Becoming an assistance dog trainer

Have you got what it takes to become one of our Trainers and help one of our Veterans?

Professional dog trainers who can demonstrate modern training methods are always needed in various locations around the UK to help deliver our PALS training to Veterans.

The partnerships we work with come from all corners of the United Kingdom so we are always keen to hear from trainers interested in joining the team, wherever you might be.

We are very proud of the standards of our trainers throughout VWD, and their ability to teach clients using modern training methods.

We recruit trainers who have a proven background in using positive reward techniques and can demonstrate an understanding of theory based knowledge that has been gained from reputable training providers.

Training dogs for the purposes of mitigating mental health difficulties takes specialist knowledge and skills. We need our dogs to be confident and capable in everyday life, to recognise anxiety alerts, to think independently and to react appropriately to crisis behaviour. Our trainers help maximise the canine instinct so helping build reliable partnerships between working dogs and Veterans suffering from PTSD.

Specific Mental Health Awareness Training - appropriate to our Veterans - is provided for all trainers, with ongoing CPD provided at no cost to you.

Understanding PTSD is essential to understanding the needs of our Veterans, and how an assistance dog can have such a profound effect for them and their families. In addition to support and mentoring for dog training, you will be given the appropriate knowledge to understand PTSD, the struggles and behaviours associated with psychological injuries, and how assistance dogs fit into the recovery process.

"The best part is seeing the partnership grow and develop into a fully fledged working team - and the difference it makes to the life of a Veteran"

Talk to us

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