Puppy Assistance Dog Trainer in Milton Keynes

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives. We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving alert assistance dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease. We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small but fast-growing charity that is a world leader in its specialist innovative field.

LOCATION: Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0NP (Office-Based)

SALARY: £24,000 - £27,000 based on experience

JOB TYPE: Full-time permanent, with occasional evenings and weekends required

REPORTS TO: Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare

We are looking for someone with the skills, experience and passion to join our team of trainers. They will be responsible for approximately 20 puppies from the age of around 8 weeks through to approximately 16 months of age, ensuring they receive the highest standard of socialisation and training, thereby maximising their chances of becoming a Medical Detection Dog.

• Training and Development of Puppies
• Take responsibility for a group of puppies allocated to socialisers living in your geographical area.
• When required, take dogs home during the training period to ensure continuous development and reinforcement of training routines.
• Provide training that adheres to ADUK regulations and MDD quality standards in accordance with timescales and targets.
• Deliver effective training by holding puppy classes, 121’s and home visits with socialisers in your geographical area.
• Conduct regular training sessions with assistance dog puppies in training in various environments to ensure they are confident and responsive in real-world settings.
• Prepare the puppy to be a Medical Alert Assistance Dog, using positive reinforcement techniques to teach desired behaviours and modify unwanted behaviours.
• Regularly monitor progress of the puppies in your area and provide detailed, evidenced feedback to the senior team within Dog Supply and training.
• Support and assist when required with the potential matches for a particular assistance dog partnership.
• Successfully prepare the puppy to pass the relevant Assistance Dog assessments.
• Highlight to your line manager any dogs that are not progressing sufficiently through the training programme.

• Be the first point of contact for the socialisers in your area, which will include guidance, support and instruction to socialisers on effective work and training with their assistance dogs.
• Provide general health care advice within your core working hours.

• Assist in the recruitment of new volunteer socialisers when required.
• Assess prospective new volunteer socialisers, including home, workplace, pet dog and children assessments when required.

• Update the Harlequin CRM database in a timely fashion to ensure accurate and up to date training, veterinary and health records.
• Support the charity’s fundraising, communications and volunteering teams as required, specifically in relation to your area.
• Share best practice with colleagues across the charity.
• Other tasks or ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager required to ensure the successful running of the charity.

• Experience in training Assistance Dogs.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in dog training.
• Basic theory of practical dog training.
• Law in relation to dogs.
• Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies between 8 weeks and 2 years of age.
• Dog and human psychology.
• Health and safety implications of dog and socialiser handling.
• Experience and understanding of ADUK, ADI regulations and MDD's internal quality standards.

• Ability to demonstrate high quality judgement and a proven track record in relation to dog training matters including the analysis of temperaments, appropriate training methods and requirements necessary to maintain public perception in assistance dogs.
• Solutions to training and behavioural problems.
• Socialiser training including the ability to assess each person’s preferred learning style and adapt your training approach accordingly.
• Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills.
• Ability to plan work, be organised and ensure that time is utilised effectively for yourself, colleagues and socialisers.
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people internally and externally.
• High level of IT literacy and report writing skills including experience of using Microsoft based programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Power Point.

You should be supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as able to motivate yourself. You should be adaptable and positively embrace change by not only being flexible towards the ideas of others but also putting forward ideas to colleagues. This will involve creativity in problem solving and making appropriate responses to new ideas and unexpected situations.

We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Working at Medical Detection Dogs will be a richly rewarding experience. Our Values & Behaviours encapsulate who we are, what we stand for and what it will feel like to be part of our team:

• We are respectful.
• We stay positive.
• We strive for excellence.
• We communicate and listen.
• We are ambassadors.
• We are one team.

And of course, we advocate for Medical Detection Dogs whenever we get the chance, and we pride ourselves on our role as ambassadors for the charity.

• Sick Pay
• Health Cover
• 26 days holiday, increasing with service
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Free On-site parking
• Life Insurance

Finally, the successful candidate will also be expected to:

• Hold a full UK Driving Licence.
• Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.
• Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Work some evenings and weekends.