Sitting behind a desk at a major bank, Jim Burwell contemplated being at work at 7 A.M. when the bank opened and staying till 9 P.M. on most nights. “I put a lot of effort into my job, but wasn't happy.”

Burwell won a dog at an auction. “He was a misfit type of dog, full of energy and easily got into mischief,” he says. “I decided that if I wanted to keep Charlie (a golden retriever), I would have to train him. So Charlie and I went to obedience training school. I was amazed at the outcome. I had a good time during the training, and while I was working at the bank, I kept on thinking about a career as a dog trainer.”

That was 25 years ago. Today, Burwell is known as the Dog Whisperer of Houston. “Before I left my job at the bank, I spoke to a good friend of mine who wrote for the Houston Chronicle,” he says. “She told me that it was possible to be able to make house payments and earn a decent living as a dog trainer.

“Over the years the business has changed. In the beginning I worked weekends and evenings. Today, my schedule is more flexible because there are so many people who work in the comfort of their own homes. So, I can actually work more normal hours. I also cut back on my overtime, and started training people how to become obedience trainers.”

When he started, he read everything he could on dog training. “In this business you are constantly learning,” he says. “The dogs and the owners teach you a lot on the job. You go to people's homes and watch how they interact with their dogs. Right there you can spot problems and undo them. It's instant gratification. People in my obedience training classes love their dogs and want the best for them. They will work hard to make those behavior changes in their dogs, and they will have a good time doing it too.”

Burwell has a franchise called Petiquette, where he teaches others around the country how to become dog trainers. He also trains cats and works on behavioral problems with cats and dogs — such as scratching furniture or jumping. In addition, he has trained animals for television commercials.

He says that in-home dog-training franchises require less capital than most franchises because you are often working at the client's home. His Petiquette franchise is a four-week training program. “You need to see the dog or cat in its home setting,” he says. “That way you can observe any problems and correct them.”

This business also requires no investment in personnel other than you. Obedience dog trainers need to be comfortable around dogs and people because they spend an equal amount of time with both. Trainers can expect to earn upward of $50,000 annually. Running a franchise obedience training program commands an even higher salary, sometimes reaching six figures.