Animal trainer jobs in Finland
Animal trainers train animals and/or animal handlers for general and specific purposes, including assistance, security, leisure, competition, transportation, obedience and routine handling, entertainment and education, in accordance with national legislation.
Animal trainer – how much is the pay in Finland?
What the trade paid in 2024
| Median | 14.53 €/h |
|---|---|
| Bottom tenth | 11.08 €/h |
| Top tenth | 18.88 €/h |
| Employees | 2,458 |
Pay by sex, 2024
| Sex | Median | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 14.52 €/h | 2,296 |
| Men | 14.60 €/h | 162 |
Animal trainer - Which skills are essential?
Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
Carry out activities according to accepted principles of right and wrong, including transparency in work practices and conduct towards clients and their animals.
Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
Develop programmes to train humans and animals work together. Set objectives and targets. Evaluate the implementation of the training programme and progress by both the person and animal concerned.
Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
Adhere to veterinary professional codes of practice and legislation.
Provide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing manipulation, social, and training activities.
The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Administer emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians prior to first-aid provided by a veterinarian. Non-veterinarians providing emergency treatment are expected to seek treatment by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training activities.
Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.
Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
Provide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.
Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and working environment.
Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.
Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.
Provide training in basic handling, habituation, and obedience to enable the completion of day-to-day tasks while minimising the risks to the animal, the handler, and others.
Implement training programmes for animals for basic training purposes or to meet specific objectives, following a developed training programme, and reviewing and recording progress against set objectives.
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be reduced. Provide recommendations for corrective actions.
Train animals and individuals to work together, including the match between individuals and animals, the design of integrated training programmes for people and animals, implementation of integrated training programmes, evaluation of integrated training programmes for people and animals against agreed outcomes and evaluating the compatibility between individuals and animals in relation to physical characteristics.
Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.
Animal trainer - Which skills are useful but not essential?
Use different channels and learning styles such as journals, courses, and conferences to obtain new information, knowledge, skills, and know-how in relation to working with animals.
Categorise and verify information about the environment and its impact on the animal. Analyse the situation, such as what the animal may want or need.
Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.
Harness, dress and train horses as per the instructions provided. Take into account the age and breed of the horse and the preparation purposes.
Provide information to customers on how to feed and care for pets, appropriate food choices, vaccination needs, etc.
Maintain a positive attitude during challenging situations such as a misbehaving animal. Work under pressure and adapt to the circumstances in a positive manner.'
Assess whether certain dogs are ready to work as a guide dog or not, whether certain dogs should be withdrawn from the training programme, need extra training or a different approach, etc.
Natural behavioural patterns of dogs, how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to dog breeds, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
Have patience by dealing with unexpected delays or other waiting periods without becoming annoyed or anxious.
Provide advice on basic care products, such as supplements and vitamins, that can be used on various types of pets.
Prepare dog by removing excess hair, knots and tangles. Bathe and clean a dog’s coat and skin.
Principles and techiques of educating young horses important simple body control exercises.
Guide and support less knowledgeable or less experienced colleagues.
Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
Make simple calculations regarding the money that should be earned in relation to the number of hours worked.
Provide food and water to animals. This includes preparing food and water for animals and reporting any changes in the animal feeding or drinking habits.
Ensure work harmony between humans and animals, regarding to physical characteristics, capacity, temperament and potential.
Assess the training needs of the animal and select appropriate methods and activities to meet training objectives.
Advise clients and customers on the purchase of animals.
Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.
Assist with the transportation of animals, including the loading and unloading of animals, the preparation of the transport vehicle, and maintaining the wellbeing of the animal throughout the transport process.
Protect health and welfare of animals and their handlers.
Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.
Quickly compose a picture of a customers’ personal circumstances, needs and preferences.
The behaviour and specificities of different horse species.
Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.
Gather information about the animal behaviour issues, interpret relevant information about the animal, assess the impact of external factors, and assess husbandry/management practices on the animal to develop a plan which tackles undesirable behaviour.
Select animals for training using selection criteria including intended outcome of training, age, temperament, species and breed differences. Selection of animals for training includes basic training or training to meet specific objectives.
Ensure good relations with other animal welfare establishments and agencies.
The study of the anatomical structure and parts of a horse and how they interact.
Create animal records according to industry relevant information and using appropriate record keeping systems.
Identify the right animal with the right temperament appropriate for the therapy.
Make sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.
Clean stalls to remove all soiled bedding to prevent moisture and fumes from building up and to cut down on potential parasite problems.
Ask questions appropriate to the setting and purpose, with the aim to elicit accurate information on the animal's health condition, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis.
Develop plans and strategies to deal with the animal in order to achieve established goals and optimal results.
Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice and through contact with peers and stakeholders.
Consult veterinarians and assist them in the examination and nursing of animals.
Provide care of horses.
Transport horses using safely special vehicles for horse transportation; lead horses to vehicles taking into account the safety of people and horses.
Observe the status and availability of funds for the smooth running of projects or operations in order to foresee and estimate the quantity of future financial resources.
Socialise young horses (cleaning, collaring, bridling, raising feet, etc.), taking into account the safety and welfare of the horse and teacher.