Behaviour Officer

Dogs Trust Company Limited; SHREWSBURY; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animal welfare organization in Shrewsbury is seeking a Behaviour Officer. This role involves assessing dog behaviour, designing and implementing training programmes, and supporting adopters during the adoption process. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in dog behaviour, excellent communication skills, and the ability to handle difficult situations sensitively. A full driving licence is essential as driving will be part of the role.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Supportive team environment

Opportunity to make a difference

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare.
• Ability to write training and behaviour programs.
• Full, manual driving licence is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assess behaviour of dogs before and during their stay.
• Design and implement Behaviour Modification Programmes.
• Oversee implementation of training and behaviour plans.

Skills

Knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare

Communication skills

Ability to handle difficult dogs

Education

ATBC competence at Animal Trainer level

Competences from the Behaviour Technician standard

Job description

Behaviour Officer

Application Deadline: 2 March 2026

Department: Rehoming

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Shrewsbury

Compensation: £25,566 per year + benefits

Description

Want to help get tails wagging again? We are looking for someone who can assess, design and implement behavioural rehabilitation for our dogs joining us in our centres. As Behaviour Officer, you'll take the lead, figuratively and literally, when it comes to the assessments of our dogs and their training programmes. You'll play a key role in supporting adopters, during the adoption process and after rehoming, to ensure that every dog has the best possible chance of successfully settling into their new life.

What does this role do?

As a Behaviour Officer you’ll:

• assess the behaviour of dogs, before they enter the centre and during their stay, to identify potential behaviour needs, as per Dogs Trust Standard Operating Procedures.
• design and implement Behaviour Modification Programmes and training plans to enhance each dog’s chances of rehoming, in support of the centre’s priorities based on individual dog welfare and requirements.
• oversee and support the implementation of training and behaviour plans by colleagues. Work with other departments to modify and seek guidance.
• monitor the progress of individual training and rehabilitation programmes and maintain detailed records of the progress of each dog. Provide professional training, support and assessment colleagues.

Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for 9th and 16th March 2026 at our rehoming centre in Shrewsbury.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you'll have a thorough knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare, including understanding the principles underlying learning and the ability to write training and behaviour programs. You'll also have achieved ATBC competence at Animal Trainer level and have achieved specific competences from the Behaviour Technician standard. You'll have excellent communication skills with the ability to handle delicate situations sensitively and professionally and have the ability to and experience in handling difficult dogs. But above all, you'll be passionate and committed to the work of Dogs Trust.

A full, manual driving licence is also essential, as driving will be a part of the role.

What does this team do?

Our rehoming centres house thousands of dogs each year until they are able to find a loving new home, and the success of our centres wouldn't be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family-community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors each month, our rehoming centres are the face of Dogs Trust and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.