Canine Behaviourist

Teckels are looking to recruit a hardworking, compassionate and knowledgeable Behaviourist for 12 months maternity cover.

The role involves training and managing our more challenging dogs to help them fid their forever homes, as well as supporting the team to help them maximise each dogs full potential.

We are seeing an ever increasing number of dogs and cats needing our help, so would love to find someone who is equally as passionate about helping our cause as the rest of our wonderful team

As we are a small team, the role does involve some daily husbandry duties, as well as the behaviour work. This role would suit someone who enjoys working outdoors and is looking to really make a difference to rescue dogs in the Gloucestershire area.

Interviews will take place on 3rd and 4th April, with second stage interviews on 6th April.

**Role summary**:
To be responsible for managing and giving behaviour support and training to all relevant rescue animals at the centre, including ensuring that they are suitable and ready for rehoming.

Be responsible for ensuring that the animal care team are given the appropriate training to enable them to do their jobs safely and efficiently.

Working 42.5 hours a week across assigned days/shifts as agreed/designated by the manager, some evening shifts.

Days off are either Friday/Saturday or Sunday/Monday each week, to allow for weekend appointments with adopters. Shifts are either 7am-4:30pm or 10am-7pm.

**Key responsibilities and Main duties undertaken**:

- Be responsible for working with the team to ensure that animals stress levels are always kept to a minimum.
- Intake assess new dogs into the centre (and refusing dogs if necessary)
- Be responsible for assessing potential red dogs for rehoming.
- Conducting Home visits for red dogs.
- Handling challenging/Red dogs (for both rescue and boarding dogs when required).
- Proactively implement and deliver training solutions to behaviour issues.
- Making recommendations, along with the care team, for individual dog outcomes (including euthanasia when absolutely necessary).
- Be involved with promoting Teckels in the media/press when appropriate.
- Ensure that animal related paperwork is completed; including assessments, behaviour charts, medication sheets, BMP’s etc.
- Be responsible for allocating Project dogs to the team, overseeing their training and progressing them.
- Be involved in actively promoting the red cats and dogs at the centre to enable them to find homes.
- Complete quality of life assessments and report them to management.
- Ensure all dogs are ready for adoption in a timely manner, including neutering, vaccinations and ensure that any other treatment/behaviour considerations have been considered/arranged.
- Keep up to date with the latest canine behaviour and training techniques and ensure they are suitably utilised at the centre.
- Work alongside the centre manager to ensure that Teckels has a comprehensive database of information available to give to potential adopters/general public. This is to assist with settling new animals into a new home, give basic training and info on how to overcome some minor issues once the animal is home. More thorough help may be given to individual animals when required.

This will include website information, an adoption booklet, a pre-adoption presentation, general leaflets, plus anything else Teckels may require.
- Other tasks as required by management.
- Some days will require your help cleaning/feeding/walking on the kennels/ cattery
- this is estimated at 2 days per week.

Team support:

- Alongside the Team Leader, ensure that all new staff have done relevant paperwork and had their induction.
- Alongside the Team Leader, ensure that all new staff receive all appropriate training needed to do their job effectively and safely.
- Alongside the Team Leader, ensure that staff keep accurate records of ay incidents, issues, relevant notes up to date for boarding and rescue animals.
- Design and deliver dog related training programmes to internal staff.
- Design and deliver relevant dog handling/behaviour training to the volunteer team.
- Deal with any minor staff issues and escalate up to management when necessary.
- Support reception staff and ensure that they are kept informed of any new animal intakes/animals being adopted.

Other:

- Alongside the Team leader, ensure that the appropriate medication for the relevant animals is ordered as needed, and manage any post adoption medications for adopted animals.
- Cover management on days off
- if the Team Leader/ Assistant Team Leader is not available.

General:
Cleaning of Kennels & Cattery

Laundry - ensuring all soiled bedding is cleaned and replaced.

Preparing & administering feeds for all animals, in line with animals’ specific dietary requirements.

Safe disposal of uneaten food and animal fouling throughout the day.

Administering medication to animals in their assigned care, as instructed.

Daily recording of b