They say that if your passion is your job then you will never work a hard day in your life. Others say never make your passion your job or you will soon grow to hate it. These are two sentences that are mentioned a lot in the career advice world and both are completely contradictory. The truth likely lies somewhere in between. If you are forced to do your passion from nine to five, six days a week then there will definitely come a time where you will grow to hate it. Let’s say you love to surf and decide to become a surf instructor. You will spend every day in the water pushing people into waves. While you may still love to surf you will likely be quite happy to have a few days away from the beach and when it comes to your day off you may choose to avoid surfing. Yet if there is something you love in life and you can somehow incorporate it into your work, your workday will likely go a lot easier. Animal lovers are a perfect example. If you can find a job that allows you to interact with animals every day then you will be very happy. Here are some of the best jobs for animal lovers.
Dog walker
This is a great entry-level position that you can take up at any age in life. If you are a student it is a great way to earn some money on the side. If you are retired it is a great way to spend a few hours a day. Dog walking is a great way to get outside, have some exercise, and play with dogs all day long. It doesn’t pay a lot but it does leave lots of free time to pursue other interests.
Dog trainer
While being a dog walker you could spend your free time learning to be a dog trainer. Dog trainers can earn a bit more money and have the satisfaction of watching a rogue puppy become a loyal companion. If you do start out as a dog walker you have lots of animals to test out your skills every day. A dog trainer is a great job and if you excel at it you can reach the heights of a competition like Crufts where there is a lot of money to be made.
Pet groomer
This is a great job for someone who loves animals but you must really love animals. If the idea of washing dirty animals sounds like fun rather than a terrible day this is the job for you. You will get to do their nails and shampoo the dogs and pamper them a lot but you have to go through the ugly work first. A pet groomer is also a great business to set up solo. You can make enough to earn a nice living and it is a service that demand is growing for.
Pet chef
Ok, this one is a little strange I know but hear me out. A lot of rich and famous are now hiring chefs to cater to their pets but this probably won’t be your main market. Many people are now increasingly concerned about pet nutrition and if you become an expert in this area there may well be a job in this down the line. The average pet owner will simply ask their vet but for those who want to go the extra mile, a pet chef is a good way to go.
These are just four jobs that will have you surrounded by animals every day and there are many more. The classic farmer, the rancher, the police. Animals are an important part of many roles in the workforce today. If you love animals make sure they are part of your 9 to 5.