Part-Time Puppy Class Instructor
Turramurra Veterinary Hospital, Sydney NSW

We are looking for a new Puppy Class Instructor to join our team!

Are you a qualified dog trainer with a vibrant and engaging personality who would like to run our popular puppy classes at the only ASAV-accredited Hospital of Excellence in Sydney’s North Shore?

Turramurra Veterinary Hospital is an independent family-owned practice with a supportive team that respects each other and collaborates to ensure that we provide the best care possible for our patients and their owners on a daily basis.

Our team consists of around 30 animal lovers, including eight experienced veterinarians. We aim for the gold standard of care for our patients and strongly focus on creating a positive, low-stress client and patient experience.

We are seeking a highly motivated, qualified Puppy Class Instructor to replace our current trainer, who has (after being with the practice for over 15 years) decided to explore another opportunity.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a newly qualified or experienced trainer to teach puppies and their parents in a well-established Puppy Preschool and K9 Kindergarten without the hassle of running their own business.

Classes are held downstairs in a dedicated ‘puppy training room’ at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital in Sydney’s Upper North Shore.

About the role
We are looking for a qualified dog trainer interested in running group classes for dogs ranging from 8 to 16 weeks in our Puppy Preschool and 4 to 6 months in our K9 Kindy class.

For the right candidate and dependent on demand, there is scope to perform one-on-one behaviour consultations with dogs of all ages seeking further guidance on managing problem behaviours or have been referred by our veterinary team after a veterinary behaviour consultation for environmental modification.

As our weekend classes are most popular with our clients, we need someone who can commit to working either Saturdays (8.30 am – 2.30 pm) and Sunday mornings (9 am – 12 noon) or a longer Saturday (7.30 am – 4 pm) with no Sunday work.

Additionally, one weekday afternoon/evening in peak periods when there is an increased demand for puppy school and/or behaviour consultations.

Our puppy classes include a private orientation consultation, four-week group classes (up to 6 participants per class), and a private follow-up consultation.

Training videos are available to assist in class structure and content delivery, as well as one-on-one training with our current Delta Institute-qualified trainer, Katie Bedrossian. The initial handover for the role will be held on Friday mornings, as Katie will still be working casually.

We have regular behaviour meetings with a member of the Customer Care Team and one of our behaviour-focused vets to discuss ideas, provide two-way feedback and improve the client experience and our behaviour services.

Working hours would be at least 8 hours per week, subject to negotiation, scaling up when required to meet practice demand.

Duties will include but are not limited to

• Independently running 2-4 group classes a week

• Conducting private orientation and follow-up consultations as part of the group classes

• Performing 15-minute complimentary phone calls for new puppy owners after their first veterinary consultation

• Keeping the training room clean, organised and stocked

• Processing payments for puppy supplies purchased (food/training aids)

About you

• Delta Institute or Karen Pryor Academy Graduate (or current student of Delta Institute Cert IV in Dog Training and Behaviour that has completed Module 4)

• Membership to either APDT Australia or PPGA (or both)

• Commitment to positive reinforcement methods of training

• Commitment to professional development with a passion for keeping up to date with the latest training and behaviour research and application

• Ability to work Saturdays

• Ability to follow directions carefully and have a willingness to learn with a positive attitude

• Dedicated, enthusiastic, highly motivated and self-directed initiative

• Team player

• The ability to bring a positive attitude to the workplace

• Physically fit for standing for an hour during class times and lifting/carrying equipment to set up/pack up the room

• Excellent communication skills with both colleagues and clients

• Confident and capable handling skills when working with dogs of different sizes, breeds and temperaments

• Australian or New Zealand resident or citizen living in Sydney and able to work in Australia

What we offer

• Collaborative, diverse and supportive team environment

• Regular team lunches and social events

• Regular performance evaluation and professional development reviews

Remuneration

• The pay rate will depend on qualifications and experience but will be between $30 and $40 per hour plus superannuation (11.5%).

• Annual leave entitlements are pro-rata as per permanent part-time award requirements.

How to apply
We will be interviewing for this position in February/March 2025.
Your application should include the following:

• Cover letter

• Resume/CV

• A short 2-minute video introducing yourself to a virtual puppy class

• References

 

Email your application to Dr Gretta Howard at manager@turramurravet.com.au.

We look forward to meeting a talented, motivated, qualified dog trainer interested in joining our team.