Notion for Dog Trainers:
The Complete Guide

If you're a dog trainer looking to get organized, Notion might be the solution you've been searching for. This free (or affordable) tool can replace your spreadsheets, sticky notes, and scattered documents with one beautiful, interconnected system.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through exactly how to set up Notion for your dog training business - from tracking clients and sessions to monitoring your business growth. Whether you're a solo trainer or managing a team, these systems will help you spend less time on admin and more time doing what you love: working with dogs.

Why Notion for Dog Trainers?

Before we dive into the how, let's talk about why Notion is particularly well-suited for dog training businesses:

• All-in-one workspace - Keep client info, session notes, schedules, and business data in one place
• Flexible databases - Create custom fields for pet temperaments, training goals, medical notes, and more
• Mobile access - Check client details before appointments, right from your phone
• Free to start - The free plan works great for most solo trainers
• Easy to customize - Adapt templates to match how YOU work

Getting Started with Notion

If you're new to Notion, here's what you need to know to get started:

Creating Your Account

1. Go to notion.so and sign up for free
2. Create a workspace for your dog training business
3. Download the mobile app for on-the-go access

Understanding Notion Basics

Notion is built around a few key concepts:

• Pages - Like documents that can contain anything
• Databases - Structured collections of information (perfect for clients, sessions, etc.)
• Properties - Custom fields you add to database entries
• Views - Different ways to see the same data (table, calendar, board, etc.)

Setting Up Your Client Database

The foundation of your Notion system is a solid client database. Here's what to include:

Essential Client Properties

• Client Name - Owner's full name
• Email & Phone - Contact information
• Address - For home visits or knowing which area they're in
• How They Found You - Track your marketing effectiveness
• Start Date - When they became a client
• Status - Active, Inactive, Lead, etc.

Pet Information

For each pet, you'll want to track:

• Name, breed, age, and weight
• Temperament notes (reactive, friendly, nervous, etc.)
• Training goals and progress
• Medical conditions or special needs
• Vaccination status and vet contact

Session Tracking System

Tracking your training sessions is crucial for showing clients progress and managing your schedule. Here's how to set it up:

Session Database Properties

• Date & Time - When the session occurred
• Client - Linked to your client database
• Pet - Which dog you worked with
• Session Type - Private, group class, board & train, etc.
• Duration - How long the session lasted
• Focus Areas - What you worked on
• Progress Notes - Detailed observations
• Homework - What you assigned the client

Useful Views

Create multiple views of your session database:

• Calendar View - See your schedule at a glance
• By Client - Filter to see all sessions with a specific client
• This Week - Quick view of upcoming sessions
• Revenue View - Group by month to track income

Building Your Business Dashboard

A business dashboard gives you a bird's eye view of how your training business is performing.

Key Metrics to Track

• Monthly Revenue - Track income trends over time
• New Clients - How many new clients each month
• Session Count - Total sessions completed
• Client Retention - How many clients return for more
• Popular Services - Which offerings sell best

Creating Dashboard Views

Use Notion's database features to create summary views:

• Use rollup properties to sum revenue from linked sessions
• Create filtered views for different time periods
• Add charts using Notion's chart feature or embedded tools

Ready-Made Templates

Don't want to build everything from scratch? Our pre-built Notion templates for dog trainers include everything covered in this guide - and more.

Pro Tips for Dog Trainers Using Notion

After helping hundreds of dog trainers set up Notion, here are our top tips:

1. Start Simple

Don't try to build the perfect system on day one. Start with a basic client database, use it for a month, then add complexity based on what you actually need.

2. Use Templates for Repeated Tasks

Create template pages for things like client intake, session notes, and progress reports. This saves time and ensures consistency.

3. Leverage the Mobile App

Pull up client notes before appointments, log sessions immediately after, and check your schedule on the go.

4. Connect Your Databases

The power of Notion comes from linking databases together. Connect clients to sessions, sessions to revenue, and everything to your dashboard.

5. Review Weekly

Set aside 15 minutes each week to review your dashboard, update client notes, and plan the week ahead.

Ready to Get Started?

Notion can transform how you run your dog training business. Whether you build your own system from scratch or use our ready-made templates, the important thing is to start getting organized.

Less time on admin means more time with dogs - and that's why you got into this business in the first place.