Dog trainer

Dog trainer
dog protection and intervention agent, security dog agent, dog driving security agent, dog handler
Forming a united and effective team with man's best friend is the dog handler's objective. To achieve this, this breeding and training professional must educate the dog and get it to respect his orders. Then, the animal's skills can be used in terms of security, guarding, defense, but also helping people in difficulty (rescue, support). This profession, which offers few opportunities, is learned above all on the job!

Professional life
Professional card required
Gone are the days when everyone acted as a dog handler. From now on, the profession is controlled: the professional card is compulsory. In private guarding and security companies, the profession is currently in tension because not everyone has the famous sesame. To monitor municipal establishments, businesses, private residences... Or ensure security at the entrance to shopping centers, banks... A dog being retired after 8 to 10 years, it is then necessary to renew his professional card.
Experience before specializing
Training and jobs are offered by the National Gendarmerie, the army, the National Police, the fire and rescue services. You must have several years of seniority before you can apply for the dog handler specialization. You don't choose your specialty (examples: tracking, defense, avalanches, etc.), and then you have to follow other training to change it. These limited jobs have further decreased since the creation of regional GICs (dog intervention groups).
Beginner's salary
From 1447 to 1900 euros gross per month.
Working conditions
Private and public sectors
The dog handler can be employed by a private surveillance company, individuals or manufacturers. Its activity consists of guarding buildings or providing security in shopping centers, during sporting events or music festivals. The army, the gendarmerie, the National Police, the fire and rescue services also employ them. These are soldiers, police officers or firefighters who have undergone training as dog officers once recruited.
Irregular hours
The dog handler's working hours vary depending on where they work. He can work during the day (to train guide dogs for the blind), at night (to monitor sites), on weekends and on public holidays (to provide on-call duty, during events, etc.).
Always on the ground
The missions often require working standing up, alongside the dog, sometimes for several hours. Travel is also frequent to get to the intervention sites.
SKILLS
The meaning of adaptation
Loving contact with animals is not enough to become a dog handler. You must also know how to demonstrate authority, composure, patience, understanding, gentleness... A sense of psychology and pedagogy is necessary.
In perfect health
Excellent physical condition and endurance are essential. Some additional skills may be required, depending on the type of work. An avalanche dog handler, for example, must know the mountain well and be a good skier.
Nature of the work
Establish a complicit relationship with your dog
No training can succeed without mutual trust between the animal and its master. Through exercises, games and rewards, the latter teaches him to obey and adopt meaningful behaviors. Sit and bark to signal an explosive, for example.
Learn to smell
The dog handler trains his companion's sense of smell to find, for example, people, contraband products (drugs, cigarettes, etc.), explosives, etc.
Serving the people
The dog handler trains his companion in different environments depending on his future missions. In the mountains, to search for people caught under an avalanche. At sea, to rescue a capsized boat. Under the rubble, to find bodies trapped during an earthquake, a flood... In a company or an administration, to prevent intrusions.
Educating guide dogs
The master also trains the dog who will live alongside people with physical and sensory disabilities, who are visually impaired, in order to help them with their daily actions: opening or closing a door, bringing an object, picking up the telephone receiver, etc.
Training to enter the profession
In the private sector, dog officers must demonstrate APS (specific professional aptitude). To obtain it, you must have a CQP (professional qualification certificate) or one of the 3 other titles registered in the RNCP (National Directory of C