Operations

Job Title:

Canine Behaviour and Training Co-ordinator

Reporting to:

Centre Manager

Responsible for:

Behaviour and Training Centre Team – Which includes Canine Carers

Location:

Hours:

Duration:

Working across our Birmingham (Solihull) and Wolverhampton Centres,
ensuring consistent behaviour and training support across both sites.

37.5 hours per week

Permanent

Works with/key contact:

Centre Management team, Team Leaders, Canine Carers, Front of house
teams, Fundraising team & Veterinary Team

£Dependent upon experience and demonstrable behavioural knowledge.

October 2025

Salary:

Revised:

Summary

Canine behaviour and training challenges are among the leading reasons dogs are
relinquished to Birmingham Dogs Home (BDH) and are a key factor in every dog’s
successful rehabilitation and rehoming journey.  Establishing robust, consistent training
support is essential to helping dogs prepare for life in a new home and ensuring they
remain there successfully with their welfare needs being met.

This Canine Behaviour and Training Co-ordinator will provide in-house expertise,
guidance, and practical training to colleagues across the charity, ensuring that each dog
has an individualised behaviour and training plan in place and that staff and volunteers
are confident and competent in delivering them.

The role will also contribute to BDH’s external behaviour advice services and community
training programmes, supporting our wider mission to reduce unnecessary
relinquishment, promote positive reinforcement and reward-based behaviour change
and training methods, and improve canine welfare across the region.  Alongside these
community benefits, the post-holder will have responsibility for achieving agreed

income generation targets linked to training and behaviour services.

Roles and responsibilities

Principle  Accountabilities

•  Conduct behavioural assessments for all dogs and ensure each receives a tailored
behaviour modification and training plan to enhance welfare and rehoming potential.

•  Train, coach, and support staff and volunteers across both centres, ensuring they
have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver behaviour and training
programmes effectively and consistently.

•  Develop and deliver community-based training and behaviour services — including
group classes, 1:1 session, and workshops — to promote positive engagement with
BDH, prevent relinquishment, and generate charitable income.

•  Lead and participate in community events and educational initiatives that promote

understanding of canine welfare, training, and behaviour.

•  All rehoming centre staff may be required to work in the kennels on occasions,

performing canine carer duties.

Key Responsibilities

•  Conduct behavioural assessments for incoming dogs and design, implement, and
monitor individual rehabilitation and training programmes in collaboration with the
Rehoming Teams and Centre Managers.

•  Provide regular progress reports to the Head of Operations and Centre Managers,

highlighting any concerns and recommending appropriate interventions.

•  Where required, assess dogs awaiting admission to determine their suitability for

kennelling and rehoming.

•  Train and mentor staff and volunteers in safe handling techniques, behaviour

modification strategies, and evidence-based, reward-focused training methods.
•  Deliver post-adoption behaviour support and advice for adopters, working closely

with Centre Teams to promote successful rehoming outcomes.

•  Lead the development and delivery of community-based training and behaviour

services in line with BDH’s strategic objectives.

•  Contribute to the creation and review of BDH’s canine behaviour and training policies

and procedures.

•  Ensure full compliance with Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and Lone Working

policies, completing risk assessments where required.

•  Maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in canine behaviour and welfare,

undertaking continuing professional development as agreed with your line manager.

•  The normal hours in this role are 37.5 per week.  The expected working pattern will
be five days per week, Monday - Sunday. On a two-week rota.  There will also be a
requirement to help out and support around our event days.

•  Any other reasonable duties as directed by the Management Team.

Performance Measures

Success in this role will be measured through:

•  Dog Welfare and Outcomes: Demonstrable improvements in behavioural welfare,
rehabilitation progress, and successful rehoming outcomes, including reductions in

returns due to behavioural reasons.

•  Training Programme Delivery: Evidence that all dogs in BDH care have a

documented and active training and/or behaviour plan, reviewed and updated
regularly.

•  Staff and Volunteer Development: Increased staff and volunteer competency,
confidence, and consistency in canine handling and behaviour management,
evidenced through feedback, observation, and training records.

•  Community Engagement: Growth in participation across community training

classes, workshops, and advice services, alongside positive participant feedback.

•

Income Generation: Achievement of agreed income targets linked to behaviour and
training services, contributing to the charity’s financial sustainability.

•  Partnership and Collaboration: Effective collaboration with centre teams, the
veterinary team, and external partners to achieve holistic welfare outcomes.

•  Continuous Improvement: Ongoing commitment to professional development and

to embedding best practice in behaviour and welfare standards across BDH.

Person Specification

Skills and Experience

Essential
•

In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based canine behaviour, training,
and welfare, including learning theory and positive reinforcement methods.
•  Proven experience in designing and implementing behaviour modification and
rehabilitation programmes for a range of dogs and behavioural challenges.
•  Recognised dog training accreditation (e.g., ABTC Animal Trainer Standard or

equivalent).

•  Experience working within a rehoming or kennel environment, handling dogs of

varied breeds, sizes, and temperaments in high-arousal settings.

•  Ability to assess behavioural motivations and design individualised modification

and training plans to support rehabilitation and rehoming.

•  Practical experience handling fearful, reactive, or challenging dogs safely and

effectively.

•  Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey

behavioural advice clearly to a range of audiences — including kennel teams,
adopters, and the public.

•  Confident working independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues

and volunteers across sites.

•  Competence in using Microsoft Office, databases, social media, and video

technology for training and communication purposes.

•  Minimum of three years’ practical experience in dog training, behaviour, and

handling.

•  GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent.

Desirable

•  Degree-level or higher qualification in animal behaviour, training, or a related

field.

•  Accreditation at ABTC Behaviour Technician level or, ideally, ABTC Clinical

Animal Behaviourist standard.

•  Previous experience in team leadership, mentoring, or supervision.
•  Proven business development or income generation experience within a canine

or welfare setting.

Personal Attributes

•  Positive, proactive, and solution-focused, with the ability to inspire and motivate

others.

•  Creative and adaptable, able to develop innovative and welfare-centred

approaches to behavioural challenges.

•  Empathetic, approachable, and non-judgemental in all interactions with people

and dogs.

•  Highly organised, reliable, and resilient, with a calm and composed approach

under pressure.

•  Acts as an ambassador for Birmingham Dogs Home, representing the charity

with professionalism, compassion, and integrity.

Additional Information

•  The role will be based primarily at Birmingham Dogs Home, with regular travel
required between both the Birmingham and Wolverhampton Centres, and
occasional off-site work to deliver community sessions and attend events.
•  This position involves working weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis to

meet operational and community engagement needs.

•  The postholder will be required to work with dogs of varying sizes, temperaments,
and behavioural challenges, and must be confident handling dogs safely in all
environments.

•  Due to the nature of the role, a full UK driving licence is essential.
•  Uniform and PPE will be provided and must be worn in accordance with BDH

policies.

•  Continuing professional development (CPD) is encouraged and supported, and the
postholder will be expected to maintain professional membership and accreditation
standards relevant to the role.