Handlers & Carers wanted to help dogs in need!

Victorian Dog Rescue & Resource Group is looking for dog-savvy people to help us with some of our bigger dogs who need extra support while they wait for their forever homes. 

This is a great opportunity for NDTF graduates to put your skills into practice – especially if you’re keen to get hands-on experience with reactive dogs and leash handling.

‍We Need People Who Can:
• Handle medium-to-large dogs safely on lead (some can pull or lunge).
• Use training tools properly to teach loose-lead walking.
• Understand the basics of desensitisation, counter-conditioning, and how dogs react to triggers.
• Use marker training and reinforcement for good behaviour.
• Follow kennel safety protocols and give clear feedback on what you see in a dog’s behaviour.
• Work independently without someone over your shoulder.

What It Might Look Like:
•  Spending a few hours once a week with one dog.
• Walking a dog 3–4 times a week (sometimes with carers, sometimes solo).
•  Short-term “pet sitting” to help a dog adjust to new people and environments.
• Becoming a paid carer, taking a dog into your home, and helping with their training and socialisation.

Urgent Right Now:
• Need a pet sitter (ideally at their home, but we can be flexible).
• We also have several dogs in kennels who would benefit from moving into a home environment.

Most of our dogs exhibit normal teenage-type behaviours and leash reactivity (especially those coming from rural pounds, where they aren’t accustomed to being around many dogs or walking on a lead).