DOG HANDLER/TRAINER

The Job

The Dog Trainer trade is primarily responsible for the handling, welfare and veterinary care of their Military Working Dog (MWD), which initially involves handling Protection Dogs in a MWD Support Unit. You will be responsible for the security and safety of key strategic assets and security bases and may serve wherever the Army is deployed. Later in your career, you may be selected to handle a Specialist Dog, responsible for the detection of Arms and Explosives, or with other MWD classifications that the Army employ.

The Right Job For Me?

Dog Trainers are soldiers first and must be competent in their military skills before they can be teamed with a Military Working Dog. Handlers must be physically fit and have the patience and affiliation with dogs that ensures you put the dog’s needs first. You should be mature, confident, self-motivated and show leadership qualities, including eagerness and a capacity to learn, as your job will involve briefing commanders and troops at all levels and training other handlers. You must have a desire to work with dogs in every environment which often requires you to work long, unsociable hours.

What Skills Will I Learn?

Veterinary Care and Husbandry, including the health, welfare and continuation training of MWDsProtection Dog handling skills including security of personnel and equipment, detection and apprehension of intrudersSpecialist Dog handling skills, including the detection of arms, explosives, drugs or tracking intrudersThe management of Protection and Specialist Dog teams around the worldMilitary Working Dog training skills in a variety of dog classifications

What Training Will I Do?

Initial trainingOnce applicants have passed the initial recruit selection at Army Development & Selection Centre (ADSC) they will be assessed for suitability as a Dog Trainer over a two-day interview. Suitable candidates will then go through basic military training at the Army Training Regiment (ATR) Pirbright. During this 14-week course, you will learn military skills such as how to fire a weapon, how to live and work in the open and tackling an assault course, and will develop your stamina and fitness. Having successfully mastered these military skills you will take your place in the Passing-Out parade in front of an invited audience of parents, relatives and friends. Further trainingOn completion of basic training, RAVC soldiers attend the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire for special to arm training where you will meet the Military Working Dogs. The Class 3 Dog Trainers/Handlers course will teach you how to handle, maintain and care for your Protection Dog on operations, and will include honing your newly-learned skills as a handler with those of a professional soldier. You will also assist other handlers as a trained baiter/intruder. The course includes learning how to drive a Land Rover and trailer as these skills are essential in field units.Once you've completed this training, you will be assigned to your first Military Working Dog Support Unit (MWDSU) which may be in Sennelager-Germany, Aldershot or North Luffenham. Here, your soldiering skills will be honed further and you'll be prepared mentally and physically for a tour of duty that will last a minimum of six months.

What Qualifications Could I Get?

As a Dog Trainer you will be able to qualify in NVQ Animal Care level 2/3 with the prospect of other Animal Courses if desired. Although the Dog Trainer courses do not give a formal civilian qualification at present, the RAVC is highly regarded and recognised by potential employers in the canine industry worldwide. Plans are underway to attain civilian accreditation and develop an Accreditation Framework/Apprenticeship. Many ex-RAVC Dog trainers now hold key positions in civilian animal organisations around the world.

Future Prospects

Once you are a proficient Protection dog handler you will be selected to attend a Specialist Dog handler course where you will learn to handle one of the many classifications of dogs available to the Army for Operations or Exercises including Arms Explosive Search, Vehicle Search, Infantry Patrol or Tracker dogs. You may also be selected to train these classifications or train other handlers at the Defence Animal Centre. You will be eligible for promotion to Warrant Officer Class 1 depending on your ability and motivation and there is the possibility to be commissioned as a Veterinary Support Officer (VSO). You can gain civilian educational qualifications and on leaving the Army you will be well placed to find employment working with or managing animal organisations.