Dog Trainer
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Educate/Train/Teaching
- Schedule:Full-time
- Salary: Negotiable
Dog Trainer, APOPO Dogs
Reporting to : DTC Location Manager
Working day : Monday to Friday
Purpose of the role:
- To train, develop and prepare dogs (and their handlers) for mine-detection and technical-survey tasks in mine-affected areas.
- To ensure that APOPO’s “HeroDOG” teams meet the required standards of safety, reliability, and operational effectiveness.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Canine training & development:
- Implement APOPO’s training programs for Technical Survey Dogs (TSDs) and Mine Detection Dogs (MDDs), from the arrival of new dogs, through full accreditation.
- Apply reward-based training methods to reinforce correct detection behavior.
- Monitor behavior and scent-detection performance, progressing dogs through training phases in both kennel and field environments. (e.g. varied terrain, vegetation).
- Handler training & mentorship:
- Train and guide dog handlers in proper handling techniques, commands, safety procedures, and operational protocols.
- Mentor new handlers and oversee their readiness for deployment.
- Accreditation & quality control:
- Conduct internal tests and evaluations to ensure dogs meet APOPO’s accreditation standards.
- Carry out regular refresher training and re-testing to maintain detection accuracy.
- Canine health, welfare & safety management:
- Monitor the physical and behavioral health of dogs and coordinate with DTC Manager, other Trainers or kennel staff when required.
- Ensure working conditions and rest schedules comply with welfare and safety standards.
- Follow APOPO’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and regulations for mine-action operations.
- Field deployment support:
- Support the deployment of trained dogs and handlers for technical survey and detection tasks. Work in coordination with manual deminers, clearance teams and other field staff as part of integrated mine-action response.
- Documentation & reporting:
- Maintain training records, performance logs for dogs and handlers, health reports, and accreditation results.
- Report any issues (health, behavioral, safety) in a timely manner.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
- Good understanding of canine behavior, learning theory and scent detection training methods (including reward-based training, scent-discrimination, conditioning).
- Familiarity with mine action environment: landmines, UXO, risk and safety protocols, mine detection procedures.
- Experience in training working dogs (preferably detection dogs), or comparable canine-training background (kennel work, animal care, behavioral training).
Soft Skills
- Ability to work in challenging field conditions — harsh terrain, heat, humidity, dense vegetation, variable environment (common in Cambodia) — while maintaining high welfare standards for dogs.
- Good communication skills — for training and mentor handlers, coordinating with other team members, and reporting to supervisors.
- Commitment to animal welfare, safety, and high professional standards (accuracy, reliability, discipline).
