Are you one of those rare individuals who enjoys working behind a counter or stuck inside a cubicle? Do you get a rush out of the office political power play? Do you appreciate lousy wages and little to no respect? No. Probably, not.In these times of economic turmoil and ever-increasing stress levels, how about a career that pays you a salary, provides you with housing, full benefits, a retirement plan and free education all for working with animals that help people? Sound too good to be true? It’s not. It’s the U.S. Navy.
Service Animal Training Means Personal Satisfaction
Service animals are those that have been trained to provide care to people who have limitations. Most commonly known are Guide Dogs for the blind, service dogs are trained in a variety of skills to help their owners live as independently as possible. Service dogs are also used to assist post-traumatic stress sufferers in transitioning back into normal society. Attention is taken away from the person and focused on the dog, creating a social cushion for the patient.
The dedicated individuals who train service dogs see, on a regular basis, the good effects of their efforts as they introduce dogs to patients and teach the new owners how to interact with their four-legged companion. Many hours are spent working with the dogs, teaching them the tricks of their trade. Patients who receive these service animals are eternally grateful.
Drugs, Ducks And Doctors
U.S. Navy dogs are also trained to look for drugs, munitions, bombs, smuggled goods and enemy personnel. This job requires intensive interactions with your dog and other trainers, under the skilled supervision of seasoned experts. U.S. Navy dogs are also trained to aid in search and rescue efforts for lost hikers and victims of natural disasters.
Dogs have been used as hunting partners for longer than anyone is sure. Duck, quail and pheasant hunters all count on their dogs to bring home the bacon, so to speak. While the Navy won’t train you to train hunting dogs, your experience from work will carry over into many other career possibilities. Dogs that are specially trained to sniff out bed bugs in fancy hotels earn their owners a tidy sum. Dog owners with well-trained dogs can earn money keeping geese out of public parks where they leave a nasty mess and tend to attack small children, especially during nesting season. Your skills as a dog trainer will prove useful and rewarding in many ways.
Other Animal Training Career Possibilities
Dogs aren’t the only animal used in the military. Horses have been part of the American military history since the beginning. Not as in demand as they once were, horses are still used for remote access, parades and formal military funerals. Veterinarians are in demand in any situation that relies upon animals and the Navy trains and hires veterinarians.
A popular area of research is currently going into the possibility of using dolphins, whales, seals and other sea life to protect American ships and shores. In addition to being playful, dolphins are highly intelligent animals, able to communicate using signal boards, similar to the world famous Coco the gorilla, who communicates using sign language. Imagine being on the cutting edge of this symbiotic relationship between species only heard of in fairy tales until today.
The U.S. Navy has many animal oriented careers simply waiting for you to get started. As you study your trade, you will be provided with housing, full benefits, a retirement plan and an income. If you are ready to explore the career possibilities in animal training with the U.S. Navy, click HERE.
Photo courtesy of Army.mil
