Service Dog Trainer (Part Time)

Part-Time Service Dog Trainer
Got Your Six Support Dogs | Maryville, Illinois

Service Dog Trainers at Got Your Six Support Dogs help veterans and first responders regain independence and improve their quality of life through the healing power of highly trained service dogs.

We are seeking a Part-Time Service Dog Trainer to join our team. This position is responsible for the daily care, training, socialization, and overall well-being of assigned Service Dogs in Training, while also supporting our Service Dog, Therapy Dog, and community training programs.

Applicants must live within approximately one hour of Maryville, Illinois and must be available to attend weekly evening training sessions at the Got Your Six Support Dogs Training Facility.

Primary Responsibilities

Teaching & Training – approximately 75%

• Provide daily training for assigned Service Dogs in Training, including a minimum of one hour of structured training per day in addition to manners, house training, grooming, care, exercise, and public-access training.
• Teach Service Dog, Therapy Dog, and public training classes as requested.
• Conduct private training lessons as needed.
• Socialize dogs to a wide variety of environments, people, situations, sounds, and stimuli.
• Maintain required feeding logs, training logs, video training sessions, progress reports, assignments, and other documentation.
• Provide routine care, including feeding, grooming, exercise, play, and maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
• Maintain the health and well-being of assigned dogs, including administering monthly preventatives and coordinating veterinary appointments as needed.
• Order and maintain necessary dog-training supplies.
• Attend required weekly evening training sessions at the Maryville facility.
• Travel out of state occasionally for applicant or recipient home visits, follow-ups, or other program needs.

Program Support – approximately 25%

• Provide training support and guidance to foster trainers, puppy raisers, clients, veterans, first responders, and GY6 recipients.
• Conduct private lessons with foster trainers, puppy raisers, and Service Dog teams as needed.
• Assist with dog procurement, evaluation, and temperament screening.
• Participate in fundraising events, presentations, donor meetings, and community outreach activities as needed. Participation in approximately one fundraiser per month may be required when applicable.
• Participate in continuing education, workshops, staff training, and mandatory Got Your Six Support Dogs training sessions.
• Attend staff meetings as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Location & Schedule

This is a part-time, hybrid position. Much of the daily dog training may be completed from home or in appropriate community settings such as parks, stores, and other public environments.

Weekly attendance at training sessions at the Got Your Six Support Dogs Training Facility in Maryville, Illinois is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of five years of dog-training experience strongly preferred.
• Professional dog-training experience preferred.
• Service dog training experience preferred, but not required.
• Strong understanding of canine behavior, learning theory, and operant conditioning.
• Ability to identify and appropriately address problem behaviors.
• IACP, CPT, or comparable professional training certification preferred.
• Dependable, punctual, organized, and able to maintain required training documentation.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of personalities, including veterans, first responders, volunteers, clients, and staff.
• Flexible and able to adapt training approaches based on the individual dog and handler.
• Ability to interact with dogs in a calm, confident, and non-threatening manner.
• Passion for supporting veterans and first responders.

Dog-training experience is required.

Additional Information

Supervision Responsibilities: None

Dress Code: Clean, professional shirt; garments extending below the knee; and closed-toe shoes.

Veterans and former K9 handlers are highly encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Part-time
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Maryville, IL 62062

Benefits include:

• Flexible schedule
• Professional development assistance

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Professional development assistance

Experience:

• Dog training: 1 year (Preferred)
• dog training experience in a professional field: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Maryville, IL 62062

Salary : $15,000