Behaviour Trainer

Job Overview

**WORK TYPE**:

- Full Time, Part Time

**LOCATION**:

- North Melbourne

**JOB TYPE**:

- Shelter and Animal Attendant

**DATE POSTED**:

- 13 Jan 2025 AUS Eastern Daylight Time

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE**:

- 09 Feb 2025 AUS Eastern Daylight Time

**About us**:
At The Lost Dogs’ Home, we are a foundation in Victoria's animal welfare landscape, celebrated for our compassionate care of around 18,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats every year. Beyond caring for animals, we are dedicated to providing diverse animal welfare and community programs, all aimed at giving animals the best chance of a happy and healthy life. Our mission is upheld by passionate individuals who embody a profound affinity for animals, community, and advocacy.

**About the role**:
The Behaviour Trainer will design, deliver, and administer force-free, reward-based training for both group sessions and individual private clients. This full-time or part-time role involves consulting with clients about dog behaviour issues, developing training plans, writing client reports, and providing client coaching. The Behaviour Trainer will also offer behaviour and training advice to clients of The Lost Dogs' Home, including adopters, foster carers, and volunteers.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Design and facilitate force-free, reward-based group training classes, including puppy preschool, kitten kindergarten, and adult classes.
- Conduct private consultations, providing best practice behaviour and training advice for dogs.
- Develop and run behaviour training webinars, seminars, and practical sessions for the public, foster carers, and LDH staff and volunteers.
- Engage in proactive research to ensure the latest animal training techniques are reflected in program design.
- Manage behaviour training administrative tasks, including booking management and client communication.
- Create tailored training plans and written reports for clients.
- Assist the Shelter Behaviour Team with behaviour assessments and modifications for shelter animals as needed.
- Offer post-adoption support and follow-up for clients who have adopted dogs from The Lost Dogs' Home.
- Respond to client inquiries and provide behavioural advice to internal stakeholders.

**About you**:
You are an experienced and passionate Animal Behaviour Trainer, dedicated to enhancing the well-being of dogs through force-free, positive reinforcement-based training methods. With a solid foundation in canine and feline behaviour, backed by relevant qualifications or active pursuit of them, you are confident in handling animals of varying temperaments. Your previous experience in a shelter environment has equipped you with the skills to manage a diverse caseload, assess behavioural needs, and implement effective treatment plans for dogs.

In addition to your technical expertise, you excel in engaging with the public, providing clear, compassionate guidance to pet owners and members of the community. You understand the importance of effective communication and customer service in building trust and positive relationships, making you an invaluable resource for both the animals and people you work with.

**Key Attributes**:

- Hold a qualification in animal behaviour and/or training, or actively pursuing one.
- Equipped with a valid driver’s license.
- Demonstrate strong knowledge of dog behaviour, with hands-on experience in force-free, reward-based group classes.
- Confidently deliver effective training and behaviour advice to clients, tailored to their specific needs.
- Excel in both verbal and written communication, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and empathetically.
- Exhibit strong problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills, essential for adapting to various behavioural challenges.
- Bring a background in customer service, with the capability to thrive in a challenging environment.
- Possess valuable experience from working in a shelter environment.
- Deeply committed to positive reinforcement-based training methods.
- Driven by a genuine passion for animal behaviour and welfare.
- Comfortable working both autonomously and as part of a collaborative team.
- Possess a high degree of emotional maturity, crucial for handling the emotional demands of working with animals and the public.
- Availability to work Saturdays and occasional evenings

**About our culture**:
At The Lost Dogs’ Home, we cultivate an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity. Our team enjoys a vibrant culture that fosters meaningful connections, both professionally and socially. Led by our dedicated social committee, we organise a wide range of engaging activities such as Paint and Sip Nights, Bowling, Trivia, and regular after-work gatherings. These events create opportunities for our team to relax, bond, and forge lasting friendships. We take pride in our diverse team where every individual is encouraged to be their authentic self, regardless of their role within the orga