Become a Therapy Dog Handler Team with Moment to Paws

Moment to Paws are recruiting new therapy dog handler teams to work on an ad hoc, part time basis.

Moment to Paws are recruiting new therapy dog handler teams to work on an ad hoc, part time basis.

At Moment to Paws, we are passionate about the health and wellbeing benefits that dogs bring to people. And we connect hard working employees with these benefits, by taking dogs into workplaces which has been proven to reduce stress, improve mental health and relieve feelings of anxiety.

About Moment to Paws

Based near Wetherby, Moment to Paws was established at the beginning of 2020 by qualified dog trainer and animal behaviour technician, Kate Soames. Having witnessed first hand the impact that dogs have on people within the workplace, Kate set about research to understand the science behind these positive effects and from there, Moment to Paws was born. Our aim is to make these health and wellbeing benefits accessible to more people within the workplace, to help to combat stress and boost mental health. But these benefits aren’t just one sided. Watching the wagging tails as the dogs we work with interact with people is a joy. And the welfare of the animals we work with is always at the forefront of everything we do.

About the role

As a Moment to Paws handler team, you and your dog will join other dogs and their owners at workplaces across locations such as Leeds, York, Doncaster and Manchester (preferences will be taken into account). You will put the welfare of your dog at the forefront of everything you do and have a good working knowledge of canine body language. It goes without saying that you will share our same passion for dogs, and you will also have a conscientious, professional and friendly approach when working with people.

While the exact format of each event that you attend may differ slightly, they will be a maximum of two hours (which includes a 30 minute break for your dog half way through). Depending on the size of the company you are visiting, each session is further broken down into 10 minute, 15 minute or 20 minute slots, and attendees will have registered for a specific time slot ahead of the day. We limit the number of people who attend each session to ensure your dog will not become overwhelmed.

Usually you will be asked to arrive at the company location 30 – 60 minutes prior to the event start time.

In your role as a Moment to Paws event assistant, you will;

  • Support in the set up of the event space to ensure both dogs and attendees are comfortable
  • Ensure that your dog’s welfare (and others where required) is looked after at all times
  • Deliver key information where required
  • Brief company staff on health and safety before they enter their session as required
  • Replenish the set up before and after each session
  • Be prepared to answer questions from event attendees
  • Have great attention to detail and possess strong communication skills
  • Be passionate about the health benefits that animals bring to people
  • Present a professional, enthusiastic, friendly, caring and can-do attitude

About your dog

Your dog’s welfare is the number one priority while engaging in therapy work and therefore it’s essential that they actively enjoy interacting with people other than yourself. 

To be successful in their role as a therapy dog, your dog will;

  • Be at least 12 months old
  • Be fully toilet trained
  • Enjoy interacting with and being handled by strangers and be happy to leave your side
  • Be calm and friendly around other dogs
  • Be comfortable in new environments, without becoming over excitable or nervous
  • Be able to listen to basic commands from you, despite distractions
  • Be able to walk on a relaxed lead without excessive pulling
  • Have never shown aggression or fear towards people or dogs
  • Not be overly concerned about sudden noises and is able to recover quickly
  • Be happy to travel in the car
  • Not jump up or lick excessively
  • Be fully up to date on vaccinations, worming and flea treatments
  • Not be fed a raw diet (due to insurance restrictions)

Please note that in order to be successful, you must have with access to your own car and hold a clean driving license. 

Hours

Hours will be on an ad hoc basis predominantly Monday – Friday.

Salary

£13 per hour (includes travel time) plus standard mileage allowance. 

Place of work

We work with companies across Yorkshire and Manchester and you will be required to travel independently to  the location of the event. Should your application be successful, you will be invited for an informal chat which will take place near Wetherby, West Yorkshire. Please bear this in mind when applying.

Apply

To apply for this role, please complete an application form using the button below or visit https://form.jotform.com/Kate_Soames/applicationform

Apply now