Dog Handler

About Us

Available shifts

Friday 10:30am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 3p-7pm, plenty of opportunity for more hours (total of 16 hours)

We are a full-service pet care facility offering dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training. Our goal is to provide a safe, structured, and enriching environment where dogs can play, learn, and relax while their owners have peace of mind.

What makes our facility unique is that we are the only outdoor-only dog daycare in the area, operating in a custom, hand-built facility designed specifically for safe group dog play and enrichment. Our environment allows dogs to spend their day outside in fresh air with space to move, explore, and socialize in a way that indoor-only facilities simply can’t replicate.

Because of this approach and the standards we hold for safety, supervision, and structure, we have built a reputation as one of the most trusted and respected dog care facilities in the Reno/ Tahoe area.

Our team takes pride in providing exceptional care for dogs while supporting one another in a positive, hardworking, and collaborative environment.

A typical shift may involve:

• Supervising groups of dogs during daycare play sessions
• Monitoring dog body language and maintaining safe, structured play
• Redirecting overly excited play and preventing conflicts between dogs
• Assisting with dog evaluations, including working with large or reactive dogs
• Rotating dogs between play areas, rest breaks, and boarding areas
• Feeding and medicating boarding dogs
• Cleaning and sanitizing boarding areas,, play yards, floors, and equipment throughout the day
• Communicating with teammates about behavior notes, health concerns, or incidents
• Assisting with boarding check-ins and check-outs when needed

Some moments are calm and playful, while others require quick thinking and teamwork. The job can be loud, messy, and physically demanding—but it is also extremely rewarding for people who genuinely enjoy working with dogs.

Applicants must:

• Own a reliable vehicle and have a valid driver’s license
• Maintain a positive attitude and work well in a collaborative, flat-tier team environment
• Be able to lift 50 lbs repeatedly throughout a shift
• Be comfortable working with large, strong, reactive, or untrained dogs, especially during evaluations (temperament tests)
• Be willing to clean bodily waste regularly, including slobber, vomit, feces, and urine
• Understand that you will often leave work dirty, tired, and physically worn out
• Be able to stand, walk, and stay active for most of an 8–10 hour shift
• Have flexibility to work holidays when scheduled
• Be able to work in loud environments and varying weather conditions, including excessive heat, cold, rain, snow, and generally unpleasant weather. If the pack is enjoying the weather, we are out there monitoring them!
• Be comfortable intervening in dog conflicts when properly trained to do so
• Have a basic understanding of canine body language, such as recognizing signs of stress or escalation (tail tucked, excessive drooling, raised hackles) as well as healthy play behavior

Employee Dog Policy

We welcome employee dogs to participate in free daycare while you are working. Employees also receive up to two weeks of complimentary daycare or boarding per year while away. Please note that policies are in place regarding responsibility for any damage caused by employee dogs, and employees must acknowledge the inherent risks of illness or injury that can occur in group dog environments.

Opportunities for Growth in the Animal Care Field
We believe working in animal care should open doors, not limit them. Our facility is committed to helping team members grow their skills and explore different paths within the animal industry.

Many members of our team have gone on to develop skills in professional grooming, dog training, and advanced dog handling, with opportunities to learn directly through hands-on experience. We actively encourage staff to pursue new areas of interest and are always open to expanding services that benefit both our team and the dogs we care for.

As our facility continues to grow, we are excited to explore additional opportunities within the animal care field, including potential partnerships with adoption programs, veterinary medicine, more in depth behavior work, and other animal welfare initiatives.

For people who are passionate about animals and interested in building a long-term career in the field, this role can be an excellent place to learn, grow, and gain real-world experience.

Pay: $15.00 - $17.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• On-the-job training
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Paid training

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

• Are you able to work the following schedule?

Friday 10:30am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 3p-7pm, plenty of opportunity for more hours (total of 16 hours)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $17