How Rover Connects Trainers to Pet Parents
Pet parents come to Rover searching for trainers to help fulfill their training needs. Trainers want to get in front of more pet parents to help support their training business.
There are many factors that go into what is displayed in search results for Dog Training. Here’s a few, and some actions you can take.
What Influences Search Results
Note: This information is specific to Dog Training search results, and does not reflect Sitter search results.
How many sessions you have per client
This is the strongest signal that training is working. One session says a match happened. Six sessions with the same client says the pet parent is seeing progress and choosing to work with you again and again.
What you can do:
- Offer bundles. Many pet parents want to do training through a bundle, as it gives them commitment from both the trainer and themselves to do the work necessary to achieve their goals. It also gets the business side of training out of the way so they can focus on supporting their dog. Selling a package of sessions sets up that ongoing relationship from day one and gives the pet parent a clear path to solve their problem. It also builds the history that helps more pet parents find you.
- Book follow-up sessions. Make sure to schedule and book follow up sessions through the Rover platform—either for a bundle or a single session.
How often requests turn into bookings
Generally, a high booking rate indicates the right pet parents are finding you and you are doing a great job starting the training relationship. However, not every request may turn into a booking—plenty of factors are outside your control, and declining a request that doesn’t match your preferences is the right thing to do.
What you can do:
- Respond quickly. Fast, substantive replies are impactful. Trainers who reply with clear communication promptly book requests at higher rates.
- Take the lead on scheduling. If the time a client has offered doesn’t work for you, but you’d like to move forward with the relationship—offer another time! Or several. The initial contact is just a starting point.
Pet parent reviews—both count and rating
Reviews are a strong signal as they directly tell others how the training actually went. More sessions means more chances to earn reviews, and the same client can leave multiple reviews, which is a reason trainers who work with clients over time build stronger profiles.
What you can do:
- Ask your client to leave a review. This is impactful—remind your client to leave a review through Rover after a training session. Tip: They can leave a review after each session!
4. If you train in the pet parent’s location.
Trainers show up in search who have indicated they are willing to work with a client in the area they are searching.
What you can do:
- Adjust your search radius. Your radius determines who can find you at all. A trainer whose radius covers everywhere they can realistically travel and work is visible to a larger pool of pet parents. This is the most direct lever you have on how many people see your profile.
5. Your training experience
Pet parents want to know that you can fulfill their training needs. A profile with clear, knowledgeable information about experience, methodology and skill set helps build trust with pet parents getting ready to send a request.
What you can do:
- Make your profile easy to say yes to. Showing up in search only matters if a pet parent decides to contact you. Be specific about your training methodology, what a session actually looks like, the bundles that you offer and how they fit different pet parents, and the kinds of behaviors you work on.
How It All Fits Together
All of these factors work together to help pet parents and trainers connect. Working with clients across multiple sessions earns you more reviews. More reviews give other pet parents more confidence to reach out. More requests create more chances to build successful relationships.
The more your activity on Rover reflects completed sessions, continued relationships, and satisfied clients, the more chances you have to grow your business.
Questions about your profile or setting up bundles? Visit your trainer dashboard or reach out to training@rover.com.
