Apprentice Trainer

APPRENTICE DOG TRAINER

America’s K-9 Caring Angels Dog Training is hiring a full-time Apprentice Dog Trainer in Bealeton, Virginia.

This is a paid, hands-on career opportunity for someone who genuinely wants to become a professional dog trainer. Our apprentices work alongside experienced trainers while learning to train pet dogs, therapy and facility dogs, emotional support animals, and psychiatric service dogs.

Our programs include basic and advanced obedience, off-leash reliability, behavior modification, public-access preparation and specialized training. We also train therapy and facility dogs serving public-safety departments and other community organizations.

K-9 Caring Angels uses a structured, balanced training system that emphasizes obedience repetitions, clear communication and rewarding calm, desired behavior.

Our methods include fair and appropriate e-collar conditioning as a communication tool. Previous e-collar experience is not required, but candidates must be open to learning and consistently following our established training system.

This is a working apprenticeship—not a classroom-only position. Apprentices participate in every part of caring for and training the dogs entrusted to us.

Daily work includes structured obedience repetitions, feeding and exercising dogs, kennel care, cleaning, bathing, removing animal waste and maintaining safe training areas.

Professional dog-training experience is helpful but not required. We have successfully developed trainers from teaching, veterinary, kennel, grooming, customer service, sales and other hands-on backgrounds.

Coachability, dependability, communication and a genuine desire to build a dog-training career are more important than already knowing everything.

• Care for dogs in training, including feeding, providing water, exercising, bathing and administering medication as directed.
• Clean and maintain kennels, training areas and shared facility spaces, including daily animal-waste removal.
• Complete structured obedience repetitions under the direction of a senior or master trainer.
• Learn and consistently apply K-9 Caring Angels’ commands, training methods, handling standards and safety procedures.
• Assist with training at our facility and in public environments.
• Help clients during dog drop-offs, pick-ups, lessons and follow-up visits.
• Assist with Canine Good Citizen, therapy-dog and service-dog public-access preparation, events and testing.
• Record training progress and communicate clearly with trainers, team members and clients.
• Use photos, videos, smartphones, tablets and company systems to document training and provide client updates.
• Attend required meetings, training sessions and company events.
• Continue developing the skills required to advance from Apprentice Trainer to Trainer, Senior Trainer, Lead Trainer and Master Trainer.

• Reliable, punctual and able to follow a consistent work schedule.
• Available to work Sunday through Thursday, approximately 12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday are the regularly scheduled days off.
• Reliable transportation to and between our Bealeton work locations.
• Valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record and appropriate vehicle insurance when driving is required.
• Comfortable working hands-on with unfamiliar dogs of different breeds, temperaments and sizes, ranging from approximately 6 to 150 pounds.
• Able to safely perform the physical responsibilities of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willing to clean kennels, remove animal waste, bathe dogs and perform routine facility-maintenance duties.
• Calm and confident around dogs while remaining attentive to safety.
• Coachable and able to receive instruction, feedback and correction professionally.
• Strong communication and time-management skills.
• Basic computer, tablet and smartphone skills.

• Professional experience in dog training, veterinary care, kennels, boarding, grooming, daycare, rescue work, dog walking or another animal-related position.
• Experience handling unfamiliar dogs or dogs with challenging behavior.
• Teaching, coaching, employee-training or…