Dog TrainerReactivity & Hands-Off Experience Required Schedule:

Friday-Monday Position Type:

Contractor or Employee Position Structure:

Temporary with potential to become permanent Position Overview We are looking for an experienced Dog Trainer to join our team Fridays through Mondays who is comfortable working with reactive, fearful, anxious, undersocialized, and hands-off dogs , including dogs with bite histories. This position requires strong canine body-language skills, excellent judgment, patience, and the ability to work safely with dogs who may not be comfortable with traditional handling. Temporary-to-Permanent Position This position will begin on a temporary basis, with the potential to become a permanent position . Because our work involves complex behavioral cases and requires a high level of judgment, consistency, safety, and teamwork, we want to make sure there is a strong fit on both sides before making a long-term commitment. Experience on paper doesn't always translate to the specific skills our environment requires. This initial period gives us an opportunity to see how someone works within our training philosophy, safety standards, team workflow, and approach to complex dogs —while also giving the trainer an opportunity to decide whether our environment is the right fit for them. Responsibilities Work individually with reactive, fearful, anxious, and behaviorally complex dogs. Work safely with hands-off and bite-risk dogs . Follow individualized training, handling, and safety plans. Recognize stress, fear, arousal, defensive behavior, and escalation before a dog reaches their threshold. Build trust and confidence without forcing physical interaction. Work on reactivity, neutrality, confidence, impulse control, leash skills, recall, handling, and individualized training goals. Conduct appropriate dog-to-dog introductions and socialization sessions. Safely manage dogs between kennels, rooms, yards, vehicles, and training spaces. Participate in training outings and real-world training when appropriate. Provide enrichment appropriate to each dog's behavioral and emotional needs. Complete clear training and behavioral notes. Communicate changes, concerns, incidents, and progress to the training team. Assist with daily dog care, cleaning, feeding, enrichment, and facility responsibilities as needed. I Want to Be Real About This Job If you love working with reactivity and want to support owners who are working hard to manage their dogs' behavioral challenges, you'll fit right in with us. This is the work we love, and we believe these dogs and their families deserve knowledgeable, compassionate support. But loving dogs by itself isn't enough for this particular position. If you love dogs but haven't worked with this population before, the reality of working with significant reactivity, fear, aggression, and bite-risk dogs can be surprising, challenging, and potentially unsafe. Please do not apply for this position unless you already have these skills or are actively developing strong skills working with reactivity and aggression. We are trainers who embrace this work. We also come to work understanding that when you choose to work professionally with dogs who have bite histories or aggression, a bite is a real occupational possibility. We take that seriously. We continually educate ourselves, improve our handling and management skills, communicate with one another, and follow safety protocols to reduce that risk and keep ourselves, our coworkers, our clients, and the dogs in our care safe and well cared for. We aren't looking for someone who is fearless around aggressive behavior. We're looking for someone who respects the risk, understands canine behavior, makes thoughtful decisions, and knows when to slow down or ask for help. Required Experience Applicants must have professional experience working with reactive dogs and/or dogs who cannot safely be handled traditionally.

You should be comfortable with:

Canine body language and stress signals Fear-based reactivity and aggression Bite-risk dogs Hands-off handling and management Barrier reactivity Safe leash and equipment handling Threshold management Behavior modification Building trust with fearful dogs Preventing and de-escalating unsafe situations Making independent safety decisions when working with challenging dogs Preferred Qualifications Professional dog training experience Experience in behavior modification Experience working in a training facility, shelter, rescue, veterinary behavior, or similar environment Dog training certification or formal behavior education Muzzle conditioning experience Experience working with undersocialized or shutdown dogs The Right Person will be comfortable slowing things down, changing the environment, giving a dog space, and adjusting your plan instead of forcing an interaction. Our goal is not simply obedience. We want to help dogs develop confidence, resilience, safer coping skills, and a better ability to navigate their world.

Pay:

From $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount Flexible schedule On-the-job training Opportunities for advancement Professional development assistance

Work Location:

In person