Animal Care Apprentice

The Country Mutt

CHIPPENHAM (SN15 5LD)

Closes in 27 days (Monday 15 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 18 August 2025


Summary

Here at The Country Mutt, we love dogs and provide the best care. We are 5* welfare licensed by Wiltshire council and we have a lovely group of employees, dogs and owners. This is the ideal opportunity for someone looking to start a career in animal welfare!

Wage

£9,815 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This will increase to £7.55 per hour in April 2025.

Training course
Animal care and welfare assistant (level 2)
Hours
Working week: Monday to Friday - 10:00 - 16:00

25 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The Country Mutt are looking for an apprentice doggy day-care assistant, assisting with the day to day running of their doggy day-care. They have up to 32 dogs a day over 4 members of staff. The dogs are all exercised and socialised in groups of up to 8 dogs.

Daily duties to include (but not be limited to);

  • Walking the dogs
  • Playing with the dogs
  • Providing enrichment
  • Keeping areas clean and sanitary
  • Customer service

Where you'll work

MANOR FARM BARN
DRAYCOT CERNE
CHIPPENHAM
SN15 5LD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Animal care and welfare assistant (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

Training schedule

You will be working towards the Level 2 Animal care and Welfare assistant apprenticeship.

All training will be provided at the employer's premises with the employer and Haddon Training.

You may need to work towards achieving your level 1 or 2 maths and/ or English Functional Skills qualifications if required, but Haddon training will support you through this!

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

The centre is not on a main bus route so you must be able to make your own way here each day without relying on public transport. If you live in Chippenham or the surrounding villages, there may be the opportunity for the work transport to collect you, but this would need to be discussed with the manager.

About this employer

There is nothing more we love than taking care of your dogs at our luxury dog day care centre, Chippenham. Whilst you are at work or away for the day, you can be assured that your best friend is safe and in good hands. At The Country Mutt we encourage play and socialisation in an environment that has been created specifically with safety and care in mind. We love working with all ages of dogs from young puppies to the old timer and everyone in between. All our dog handlers are trained in dog first aid, are DBS checked and hold multiple qualifications in animal care and behaviour. We take great care in making sure your dog is safe and cared for with us. The Country Mutt can be found nestled in the Wiltshire countryside not far from the M4 J17. We are based on an 18 acre farm in a small village called Draycot Cerne.

https://thecountrymutt.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

There will be the opportunity to progress through animal behaviour and welfare courses, dog behaviourist training, agility etc which is an amazing opportunity for someone looking to start their career!

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

Haddon Training

Enquiries@haddontraining.co.uk

01443749000

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337735.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Monday 15 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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