Advanced Dog Welfare Assistant
Are you an experienced dog handler who is passionate about rehoming?
We’re looking for an Advanced Dog Welfare Assistant to join our busy Transfer Centre in Penrith.
Dog Welfare Assistants are the backbone of our centres and every dog’s journey with us starts with them. We’re looking for someone who can provide our four-legged friends with the highest level of care and successfully deliver welfare management to prepare them for their forever home.
While all Dog Welfare Assistants join at Foundation level, the unique circumstances of the Transfer Centre mean that all Dog Welfare Assistants in the centre must progress to Advanced level within an agreed timeline. All candidates must be prepared to undergo the relevant training and assessment required at this level.
What does this role do?
As an Advanced Dog Welfare Assistant, you’ll:
- provide daily care for the dogs in the Transfer Centre, working to Dogs Trust's code of practice and Health and Safety guidelines,
- deliver training interventions to our dogs, supporting them with behaviour challenges to move them towards rehoming,
- educate potential new owners and fosterers in the care and welfare of their dogs, offering guidance and coaching to support dogs through their rehoming journey,
- provide visitors to the centre with excellent customer service.
Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing Tuesday 11th November 2025 at our Transfer centre in Penrith.
Could this be you?
The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator with the ability to show empathy to both people and animals. A strong team player, you'll have lots of energy teamed with a positive upbeat attitude. You’ll need experience of working with and training a variety of dogs, with comprehensive understanding of positive reinforcement training techniques and dog behaviour. Ideally, you’ll have experience of delivering these training interventions in a kennel or rehoming environment. A full, manual driving licence is also essential, as driving will be a part of the role.
About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.
Documents
To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to send us an email at
jobs@dogstrust.org.uk. We're here to support you every step of the way.