Company: Bucks Skills Hub

Apply for the Assistance dog trainer

Location: Milton Keynes

Job Description:

Also known as: Dog training and behaviour adviser

Assistance dog trainers and instructors train dogs that help people to maintain their independence, like guide dogs.

You could work at a client’s business or at a client’s home.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and you’ll travel often.

35 to 40 hours per week

You can get into this job through:

You could do a course at college which may give you some of the skills and knowledge needed to do this job.

Courses include: Level 1 or 2 Diploma in Animal Care; T Level in Animal Care and Management

You’ll usually need:

2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

You may be able to start by doing an intermediate apprenticeship as an animal care and welfare assistant.

With experience, you could move onto an animal trainer higher apprenticeship.

You’ll usually need:

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
You can apply directly for jobs if you’ve got some experience of working with dogs.
You’ll need: knowledge of basic dog handling and positive training techniques; understanding of the issues faced by disabled people
Depending on the people they support, some employers may also ask for more specific skills like: sign language when working with deaf people; experience of teaching or instructing people; knowledge of specific conditions like epilepsy, dementia, sight loss or autism
You could gain experience of working with dogs and using positive training techniques through volunteering.
This might include: volunteering at kennels; helping at a dog rescue centre; working for an animal welfare organisation
Do IT has more information on voluntary opportunities in your area.
You could get into this job by starting as a kennel worker then move on to training dogs and working with their owners.

With experience you could become an area team supervisor, training manager or regional manager.
You could move into related jobs like veterinary nurse or RSPCA inspector.
You could also set up your own business and provide services like dog behaviour classes or private dog training.
You’ll need to have a full driving licence

You can find out more about this career from:

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