Job Title: / Senior Coach
Reporting to: / Dog School Manager
Location: / Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre
Revised: / October2016
Summary
A position working alongside and under the supervision of the Head Coach, the Senior Coach will help to provide dog training classes to the general public as well as adopters of Dogs Trust dogs, to organise and execute seminars and workshops by external speakers and Dogs Trust Staff, and provide workshops and seminars for the general public on dog handling, training and behavior under the guidance and direction of the Dog School Manager and the Head of Training and Behaviour.
Duties
- Become conversant with the additional responsibilities undertaken by the Head Coach in order to cover for them during periods of absence.
- Carry out any other duties as directed by the Dog School Manager and the Head Coach.
- Help the Head Coach to provide a minimum of fifteen training classes per week for dog owners in the general community and Dogs Trust adopters in accordance with Dogs Trust training course templates - as directed by the Dog School Manager.
- Provide a range of opportunities for engaging the general public in responsible dog ownership, welfare compatible training methods, building positive dog-human bonds and preventing the development of undesirable behaviours.
- Co-ordinate local marketing initiatives including developing relationships with local businesses and other rescues, identifying areas to target with leafleting, researching local events to attend, identifying local advertising opportunities, ordering marketing materials and making the best use of opportunities within Rehoming Centres including training for centre teams on best methods of referral.
- Provide education opportunities for all dog owners in training and behaviour, by organising and running workshops and seminars themselves and by speakers approved by the Dog School manager/ head of Training and Behaviour.
- Provide one to one advice for owners of dogs to address training problems, consistent with Dogs Trust policies.
- The Senior Coach will be responsible to the Head Coach but will also be directed by the Dog School Manager and the Head of Training and Behaviour with respect to the material covered within classes and presented to members of the public, and when helping to organise Dogs Trust courses, seminars and workshops.
- The Senior Coach will assist the Head Coach and, alongside the Coach, ensure that the team provides training and behaviour advice to the general public as required and according to Dogs Trust policies.
- Any other reasonable duties as required by the Head Coach, Dog School Manager and Head of Training and Behaviour.
Person Specification
The successful individual should be passionate about helping dog owners better understand their pets with the aim of encouraging a positive long-term pet-owner relationship.
They should have a good knowledge of the scientific principles underlying the development of behaviour in dogs, including a thorough understanding of how dogs learn new behaviours.
They will need to understand how training methods impact upon welfare, and use reward based approaches in both training new behaviours and in rehabilitation work.
The Senior Coach will be responsible to the Dog School Manager through the Head Coach but will also be directed by the Dog School manager and the Head of Training and Behaviour when helping to organise Dogs Trust courses, seminars and workshops.
They should have an understanding of canine ethology, and be able to explain to owners the rationale for behaviours shown by their dogs.. They should have utmost regard for the welfare of each dog attending the training classes, behaviour workshops and behaviour consultations.
They should be competent in the appropriate and safe handling techniques for dogs of a fearful or aggressive nature.
They should be experienced at dealing with dogs which are anxious or fearful and be able to provide flexible solutions for the training of such dogs and education of their owners.
They should be experienced at handling dogs which are challenging, and be able to respond appropriately in cases of aggression to safeguard both people and other dogs.
They must appreciate that the health and wellbeing of members of the public and staff are of paramount importance.
They should be capable of dealing with the general public in a sensitive, effective and polite manner.
They should be capable of dealing with pet dog owners attending training classes, behaviour workshops or behaviour consultations in a sensitive, effective and polite manner.
They should be capable of interacting with fellow professionals (both Dogs Trust employees and external behaviourists, veterinary staff and trainers) in a professional, polite and respectful manner.
It is essential that they have extensive experience of running dog training classes/courses.
They should be comfortable and competent delivering training and lectures to small and large groups.
A qualification in animal behaviour or similar relevant academic study would be advantageous.
Experience of handling a variety of dogs and breed types is mandatory.
Candidates must have a full manual driving licence.