Intern with AYS – Professional Dog Training Mentoring

At Your Service Mentorship

Are you interested in learning about dog training?
Are you curious about entering the dog training field?
Are you already working in pet care and would like to expand your understanding of dog behavior and training to deepen your relationship with the dogs you work with and provide added value to your clients?

This internship is for you! We have created a structured internship program that offers observational, theoretical, and hands-on learning for people interested in learning more about dog training. The At Your Service internship is designed to be an enriching learning experience which will deepen your understanding of dog training, dog behavior, the human relationship with dogs, and if you continue, service dog training.

After interning with At Your Service, Brittany said, “Thank you for changing my entire perspective on training. You were patient with me, and let me learn in my own time the power of positive reinforcement.” Read Brittany’s goodbye letter.

The mentorship program consists of the following components:

Observation — of trainer lessons, classes, and consultations
Reading/Viewing — read assigned books and articles, watch assigned videos, etc.
Written homework — answer the assigned questions about the material and ask questions about what you observe during client cases
Practical homework — hands-on training assignments working with your own dogs or other animals
Discussion — discussion of all of the above is a key component of the learning process

Internship Structure — How it works

The internship program gives you guidance and access to what goes into working as a professional dog trainer. Each term is structured as equivalent to a year-long college course. However, you may move through the material at whatever rate works for you.

The first term covers the basics needed for pet dog training. In the second term, the internship will focus on service dog training and advanced training skills.

There are two parts to the internship: 1. independent study (reading, viewing, written and practical assignments, etc.) and 2. observation and discussion with your mentor on a weekly “observation day.”

Nuts and Bolts

How long does the internship last?

It lasts as long as you find it helpful and enriching. As with most educational opportunities, interns will get out of it what they put in. Some people will move through the reading and assignments faster than others. If you complete the entire internship and move through the material at a fast pace, you could complete each of the two courses in one year, Course One on pet dog training in one year and Course Two on service dog training. However, it is really up to you. The internship lasts for as long as long as an intern feels the program is of value — in other words, as long as they are learning about the complex field of professional dog training, service dogs, and behavior consulting. The only exception is if an intern is let go for violating rules or not meeting program requirements.

What is the program’s cost?

The cost is $150 per month. This covers the trainer’s time in answering questions, assigning and reading homework, and materials, etc. Interns who wish may choose to do barter in lieu of some or all of the fee. Bartering may consist of duties such as helping with office work, assisting group classes, care of board-and-train dogs, etc. If you are interested in being a class assistant or doing other barter as part of your internship, please speak with us about that option. We offer two internships per year for people of color to intern at no cost. Find out about the Marlena Willis Scholarships.

What types of dog training will I learn about?

Depending on the schedule, you will likely observe both group classes and private lessons and consults. The AYS case load is divided between service dog training and pet dog training (about 70 percent service dogs and 30 percent pets). Service dog training consults and lessons run the gamut — much of it focused on manners and public access training — with other lessons focused on assistance task training or consulting on finding the right dog. Depending on the time of year and fluctuations in client load, some days there may be more pet work than service dog work. Pet dog training is mostly manners and obedience training, as well as some behavior consulting for issues like stranger reactivity, anxious or compulsive behavior, or fearfulness. The reading, viewing, and written material in the first term of the internship are relevant to all fields of dog training. After an intern has completed the first term (the first four learning modules), if they wish to continue with a focus on service dog training, further material will be devoted to topics of human disability, task work, service dog laws, etc.

Can this course fulfill course credit requirements for my school or university?

We have not tried this yet, but it seems likely that it could be arranged for course credit as an independent study through a college or university. If you’re interested in this option, please speak to us and your school about setting that up.

Can I intern with you as part of my vocational trainer program?

CATCH Canine Trainers Academy Official Mentor Trainer Yes, if you’re a student in a vocational trainer program, we’re happy to work with your program to be an official mentor. We are already approved as an Official Mentor Trainer for CATCH Academy and are happy to work with other trainer professional programs, such as Animal Behavior College, Animal Behavior Institute, Victoria Stilwell Academy, etc.