Americans live with roughly 165 million aquarium fish; 75 million cats; 68 million dogs; 19 million birds; another 19 million small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and gerbils; nine million reptiles; and six million farm animals that are considered pets. Ralston Purina, the pet food manufacturer; the American Pet Association; and the American Animal Hospital Association have variously found that 43% of dog owners have celebrated Fido's birthday and more than 28 million of them buy him a Christmas gift; 29% of cat owners have celebrated Fluffy's birthday and 37 million Fluffies have received offerings from Santa; and nearly half of cat and dog owners have sent greeting cards to their pets.

Furthermore, nearly one in five of all pet owners keeps a photograph of their critters in their wallets; fully 10 million American dogs sleep on the top of their humans' beds; nearly two-thirds of owners tell their companion animals "I love you" on a daily basis; and 83% consider themselves "Mom" or "Dad" to their pets. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association reports that we spend over $30 billion a year on our animal friends for products and services such as veterinary care, food and treats - not to mention items like tiny raincoats, filters and air pumps, special beds, playpens, scratching posts, terrariums, interactive toys, underground fences, waterfalls and ramps, perches and swings, automatic feeders, plastic underwater sea divers and artificial coral. No indulgence is too extreme for our furry, fluffy, feathered and finned friends. We send them to spas, psychics and acupuncturists.

Dogs that are bred and groomed to compete in shows have reportedly received braces to straighten their teeth, implants and cosmetic surgery to maximize their chances of success. There's even a new airline struggling to get off the ground, called Companion Air, that accommodates traveling pets and their people. Cuddles, Duchess and Spike definitely pay us back for our devotion: The presence of pets in the household has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, fight depression, improve morale and even help prevent heart disease. This happy state of affairs owes a debt of gratitude to the nation's dedicated, praiseworthy pet breeders and trainers. These folks are responsible for making sure that healthy animals go to good homes; they match pets with prospective owners; and they help our pets become good citizens and beloved additions to our households.

In this report, you will learn about the endlessly rewarding fields of pet breeding and training. You'll learn what goes on in a typical day in the life of folks engaged in this occupation, its many pleasures and satisfactions, where the jobs are, whether you have the personal qualities necessary for success (that you must be an animal lover goes without saying), and the education and training you should have to prepare for this career. You'll get a firsthand look at this career in extensive interviews with many breeders and trainers who demonstrated the generosity of spirit that is typical of this profession by sharing their experiences and insights at length.