The best profession in the world

Training a guide dog is the best profession in the world. It is growing, pleasant, fascinating and the learning never ends.

Dog training rudiments consist of making the dog execute of various behaviours that are designated to safely guide a blind person. Training is essentially the learning of a series of movements, witch connected one to the others, teach the dog to avoid obstacle, to yield, to execute straight-line crossing, to be in a moving crowd and to go in and out of a building. The guide dog does not have to be a performer alone. Sometimes he must refuse to obey an order if that order puts his master in danger. To get there, experience and talent are essential. The basic rule that the guide dog must master is stay, down and forward. These are the secrets that will make the instructor’s teaching possible.

Without any doubt, it is complex for the dog to make the difference between " avoid" and " bypass". Training a guide dog demands concentration and an opening-mind. But the must important is confidence.

Training consists on several principal elements and methods of applications. For example: the dog must master a physical and social space before moving to another one. That space control is increase from an almost laboratory environment to an opened natural environment.

It is very important to respect time limit for each environment or space:

* Paddock: 30 days

* Inside kennel: 30 days

* Outside kennel: 30 days

* City: 30 days

* Street: 30 days

Control the establish sequence to target behaviour for every dog.

Control of the widespread behaviour group from one situation to the other (parks, intersections, shopping centres).

Training goes beyond these brief principles, there are many others aspects to understand and develop. This is a complex process. At the end of the training, the dog must be ready to guide a blind person.

How to become an instructor

If you believe you are meeting the following requirements, we invite you to send us your resume :

· Own a diploma of college studies or more;

· Fluency in French and English (spoken and written), knowledge of Spanish would be an asset;

· Relevant experience in rehabilitation will be considered (ex. : knowledge of LSQ (langage des signes québécois) or diploma of college studies in animal health technology;

· No professional experience with dogs;

· Professional experience with other animal species (horses, wild animals);

· Computer knowledge;

· Great flexibility and availability : position requiring evening/night/weekend work – mobility;

· In-depth knowledge of the MIRA Foundation;

· Driver’s license;

· No criminal record;

· Great physical condition (the dog trainer’s work is extremely demanding, a good muscular and cardiovascular capacity is required);

· Excellent health (The MIRA Foundation will request your medical record);

· Provide a letter of interest;

· Own a dog.

If your application is retained during the first step of the selection process, you will have to send us your reference letters before the first interview is held.