Description

LEARN HOW WE: Train & Care for Our Karelian Wildlife Service Dogs & Personal Dogs                              

• ARE YOU SEEKING EXPERIENCE IN: Dog Training, WORKING WITH YOUR PERSONAL DOGS, Wildlife Conservation, Veterinary Tech Work, Ranch Work?
• Do You want to contribute to MEANINGFUL WORK WITH DOGS or WILDLIFE? 
• DO YOU LOVE WALKING, HIKING, or WORKING WITH DOGS, and want to learn how to improve how you train, work & communicate with them?

Our Mission: To develop the safe and effective use of Wildlife K-9s for wildlife conservation worldwide, with a focus on human-bear conflict mitigation, and to improve communication between humans, dogs and wildlife.

Internship Specifics:  The Wind River Karelian Bear Dog Partners facility is located 12 miles South of Missoula, just off Hwy. 93, near Florence, MT, at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains. Our work with our Wildlife K-9s is known and recognized worldwide.  We are looking for a dedicated individual or couple, to assist us in training & caretaking our specialized Karelian Wildlife Service Dogs (WSD), as well as doing some kennel & ranch maintenance. This assistance is in exchange for a Dog Training Internship; with potential for horse pasture if needed.

• Unpaid; can be arranged for University of Montana credit for enrolled students; useful for resumes and future dog training and wildlife work.
• Schedule/Duration of Internship: Start date: August 2026- flexible, through April/May 2027 & can be extended. 

Wind River Karelian Bear Dog Partners will provide:

• Training/mentoring of Interns in: The care, handling and training of our Karelian Bear Dogs for use as Wildlife Service Dogs. Vehicle & canine equipment are provided. The Basic training methods are good for ANYONE with a personal dog for Basic House and Field Manners. 
• All necessary gear and equipment for dog training and care, and a vehicle and fuel for dog training off-property.
• For interns choosing to live on the ranch, we provide a very nice, “dry” trailer (no water), with separate bathroom, all utilities and internet paid & laundry facility. A personal dog, cat or horse, can be negotiated.

Intern responsibilities for this exchange are as follows:

• Dog training, exercise, and care; and light kennel and ranch tasks as needed.
• Must have a current driver’s license and provide own transportation to facility.
• If NOT living on ranch: Minimum of 3 hours/day for minimum 2 days/week; if LIVING ON ranch: minimum of 5 days & nights/week for 16-20 hours total/week, & sleep with at least 2 of our Karelian Bear Dogs 5 nights/week. 

This opportunity meshes well with other employment or a student schedule. For more information about our Wind River Karelian Bear Dogs and the Wind River Bear Institute, visit our website at www.beardogs.org.   To apply for this internship, please send cover letter, resume and 3 references, by email to: windriver@beardogs.org or mail to:  Wind River Karelian Bear Dog Partners, ATTN. Carrie Hunt, Director, P.O. Box 1299, Florence, MT  59833.

Requirements

Internship Qualifications:

• Interested candidates should be physically able to: lift 30 lbs.; be able to train and exercise dogs in uneven or snowy terrain; and be comfortable with handling 50-70 lb. dogs that may pull on leash.
• Be willing to learn and follow detailed instruction, and to complete our processes and protocols reliably.
• Committed to developing positive dog-human relationships; with experience in working with dogs/animals.

This opportunity meshes well with other employment or a student schedule. For more information about our Wind River Karelian Bear Dogs and the Wind River Bear Institute, visit our website at www.beardogs.org.   To apply for this internship, please send cover letter, resume and 3 references, by email to: windriver@beardogs.org or mail to:  Wind River Karelian Bear Dog Partners, ATTN. Carrie Hunt, Director, P.O. Box 1299, Florence, MT  59833.