Love dogs? Addicted to learning about them and their behavior? Want to help humans improve their relationships with their canine friends? At J9’s K9s we love mentoring new trainers and are always on the lookout for talent…

Apprenticeships:

We have openings for people who enjoy working with dogs (and humans) to join our crew! You’ll learn about training and behavior from our extremely experienced instructors, have the opportunity to shadow them on Private Lessons and Day Training sessions, gain hands-on experience under their supervision, join us for our monthly “Dog Nerd Night” educational get togethers and more. To be considered for apprenticeship, you must:

  • Be committed to learning about reward-based dog training. J9’s K9s does not use choke chains, prong (pinch) collars, slip leads or shock collars (e-collars), etc.

  • Be available to assist in Group Classes a minimum of 2 hours a week, evenings and/or weekends.

  • Have good communication skills with humans and dogs, and consistently present a positive, upbeat attitude towards both species.

Employment Opportunities:

Already an experienced trainer? We have part-time positions available for private training and group class instructors! To be considered for employment with J9’s K9s, you will need to have:

  • A minimum of 3 years experience training dogs and their humans.

  • Proficiency in reward-based dog training, without the use of aversives. J9’s K9s does not use choke chains, prong (pinch) collars, slip leads or shock collars (e-collars), etc.

  • Good communication skills with humans and dogs, and a positive, upbeat attitude towards both species.

  • Certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers or the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Graduates of KPA, VSA, CATCH, CASI, Bergin, EATM and ABC will also be considered, but independent certification is preferred. (If you are currently in attending one of these schools or are in the process of obtaining your certification, you may also be eligible for employment.)

  • Basic technology skills and the ability to write professionally when communicating with clients.

  • Dog training liability insurance – please call us at 818-832-9906 if you have questions about this.

  • A commitment to continuing your education to stay abreast of the latest scientific information in the field.

  • Willingness to maintain active membership in one of more of the following dog trainer organizations: APDT, IAABC, PPG.

We are very particular about who joins our crew, and extremely supportive of them. If you’re interested in either apprenticeship or employment with J9’s K9s, please send us an email or give us a call at 818-832-9906 so we can get to know each other!