Dog Behaviour Support
BCSPCA
Dog Behaviour Support
Dog Behaviour Support volunteers assist with foundational care, enrichment, and socialization activities for dogs in the behaviour program. They provide consistent, welfare-focused support that helps dogs build confidence, and reduce stress by following an animal's management and behaviour plan, supporting staff with assigned training and behaviour activities.
Responsibilities
- Provide foundational behaviour support tasks
- Assist animals in behaviour program with structured handling, enrichment, and socialization
- Engage in observation and reporting activities
- Assist with core animal care tasks such as dog walking as needed
Requirements & Training
- Must be 19+ years old
- On-site volunteer orientation and online training
- Behaviour support training
- Competency sign-off by Animal Behaviour Specialist or designate
- Experience working with dogs
- Ability to follow detailed instructions consistently
- Comfort working with a variety of breeds, sizes and temperaments; dogs showing fear, stress, and/or having unknown history
- Strong observational skills and understanding of canine body language
- Philosophical harmony with the BC SPCA's mission, vision, values, and strategic directions
Volunteering Conditions
- Indoor and Outdoor Settings: Volunteers may work both indoors and outdoors, depending on the tasks. Indoor settings include animal care areas, offices, and medical facilities, while outdoor work might involve walking dogs or maintaining the premises.
- Weather Conditions: Outdoor tasks may require working in various weather conditions, including rain, snow, ice, or heat. Volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared for seasonal changes.
- Lifting and Moving: Volunteers may need to lift or move supplies, equipment, or animals, which can require physical strength and stamina.
- Standing and Walking: Many roles involve long periods of standing or walking, particularly when interacting with animals or the public.
- Animal Handling: Working directly with animals may involve low-stress handling, or caring for them, which requires patience and attention to detail.
- Safety Protocols: Volunteers must adhere to safety protocols to protect themselves and the animals. This includes using personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.
- Potential Hazards: Be aware of potential hazards such as bites, scratches, or exposure to zoonotic diseases. Training will cover how to minimize these risks.
Time Commitment
- Approximately two hours of online training is required for entry into the volunteer program.
- Weekly two-hour shift.
- Animal centres often prefer volunteers who can commit for an extended period, providing stability and continuity for the animals and the centre. A minimum commitment of three months is required, although four to six months is ideal.
Benefits of Volunteering
- Put your skills and experience with animals to use in an advanced role
- Learn advanced low-stress animal-handling techniques
- Support animals on behaviour modification plans to be successful
- Work directly with dogs and cats
- Help contribute to the BC SPCA's mission of protecting vulnerable animals
Questions?
Email: volunteers@spca.bc.ca
Mission
Protecting vulnerable animals and mobilizing communities so animals and people thrive together.
