Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for dog trainers.
A checklist built from how dog trainers work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Owner and dog records
- Classes, private sessions and stays
- Packages and session credits
- Vaccination records and waivers
- Session notes and homework
- Invoices, instalments and trainer pay
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For the school owner
- For trainers
- At the front desk
- For owners
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Classes filled and waiting lists
- Packages sold, used and expiring
- Balances due by owner
- Dogs with papers expired or due
- Sessions taught by trainer
- Venue hire by month
- Renewals offered and taken
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- WhatsApp or other messaging
- Card and online payment gateways
- Calendar sync
- Accounting export
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Is it built for dog trainers or for pet businesses in general?
- Can it handle group classes with a waiting list?
- How are session packages counted?
- Can owners see homework and progress?
- Does it track vaccination dates?
- Can we take online payments?
- Can it work out what assistant trainers are owed?
- Can our client and dog list come with us?
- Who owns the data?
- What does it cost?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Packages are counted by hand
- Vaccination proof expires unseen
- Class lists and payments disagree
- Progress notes sit in many places
- Assistant pay and venue hire are unclear
Prefer to talk it through? See the dog trainers page.