If you want to use social media to find clients for your dog training business, start creating dog training social media content to bring more traffic to your business - FREE!
I know it can be a struggle to keep coming up with fresh and engaging ideas for social media.
Here are ten easy post ideas that will help you resonate with your audience, showcase your expertise, and fill up your social media content calendar in no time.
If you’re anything like me and a visual is super important for you, you can click on each idea to see it in action on my Instagram!
Dog training Social Media Post Ideas
ONE: “I wish all dog owners knew ___ ”
Talk about the one thing you wish all dog owners knew. You want this to be a light-bulb moment for your audience. What is the one thing that - if they knew it - signing up to work with you would be a no-brainer?
Visual Idea: Use any clip that shows you moving in sync with a dog.
TWO: “Welcome to the side of Instagram where ___”
Tell your audience that they’re in the right place! Ask yourself what a “safe space” would be for your ideal client, and describe it. Or you can share something that you believe, that not everyone in the industry believes.
The idea is to resonate on a deeply personal level with your audience so they feel right at home on your page.
Visual Idea: Take a clip of you working with a dog or just a very aesthetic video of a dog and slow it down so a 1-2 second clip runs for about 3-4 seconds.
THREE: “When was the last time you ____ with your dog?”
You’re the expert here. You can call your audience out (kindly) by reminding them to do something that they probably know they should be doing with their dog.
You can also remind your audience to do something that they love to do with their dog but don’t always feel they have permission. It’s not that anyone needs you to tell them to do something, but it can be incredibly validating!
Visual Idea: Edit together 2 clips of you with your dog (bonus points if you have the transition between them occur in time with the music!)
Engaging dog Social Media Posts
FOUR: “Unpopular Opinion: ____ ”
You don’t need to start a fight (please, don’t). But controversy works.
Because it’s going to do two things at once for your business - it’s going to attract the right people, and also repel the wrong ones.
Not everyone out there is yours to help. Focus on finding the ones that are.
Visual Ideal: If you have any type of sassy or spicy clip where you’re interacting with the camera, use it. If you’re feeling feisty, film one. Otherwise you can layer the text over you doing something with your personal dog.
FIVE: “If you want to ____, here are X things you should do”
Another opportunity to educate your audience and prove that you’re the expert! Make sure you’re speaking to something your ideal client actually wants (which may or may not be what you want with your dog, so put yourself in their shoes).
Don’t go overboard with your list - you don’t need to tell them 20 things to do. 3-5 is plenty, 7 at the very most. Once you explain the things they should do, use the call-to-action (also called “CTA”, the words you’re using to inspire them to actually do something) to encourage them to get in touch with you if they want to implement the skills you mentioned.
Visual Idea: If you have a clip of you doing the exact thing you’re talking about, like a dog chilling on a blanket at a restaurant or pub, use that! If not, think about trying a “talking” video where instead of typing up the things they should do, you’re saying them!
Pro tip - ALWAYS caption your reels. Millions of people scroll social media every day with the sound off and they’ll scroll right past your content if there are no captions. You also have the opportunity to be more inclusive of the deaf and hard of hearing community this way.
SIX: “Not making progress with ___? Ask yourself ___.”
People feel stuck. Whether they are actually stuck or just feel that way, you can help them get un-stuck.
Ask questions that will get your audience thinking about something they might be missing. If you can get them on board with your way of thinking, they’re already one step closer to moving forward as a paying client!
Visual Idea: You could be very generic with this video clip. I think something where you are engaging with your dog or a client dog and showing true connection would be great for this prompt.
SEVEN: “I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but ___”
Show up for your audience if you want them to show up for you. Have you had that “unicorn” client yet? The one that just ticks every box, the one that is the exact person you want to be working with?
Make this content for them. Think of your bestie client. What would you tell her as a pep talk if she’s having a rough day with her dog?
Visual Idea: Use a clip where you are looking at the camera. Set up your camera and hit record, then step out of frame. Walk into the frame, point where you’ll place the text, then walk out of frame. This adds in a visual hook which can increase watch time!
EASY dog TRAINING Social Media IDEAS
EIGHT: “Why you should care about ___”
Flip the script a little bit and convince your audience that there’s something they’re missing in their approach.
Go in depth (in the video or in the caption) on why this one thing can make a difference for them and the dangers of ignoring it.
Visual Idea: This would make a great talking reel (where you would talk directly to the camera) - but it doesn’t have to be! You can use the caption to explain and just use a video of your client dog work.
NINE: “X important lessons I learned when I ____”
This is a really compelling hook because it is tapping into your personal experience. In the age of AI when content is being produced at such a high volume, what makes you stand out is not the information you’re sharing: it’s how you share it.
Surround your educational content with a personal twist to stand out on social media.
Visual Idea: Stitch together 2-3 short clips of you doing something related to the experience you are sharing.
TEN: “Want a dog who will ___? Teach them these skills:”
Get right to the heart of what your ideal client actually wants. Tell them exactly what they need to do in order to achieve their goals.
The secret here is toeing the line between positioning yourself as the expert and over-sharing. Where is that line?
Share the “what”, but not the “how”.
Tell them the skills they will need to accomplish their goals, but don’t teach every single step of how to train those skills.
Visual Idea: A clip of you working with a dog on those skills or showing the result they want. For example, a dog walking nicely on a leash.
Boost Your Visibility with Engaging Social Media Content
Using these social media ideas isn’t just about posting; it’s about connecting and sharing your passion for dogs in ways that naturally draws people in.
Remember, every post is a chance to show off the great work you’re doing and what makes your approach special—all without spending extra on advertising. It's about getting creative, being genuine, and letting your expertise do the talking.
Feeling ready to ramp up your social media game? Jump into my 5-Day Social Media Challenge for Dog Trainers. Each day, you’ll have a set list of tasks (and an Instagram Tip) to help you engage your audience and grow your reach. You’ll walk away with a system to get and stay a week ahead on your content creation, PLUS an ongoing schedule so you can maintain the momentum.
It’s time to show the world the amazing work you do with dogs every day. Join the Social Media Challenge today and let’s make some noise together online.
Your dog nerd friend,
Mattison
About Me
I’m Mattison Skoog-Simpson, a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant (CPDT-KA, CDBC) with a degree in advertising and a background in corporate system solutions.
I help professional dog trainers and dog business owners implement strategic Organic Marketing plans in their business and use social media to reach their dreamiest clients without breaking the bank or burning out.
Follow me on Instagram @TheDogBizNerd and @FreedbyTraining.
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