Many people like animals. But, as pet owners will admit, taking care of them is hard work. Animal care and service workers?who include animal caretakers and animal trainers?train, feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise animals and clean, disinfect, and repair their cages. They also play with the animals, provide companionship, and observe behavioural changes that could indicate illness or injury. Boarding kennels, pet stores, animal shelters, rescue leagues, veterinary hospitals and clinics, stables, laboratories, aquariums and natural aquatic habitats, and zoological parks all house animals and employ animal care and service workers. Job titles and duties vary by employment setting.
Occasionally work indoors when feeding animals and cleaning their pens, stalls, cages, or other shelter. Animal groomers may work inside when drying, fluffing, or combing animals.
In a typical work week as An Animal Caretaker, you can expect to work Less than 40 hours per week.
Sometimes it can be challenging to complete all of your daily work tasks, so daily task schedules are used in most Animal Care facilities, such as kennels, catteries, veterinary clinics, animal shelters and pet stores.
Good interpersonal, communication, customer service, and time management skills essential.
Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the work place.
Ability and initiative, working with minimal supervision and direction.
Animal trainers often need a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Some animal training jobs may require a bachelor's degree and additional skills. For example, marine mammal trainers usually need a bachelor's degree in biology, marine biology, animal science, psychology, or a related field. An animal health technician degree also may qualify trainers for some jobs.
Most equine trainers learn their trade by working as a groom at a stable. Some study at an accredited private training school.
Many dog trainers attend workshops and courses at community colleges and vocational schools. Topics include basic study of canines, learning theory of animals, teaching obedience cues, problem solving methods, and safety. Many such schools also offer business training.
Pet sitters are not required to have any specific training, but knowledge of and some form of previous experience with animals often are recommended.
Many zoos require their caretakers to have a bachelor's degree in biology, animal science, or a related field. Most require experience with animals, preferably as a volunteer or paid keeper in a zoo.
Animal trainers train animals for obedience, performance, riding, security, or assisting people with disabilities. They familiarize animals with human voices and contact, and they teach animals to respond to commands. Most animal trainers work with dogs and horses, but some work with marine mammals, such as dolphins. Trainers teach a variety of skills. For example, some may train dogs to guide people with disabilities; others teach animals to cooperate with veterinarians, or they train animals for a competition or show.
" />Many people like animals. But, as pet owners will admit, taking care of them is hard work. Animal care and service workers?who include animal caretakers and animal trainers?train, feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise animals and clean, disinfect, and repair their cages. They also play with the animals, provide companionship, and observe behavioural changes that could indicate illness or injury. Boarding kennels, pet stores, animal shelters, rescue leagues, veterinary hospitals and clinics, stables, laboratories, aquariums and natural aquatic habitats, and zoological parks all house animals and employ animal care and service workers. Job titles and duties vary by employment setting.
Occasionally work indoors when feeding animals and cleaning their pens, stalls, cages, or other shelter. Animal groomers may work inside when drying, fluffing, or combing animals.
In a typical work week as An Animal Caretaker, you can expect to work Less than 40 hours per week.
Sometimes it can be challenging to complete all of your daily work tasks, so daily task schedules are used in most Animal Care facilities, such as kennels, catteries, veterinary clinics, animal shelters and pet stores.
Good interpersonal, communication, customer service, and time management skills essential.
Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the work place.
Ability and initiative, working with minimal supervision and direction.
Animal trainers often need a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Some animal training jobs may require a bachelor's degree and additional skills. For example, marine mammal trainers usually need a bachelor's degree in biology, marine biology, animal science, psychology, or a related field. An animal health technician degree also may qualify trainers for some jobs.
Most equine trainers learn their trade by working as a groom at a stable. Some study at an accredited private training school.
Many dog trainers attend workshops and courses at community colleges and vocational schools. Topics include basic study of canines, learning theory of animals, teaching obedience cues, problem solving methods, and safety. Many such schools also offer business training.
Pet sitters are not required to have any specific training, but knowledge of and some form of previous experience with animals often are recommended.
Many zoos require their caretakers to have a bachelor's degree in biology, animal science, or a related field. Most require experience with animals, preferably as a volunteer or paid keeper in a zoo.
Animal trainers train animals for obedience, performance, riding, security, or assisting people with disabilities. They familiarize animals with human voices and contact, and they teach animals to respond to commands. Most animal trainers work with dogs and horses, but some work with marine mammals, such as dolphins. Trainers teach a variety of skills. For example, some may train dogs to guide people with disabilities; others teach animals to cooperate with veterinarians, or they train animals for a competition or show.
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