Professional Dog Trainer

The Dog Ranch Resort, lower Alabama’s premier dog boarding, grooming, and training business is searching for select candidates to assist with training services. Candidates are responsible for all aspects of training, as well as customer service.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Dog Trainer is responsible for customer service and teaching dogs how to be more obedient at home, teaching a dog common commands, such as sit, stay, lay down, or walk on a leash in exchange for a treat or kind words. The Dog Trainer reports to the General Manager.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Talking to or interacting with dogs to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
• Retraining dogs to break bad habits, such as piddling, biting, excessive barking, or resisting grooming.
• Training dogs for walking, using knowledge of breed characteristics, training methods, performance standards, and the peculiarities of each animal.
• Using oral or hand commands to condition dogs.
• Evaluating dogs to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
• Conducting training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for obedience, and integration into the family.
• Leading private and group classes.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Feeding or exercising dogs or providing other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or training areas.
• Observing animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers, and receiving clients or guests.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Providing guidance and direction to co-workers, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Applicants must consent to and be able to pass a background check
• Applicants must consent to and pass a Drug Screening test
• Applicants must have great communication skills and be good with people
• Applicants must be able to work around dogs of all types, breeds, and temperaments
• Applicants must be able to work well on their own
• Applicants must be able to work as part of a team
• Applicants must be dependable, punctual and very responsible
• Applicants must come to work clean, well groomed; dressed in uniform
• Applicants must perform other related duties as required during working hours

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE

• Must have a background or experience in dog training.
• Must have a high school diploma, or a general educational development (GED) equivalent; College Degree preferred
• Must have a genuine love for dogs and enjoy working with people
• Must have a Dog Training Certificate
• Trainers must be in the process of completing or have completed 300 hours of training experience
• Must have flexibility to train several hours per day.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Applicants must be able to lift dogs up to fifty pounds, squat and stoop
• Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• The Applicant must demonstrate the following personal attributes:
• Be honest and trustworthy
• Be respectful
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Be flexible
• Patience
• Good communication skills with dogs and owners
• Ability to adapt quickly and make decisions
• Love for working with dogs and their owners

SENSORY DEMANDS

• The Trainer may have to manage a number of dogs/people/situations at one time, and may be interrupted frequently to meet the needs and requests of client owners and dogs.
• The Trainer may find the environment to be busy, noisy and will need excellent organizational and time and stress management skills to complete the required tasks.

MENTAL DEMANDS (Conditions that may lead to mental or emotional fatigue)

The Trainer deals with a very active dog environment as many of the dogs are may have special needs and require considerable attention.

WORK SCHEDULE

• Required to be available Monday through Saturday
• Candidates will be supervised at all times by staff
• Staff generally work Monday through Saturday

Note: This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by supervisors or managers to perform other instructions and duties. You will be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description.

Management has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $40,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Compensation Package:

• Bonus opportunities
• Commission pay

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• What professional dog training experience do you have?

Experience:

• Professional Dog Training: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $40,000 - $65,000