Lead Shelter Dog Trainer for Veteran Service Dogs

Liberty Dogs; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Liberty Dogs is seeking a Lead Shelter Dog Trainer, Veteran Trained to support our Veteran Trained Shelter Program. You will assess, train, and behaviorally support dogs in shelter settings, focusing on humane, evidence-based training and developing advanced service dog skills while ensuring safety for dogs, staff, volunteers, and the public.

Responsibilities include designing program materials, managing a caseload of up to 15 veteran client teams, coordinating with medical and adoption teams,

Qualifications

• Strong in-person interpersonal and group training skills.
• Extensive knowledge in behavior and service dog training including PTSD/PSD tasks.
• Certification from recognized programs is required.
• Commitment to science-based, positive reinforcement training.
• Able to handle large dogs over 40 lbs and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% locally and nationally.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement training programs and materials for the Veteran Trained program.
• Maintain a caseload of up to 15 veteran client teams in advanced training.
• Develop individualized behavior plans for veteran client and dog teams.
• Coordinate with clients, facility, veterinary, and scheduling teams.
• Maintain and track veteran supply inventory.
• Assist in selecting and transporting candidate dogs for the program.
• Contribute to client engagement, outreach, and retention strategies.
• Support scalable systems including LMS platforms, volunteer tracking, and data collection.
• Manage and train a team of up to 5 hourly trainers as the program grows.
• Maintain accurate records of training results and dog progress.
• Attend veteran interviews and candidate assessments.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Behavior training

PTSD taskwork

Positive reinforcement

Large dog handling

Education

KPA/CPDT-KA/CBCC-KA/IAABC CCBC/Fear-Free/PPG/CAAB/ACAAB certifications

Tools

Excel

Shelter scheduling software

Job description

Liberty Dogs is seeking a Lead Shelter Dog Trainer, Veteran Trained to support our Veteran Trained Shelter Program. You will assess, train, and behaviorally support dogs in shelter settings, focusing on humane, evidence-based training and developing advanced service dog skills while ensuring safety for dogs, staff, volunteers, and the public.

Responsibilities include designing program materials, managing a caseload of up to 15 veteran client teams, coordinating with medical and adoption teams,