Job Details

Position Summary:

Joybound’s rescue efforts are directed toward encouraging and facilitating adoptions and providing access to care. The Public Dog Trainer assists in reaching Joybound’s goals by supporting adopters in dog training classes and focusing on enhancing the human/animal bond to keep families together. Joybound’s Public Dog Trainers also assist in attaining the organization’s goals by providing pre and post-adoption training support to adopters and providing training options to the public. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Interact and communicate with colleagues, volunteers, and the public in a manner that advances a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at Joybound.

• Provide dog training advice and materials for Joybound adopters in class settings and in private consultations. 

• Able to perform behavioral triages 

• Provide one on one individual training sessions with dogs and cats 

• Respond to and follow up on questions generated in the class environment and ensure students’ needs are addressed or referred to, both in a class setting and via behavior telephone line return calls and email responses. 

• Assist in the development of adoption take-home plans

• Provide post-adoption behavior support to adopters with the goal of minimizing adoption returns. 

• Help advise Joybound’s foster volunteers with training and follow-up. 

• Provide effective training of duties and mentoring to volunteers who assist with training classes. 

• Assist or administer the AKC Canine Good Citizen tests with CGC Class Instructor. 

• Always promote a humane and caring attitude toward all animals. 

• Always treat people and animals with respect, contribute to effective teamwork, promote staff cooperation, and foster public relations beneficial to Joybound. 

• Maintain the confidentiality of all information. 

• Comply with all Federal, State and local safety regulations and laws, as well as Joybound policies and guidelines. Follow established procedures governing safe work practices; and perform duties in a manner that assures the safety of oneself and others. 

• Perform duties in a manner which encourages attainment of goals, contributions and business for Joybound and its programs. 

• Promote teamwork, communication, and cooperation with all other departments. 

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience using positive reinforcement as primary method of animal behavior modification and solid understanding of learning theory. 

• Experience in a dog training classroom setting. Comfort in leading groups and one-on-one sessions. Previous experience working with a variety of clients, both human and dog, required.

• Experience working directly with a wide range of dogs, particularly both small and large dogs.

• Experience working with cats and other animal species is a bonus 

• Experience in conducting one on one training and behavior modification sessions. 

• Effective written and verbal communication skills. A self-starter, facilitator, and organizer. 

• Develop and write treatment plans for clients after individual training sessions. 

• Experience working independently, as well as contributing effectively as part of a team. 

• Demonstrated ability to meet goals and objectives. 

• Good analytical skills and ability to identify and assess issues/opportunities. 

• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.

• Ability to communicate with the public, volunteers and co-workers in a pleasant, courteous, and tactful manner at all times. 

• Demonstrate maturity, good judgment and professional manner, and personal appearance. 

• Comfortable and skilled in working with diverse staff, volunteers, and community. 

• Ability to work with, evaluate, coach, and supervise volunteers effectively and respectfully while holding individuals accountable for their results.

• Knowledge of dog and cat breeds, behavior, and current general care and training practices.

• All Joybound employees working on our main campus must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination and booster. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for documented medical purposes and/or sincerely held religious beliefs.

• Pre-employment background check screening is required. 

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma required.

• Dog Behavior and Training course of study (e.g., Marin Humane Society Canine Behavior Academy, Academy for Dog Trainers, Karen Pryor Academy, Bergin University) in process or completed or comparable dog training/experience. CPDT-KA or CBCC-KA preferred, or ability to obtain either certification within 6 months of hire. 

• AKC CGC Class Instructor and Evaluator, or ability to obtain certification. 

Physical Requirements:

• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens. 

• Push/pull moderately heavy objects up to 25 pounds. 

• Lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 30/40/50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain animals when necessary. 

• Walk dogs weighing up to 150 pounds in a variety of weather conditions. 

• Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach above and below shoulder level, grasp and turn objects, stand and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift. 

• Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist. 

• Dexterity to handle animals and small objects. 

• Assess medical and behavior changes in animals using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, visually and audibly. 

• Sit for long and short periods of time using a computer. 

• Tetanus and rabies inoculations are required or must be waived. 

Hours:

Part-time: 16-24 hours per week. Daily reporting hours and days of the week may vary according to the department’s needs. Weekend and evening work may be required