SUPERVISOR ANIMAL SERVICES (DOG TRAINER)

City of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 89,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Toronto seeks a Supervisor Animal Services (Dog Trainer) to oversee canine training programs, staff supervision, and program delivery across city shelters.

The role requires extensive dog training knowledge, leadership skills, and adherence to municipal by-laws. You will develop training plans, evaluate staff performance, and coordinate services with multiple city divisions and external partners.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of behavioural modification, positive reinforcement training, counter conditioning, and safe handling methods for dogs.
• Extensive experience making recommendations on dog training plans and dealing with behavioural rehabilitation.
• Extensive experience with 100 hours per year of formal canine behavioural assessments.
• Extensive experience with 100 hours per year of training utilizing operant and classical conditioning methods for dogs.
• Possession of and the ability to maintain a valid Province of Ontario, Class “G” Driver’s License.
• Considerable knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to dogs.
• Certifications in dog training to be considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develops, reviews, amends and implements policies and procedures as required. Participates in the development and implementation of operational plans (harmonization of services city-wide).
• Supervises, motivates and trains assigned staff on key areas related to dogs in the City’s care, ensuring effective teamwork and high standards.
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of all assigned staff including scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work; manages vacations and overtime; evaluates performance.
• Administers budgets and ensures expenditures stay within approved limits.
• Delivers dog training services including private/group classes, behavioural assessments and rehabilitation needs.
• Recommends and oversees canine training programs and enrichment activities; matches dogs to adopters/fosters/rescues.
• Travels to various shelter locations to oversee programs.
• Maintains QA programs for adopters, volunteers and staff; ensures safe interactions and proper handling.
• Ensures compliance with Animal Services by-laws and related legislation; provides education and enforcement as needed.
• Acts as Tribunal Member at Public Hearings regarding Muzzle Orders.
• Provides advice to other departments and agencies; liaises with community groups and external partners.
• Develops outreach programs to promote human-animal bond and conducts program tracking and reporting.
• Implements technological changes to improve public awareness and track activities.
• Develops success stories for shelter social media and adoption efforts.
• Compiles statistics and documents reports on training progress and incidents.

Skills

Behavioural modification

Positive reinforcement

Dog handling

Canine assessments

Operant conditioning

Driver's license

Job description

SUPERVISOR ANIMAL SERVICES (DOG TRAINER)

Job ID: 66792
Job Category: Animal Care & Control
Division & Section: Municipal Licensing & Standards, MLS Toronto Animal Services
Work Location: 821 Progress Avenue
Job Type & Duration: Full Time, 1 Permanent vacancie
Salary Range: $ 89,337.00 - $132,880.00
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 08-Sep-2026 to 22-Sep-2026

Major Responsibilities

• Develops, reviews, amends and implements policies and procedures as required. Participates in the development and implementation of operational plans (harmonization of services city-wide).
• Supervises, motivates and trains assigned staff on key areas related to dogs in the City’s care, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work. Authorizes and coordinates vacation and overtime requests. Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments, hears grievances and executes disciplinary action when necessary.
• Provides input into and administers assigned budget, ensuring that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Makes recommendations and assists the manager in effective planning, implementation and delivery of dog training services including private and/or group classes, behavioural assessments and rehabilitation needs.
• Recommends, reviews and delivers internal and external canine training programs and enrichment activities recommending evidence-based training methods, outcome plans and options on matching dogs to appropriate adopters, fosters or rescue groups and implementing changes as required to improve operational performance and service delivery of the dog training program.
• Travels to various shelter locations.
• Ensures the development, implementation and maintenance of a quality assurance program for adopters, fosters, volunteers and front-line staff to ensure safe interactions with dogs and guidance on proper handling techniques. Monitors staff’s daily activities to ensure proficiency and effective service delivery.
• Supervises program delivery to ensure compliance with Animal Services by-laws and other related legislation. Administers municipal and provincial statutes and ensures that they are delivered to the community using appropriate tools and strategies, such as education on responsible pet ownership and enforcement; Conducts research and stays up to date on relevant legislation pertaining to dogs.
• Acts as a Tribunal Member at Public Hearings with respect to Muzzle Orders issued by the city under the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 349.
• Provides advice and expertise on Animal Services related issues to other city departments, other municipalities, provincial (i.e. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Natural Resources) and federal (i.e. Agriculture Canada) agencies, International Agencies (Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, HLP Inc. - the premier software solution provider to the Animal Service industry) and non-governmental organizations (i.e. Canadian Association of Humane Trapping, Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies).
• Liaises with community residents, groups, agencies and councillors to address community needs and deliver programs and services.
• Investigates, establishes and monitors revenue generating programs and partnerships (licences, Adopt-a-Thons, etc.). Develops and delivers outreach programs to promote the human-animal bond (i.e. Toronto Animal Services Newsletter, Dog Bite Prevention Program, etc.).
• Implements technological changes to increase public awareness and track program activities to improve the efficiency of the service (i.e. kiosks and Internet services to display animals for adoption and lost and found, activity tracking of field staff, etc.).
• Develops behaviour-focused success stories and highlights progress for shelter social media platforms, showcasing training outcomes and supporting adoption efforts.
• Compiles, collates and evaluates statistical data (i.e. adoption rates, number of sheltered animals, field service activities, etc.) and documents/prepares reports on dogs’ training plans, training progress, behaviour observations, concerns and recommendations and any incidents (i.e. bites or other injuries) involving canines for program tracking and quality assurance
• Ensures that the provision of Animal Care and Husbandry is consistent with best practices and the guidelines as established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
• Creates, implements and supervises all regional animal shelter programs (i.e. animal adoptions) and partnerships (animal adoption agency network, volunteer program).
• Establishes and monitors external service delivery contracts including development, review and selection process for Requests for Quotation and Requests for Proposals (i.e. grounds maintenance, veterinary services, after hours emergency care, in-house spay/neuter clinics, microchip contracts, etc.)
• Prepares, reviews and edits briefing notes on related issues, responds to public and councillor-generated complaints and inquiries.
• Initiates press releases and respond to media inquiries including on-camera and on-air interviews on a regional basis.
• Represents Toronto Animal Services at community meetings, conferences and seminars, presents papers and facilitates forums nationally and internationally.
• Represents Toronto Animal Services on departmental and city-wide multidisciplinary committees and at events relating to adoption opportunities to assist with managing dogs and handling inquiries from the public.
• Manages the maintenance and repair of the building, housekeeping requirements and projected costs in accordance with provincial regulations, program policy and established best practices.

Key Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of behavioural modification, positive reinforcement training, counter
  conditioning, and safe handling methods for dogs and have experience in applying such knowledge indogs with noted behavioural concerns.
• Extensive experience making recommendations on dog training plans and dealing with behaviouralrehabilitation.
• Extensive experience with 100 hours per year of formal canine behavioural assessments.
• Extensive experience with 100 hours per year of training utilizing operant and classical
  conditioning methods for dogs that have behavioural concerns such as food bowl aggression, strangeror dog reactivity.
• Possession of and the ability to maintain a valid Province of Ontario, Class “G” Driver’s License, and ability to obtain a City of Operators Permit for assigned vehicle(s) and equipment.
• Considerable knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to dogs.
• Certifications in dog training to be considered an asset (e.g. certification from the Canadian
  Association of Professional Dog Trainers)
  

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.