Assistance Dog Trainer
The Work
Assistance dog trainers and instructors train dogs to help people with physical disabilities,
hearing or sight difficulties to live independently.
You could work with the following types of assistance dog:
guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired - help owners to use stairs, cross roads
and avoid obstacles
hearing dogs - alert deaf people to sounds such as smoke alarms, crying babies,
telephones and alarm clocks
disability assistance dogs - carry out tasks such as pressing emergency buttons on
phones and opening and closing doors
seizure alert dogs - recognise signs that their owner is about to have a seizure.
Your work could include:
working with volunteers who foster puppies and young dogs
helping dogs to adjust to the routine of basic training
training at a more advanced level related to the dog's future work
matching dogs to owners
training dogs and owners together
providing aftercare and support for owner-dog partnerships.
You may have responsibility for a particular area of the work. For example, you could work
for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association as a trainer (carrying out the first part of the
dog's training) or a mobility instructor (doing advanced training and matching the dog to its
new owner). Some organisations employ aftercare officers and volunteers to provide
ongoing support.
Entry Requirements
You must be at least 18 years old and will usually need a full, clean driving licence.
It will be useful to have experience of working with dogs. You can build up your
experience through volunteering in areas such as temporary boarding and puppy
socialising - to find out more check with any of the following:
Support Dogs
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Dogs for the Disabled.
You could also contact your local kennels to find out about volunteering opportunities.
Relevant qualifications like NVQs in Animal Care or a course in animal management could
give you an advantage, although they are not essential.
Each organisation has its own entry requirements. For example:
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association - you will need five GCSEs (A-C) including
English, although equivalent qualifications may be considered
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People - you will need sign language skills (although training is
given in British Sign Language) and experience of work with deaf people.
Check with the individual organisations for details.
Hours
You would usually work 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday, with occasional evenings and
weekends. Part-time work is possible.
This is a very active job, involving a lot of walking and bending, and being outside in all
weather conditions.
You would travel all over the country to visit dogs and their owners.
Skills and Knowledge
an interest in dogs and an understanding of their behaviour
patience, both with dogs and their owners
commitment to helping people
the ability to work alone and as part of a team
the ability to inspire confidence in dogs and their owners.
Training and Development
Once you are employed as an assistance dog trainer you will receive on-the-job training.
This will vary in length depending on the organisation.
You may start with kennel work, then move on to learning to train dogs and working with
owners. In some organisations your training will include canine anatomy and physiology.
As an experienced trainer you could volunteer with Dog AID, an organisation which
teaches people with physical disabilities to train their own dogs in general obedience and
in specialised tasks to help them manage their disability in everyday life. This could be
useful for developing your skills. See the Dog AID website for details.
Dog AID
More Information
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
The Grange
Wycombe Road
Saunderton
Buckinghamshire
HP27 9NS
Tel: 01844 348100
www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
Support Dogs
21 Jessops Riverside
Brightside Lane
Sheffield
S9 2RX
Tel: 0114 261 7800
www.support-dogs.org.uk
Dogs for the Disabled
The Frances Hay Centre
Blacklocks Hill
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX17 2BS
Tel: 01295 252600
www.dogsforthedisabled.org
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Head Office
Hillfields
Burghfield Common
Reading
RG7 3YG
Tel: 0118 983 5555
www.guidedogs.org.uk
Opportunities
Most trainers are employed by Support Dogs, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association,
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People or Dogs for the Disabled. These are all registered charities
which are part of the organisation Assistance Dogs (UK).
Vacancies are advertised on the organisations' websites.
With experience you could progress to a senior job such as area team supervisor, training
manager or regional training manager.
Your experience as a trainer could lead to a care support job, perhaps as a rehabilitation
worker. Other options include moving into a related field such as veterinary nursing or
working as an RSPCA inspector - see the relevant profiles for information on these jobs.
You may also be able to set up your own business, offering services such as dog
obedience classes or private dog training.
Income
Earnings depend on the organisation. For example, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
trainees earn £14,659 a year, and qualified trainers earn £18,298.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
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