without your expertise to guide them, they will probably still need some professional support.
And who are they going to choose? Why the person who provided them with some helpful hints that made things more manageable, of course!
Here’s an example of a how-to blog post I wrote for Your Family Dog Trainer about how to keep kids and dogs safe together. And another for Bracken Dog Training about how to master loose lead training.
Why blogs
Following on from how-to questions, dog owners are frequently seeking to better understand their canine companions. Which leads to A LOT of ‘why questions.’
Example of why blogs for dog trainers
- Why does my dog growl when I pick him up
- Why does my dog roll in fox poo
- Why does my dog run away when I call him
- Why does my dog hump other dogs
- Why does my dog follow me everywhere
- Why does my dog bark at other dogs
Why blogs can also be used to explain a concept that your readers would like to better understand. For example, you may introduce a blog explaining why your dog gets the zoomies or why a dog may be pulling on the lead.
Here’s an example of a why post I wrote for Bracken Dog Training on why does my dog ignore me when I call him?
I recommend that the majority of blogs you write are framed to answer a dog parent’s questions, concerns or worries. Of course, as a pet professional, you will have things you are desperate for owners to know and understand, but first, you have to win their attention and trust.
Once you have that, you can preach away until your heart’s content. But begin with topics and questions that your audience is desperate to have answered.
Encouraging pet parents to understand their dogs and the motivations behind common behaviour issues is so important. By creating ‘why’ content, we can create a community of dog guardians who question why, rather than just seek to stop undesirable behaviours.
These blogs help you dig into a concept that your audience could greatly benefit from understanding more clearly. But they also help you establish authority. They present an opportunity for you to showcase your expertise in training and understanding our canine friends.
TOP TIP: Include links in your blogs to encourage your readers to consume more information on a topic. For example, you may have a ‘why is my dog pulling on the lead’ blog, which explores motivations, and a ‘how to teach your dog to walk on a loose lead’ blog. Include a link inside each one, so your reader can extend their learning with you.
Pillar and Cluster Content
Blogs can be any length you like. Pillar content is generally longer-form content that explores a topic in great depth.
Let’s take our lead walking example above. You could write a blog that looks at possible motivations for pulling, breeds who are prone to pulling, breed-specific activities to calm, equipment to avoid, common mistakes that encourage pulling, management techniques, training tips and so on.
For example:
Pillar content: The ultimate guide to stopping your dog from pulling on the lead
Cluster content: 5 breeds that are prone to pulling on the lead and why, how to teach your dog to walk on a loose lead, Focus games to play with your dog, The best (and worst equipment) for walking a dog who pulls, etc.
You can cover each topic loosely in your pillar content and then have your spin-off blogs address each area in more detail.
All of your spin-off or cluster blogs will have a link in them pointing to your pillar piece, and conversely, you can link to the relevant spin-off blogs in your pillar content.
Your pillar piece may take longer to write than your other blogs, but the value inside for your reader will be worth the time.
Listicles
Listicles are essentially blogs that are a list! They are generally relatively quick to write and easy to digest for your readers.
Example of Listicles for dog trainers:
- 7 of the best enrichment feeders for brachy breeds
- 5 reasons why your dog is barking
- 10 quick games to play with your dog on a busy day
- 9 of the best dog walking spots in your area
- 6 tips for beating the puppy blues
- 3 training cues that every dog needs to learn
Consider using affiliate links for products to generate some passive income.
Here’s a listicle blog I wrote for Dog-G8: 8 ways to help your dog get used to visitors.
Blog post ideas that act as social proof
Case Studies
Featuring the stories of dog parents and their pup’s experience with you is a great way to showcase your work and acts as brilliant social proof.
Take the reader on a journey. Begin by painting the picture of the dog and their human’s life before they came to you. Then, tap into the emotions and problems they were experiencing.
Next, explain how you worked together and the steps you took to identify and begin working on the problems.
And then explore what life looks like for them now.
Be sure to get the owners permission and ask them some questions to get quotes that show the experience from their perspective.
If you’re lucky, your pet parent will also share the blog, which may help you reach others in your local community.
Expert Interviews
Interviewing an expert in the industry is a brilliant way to provide value to your readers and indicate your own expert status.
It shows your readers how invested you are in keeping your knowledge up to date and that you welcome the input of other professionals.
As above, if you’re lucky, your expert may also share the blog with their following, which will increase your visibility and reach.
Blog post ideas to increase visibility
Product and Service Recommendations
Your client base will be interested in learning about what treats, toys, groomers and petcare services you recommend.
Create blogs that help your audience discover the best products and services, and be sure to let the featured businesses know they’ve been featured.
These blogs not only give your readers guidance on how to give their dog’s the very best, but if the featured businesses share your blog, then you will be reaching a new audience.
Geographical Blogs
These are for dog trainers who work in person. Create blogs that showcase the best dog-friendly walking spots, cafes, pubs, days out and secure dog fields in your area.
This can help you rank on Google for local area searches and also helps your local dog community discover brilliant local spots to visit with their dog.
Let any businesses featured know about the blog. They might share it with their audience!
Guest Blogs
Guest blogs are pieces penned by someone else who can add value to your content. For example, you may feature a blog from a local canine massage practitioner or a dog daycare facility that explains what they do, how they do it and perhaps includes some tips for your readers.
Ensure that your ethics align with whoever you feature and that you are choosing content that is of value to your audience.
Usually, you will include a link to their website and a short bio in the blog so that they receive the benefit of increasing their visibility.
Your guest blogger will usually share the content on their social feeds, putting you in front of a new audience.
Learn more about guest blogging here.
Blog posts that create interest and inspire conversation
Thought Leadership
Perhaps you have a view that is a little different to the mainstream, or you have conducted research that presents a different angle on a topic.
Thought leadership content tends to come to you rather than something you can sit down and plan. But if you have a subject you are passionate about that can create healthy discussion and reflection, then a well-written blog can be a brilliant conversation starter.
Concern about peers’ opinions has held many a dog trainer back from writing blog content that could offer incredible value and benefit to both dogs and their humans. In an industry where there are often lots of debates about what is right and wrong and who is most qualified to talk on a topic, putting yourself out there can feel a bit daunting.
But here’s the thing. If you don’t create this content, then your community will continue reading what they find on Google or using what they see on the telly. It takes time for people to make the jump to booking a dog trainer and seeking professional support.
In the meantime, help them find answers to their questions from a reputable source. (That’s you btw!)
Silence the worries and Go Create!
👇 DOWNLOAD ALL THESE IDEAS IN A HANDY PDF TO REFER BACK TO HERE 👇
If you’d like some help creating a content marketing strategy for your dog training business, please get in touch.
I’ve read your article all very good tips on blogging I’ll keep it in mind to follow those tips Thank for all you do for people.
Hi Adam! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I’m chuffed to hear you’ve found the content helpful!
Article is great. Thanks for sharing
So glad you found it helpful! Thank you for commenting. Rikki
Thanks for the Blog. Great tips.
I’m so pleased you found it helpful! Thanks for leaving a comment. 🙂