Demo

Lead Service Dog Trainer (Experience Required)

New Life K9s
San Luis, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 12/9/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 2/8/2026

***At least 3 years of professional service dog training experience is required to be eligible for this position. ***

If interested, please complete an application on our website.

https://www.soncarefoundation.org/employment

New Life K9s Role and Responsibilities

Objective: To help New Life K9s produce healthy, happy, confident, and reliable service dogs.

Primary Responsibilities

  • This role's primary responsibilities include prison program coordination.
  • Through the use of effective dog training methods, educate California State Inmates to teach dogs the skills necessary to become service dogs for disabled Veterans or First Responders.
  • Monitor the progress of the dogs in the program and work with the incarcerated handlers to ensure each dog is set up for success.
  • Attend community events to educate the public about service dogs, and raise awareness and gain support for the New Life K9s program.
  • Communicate with the New Life K9s team and prison liaisons to ensure the program continues to operate successfully.
  • Attend training and seminars to stay up to date with the service dog training community.
  • Attend training and seminars to keep educated on best methods for rehabilitation.
  • Track each incarcerated individual's rehabilitative progress, utilizing the New Life K9s database.
  • Keep the New Life K9s database up to date and accurate.
  • Suggest changes to procedures, policies, and program material to ensure New Life K9s provides effective rehabilitation for incarcerated individuals.

Other Responsibilities - as needed

  • Teach potential service dog recipients how to work with their matched dog during bootcamp.
  • Help maintain the cleanliness of the New Life K9s campus grounds
  • Assist with training of dogs at New Life K9s campus grounds and out in public
  • Grooming of dogs at New Life K9s campus grounds
  • Help with other needs under the discretion of the supervisor
  • Attend training and seminars to stay up to date with the service dog training community and share this knowledge with the New Life K9s Team
  • Pick up or drop off dogs from prison programs

Qualifications and Education Requirements

  • You must have a passion for working with both people and dogs.
  • Experience handling dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
  • At least 3 years of experience in training service dogs with positive dog training methods is required. (This is non-negotiable.)
  • Experience training service dogs parallel to ADI standards is highly preferred.
  • Experience interacting with justice-involved individuals preferred.

Additional Notes

  • This is a full-time position. (Tuesday - Saturday)
  • Position will be hourly. The maximum total hours per week will be 40.
  • Starting pay is based on experience.
  • Must be able to obtain California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation clearance.

Benefit Information

  • 15 days of paid time off per year (5 hours accrued per pay period).
  • Can be used for vacation and/or sick time.
  • Free daycare, boarding, and grooming services for your own pets at Thousand Hills Pet Resort.
  • 25% off pet dog training services at Gentle Touch Pet Training.
  • 6 paid holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's).
  • $130 monthly health insurance premium reimbursement program (QSEHRA).

Please complete an application on our website if interested. https://www.soncarefoundation.org/employment

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $27.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Paid training
  • Professional development assistance
  • Relocation assistance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $27 - $30

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Lead Service Dog Trainer (Experience Required)?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Lead Service Dog Trainer (Experience Required) career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$58,647 - $76,811
Income Estimation: 
$71,493 - $95,519
Income Estimation: 
$70,310 - $88,223
Income Estimation: 
$88,950 - $110,401
Income Estimation: 
$84,958 - $111,603
Income Estimation: 
$51,936 - $66,739
Income Estimation: 
$117,059 - $151,769
Income Estimation: 
$115,336 - $159,446
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Lead Service Dog Trainer (Experience Required) jobs in the San Luis, CA area that may be a better fit.

  • New Life K9s San Luis, CA
  • Dog training experience is required to be eligible for this position. If interested, please complete an application on our website. https://www.soncarefoun... more
  • 22 Days Ago

  • Off Leash K9 Training San Luis, CA
  • Are you looking for a career, not just a job? Do you love dogs? Do you love helping people? Do you possess great customer service skills? We are a part of ... more
  • 6 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!