Professional Dog Bather

A Bather is a key part of the team and represents the front line of the business. Bathers show a true love for dogs and bring genuine excitement when working with them. This position is to provide our clients with bathing services that benefit the guests, including bathing, drying, nail trimming, brushing, ear cleaning and other service needs or requests.

In addition to limited grooming services, the Bather is responsible for prioritizing the safety & comfort of the pets in our care and delivering optimal customer service to clients. The Bather may be required to complete additional tasks as assigned by the Customer Service Manager. Bathers thrive in fast-paced environments, are self-motivated and views teamwork as part of getting the job done.

Essential Job Functions: The incumbent must be able to consistently perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation.

Perform limited grooming services including bathing, drying, nail trimming, brushing, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning according to the clients’ instructions and Wag protocols.

Utilize grooming instruments including brushes, nail clippers and dryers.

Always ensure the safety of every animal in the salon according to Wags standards and expectations.

Interact professionally and effectively with clients, provide optimal customer service, address grooming related inquiries and provide timely resolution

Maintain a clean and safe grooming area and salon, disinfect, sanitize grooming tools and equipment

Must be able to complete a minimum of baths 10 per day.

Schedule grooming appointments, manage applicable paperwork, and maintain accurate grooming records.

Responsibilities: Your duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Completing all services related to bathing and add ons; bath, brushing, nail trim, ear cleaning, complimentary baths, de-matting, anal gland expression, and any other spa upgrades.

Efficiency - Each task is executed in a timely manner with detail and to Wag Standards.

• Bathing expectations – Can complete small dog bath, brush, nail service (BBN) in ½ hour, medium dog BBN in 45 min, and large dog BBN in 1 hour or less.
• Service/Product knowledge - Understands what is included in each bathing service/product as well as client experience.

Safety – understands use of chemicals and follow Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), eye wash station, incident reporting, bite reporting, cleaning up water puddles, dog fight protocol and proper guest handling per Wag Hotels policies.

Animal Handling – porting in and out of room. Follows all Wag Hotels policies and protocols for handling area and correction of guests.

Animal health & behavior – health checks (snout to tail assessment) completed daily on each guest. Adjust bathing methods to accommodate puppies, nervous dogs, recent rescues and seniors. Ability to recognize and anticipate guest health and behavior concerns, sores, matting, skin allergies, fleas, ticks, etc. This includes evaluating guest health and behavior, making decisions regarding needs for grooming/bathing and vet care. Includes communicating those needs to the GS Shift Lead or management team to address accordingly. Also, it includes communicating those needs to the client and making proper notation in animal software system.

Bather Job Description

© 2025, Wag. All rights reserved. (04/25)

• Client Interaction – Establish relationships with clients. Engage clients to address any concerns or unique preferences. Ability to upsell products to clients. Educate customers on home care for their dogs. Works with client services to schedule future appointments.

Housekeeping – Daily and weekly cleaning & disinfecting expectations kept up in grooming and bathing room. Floors, kennels, tubs, tools, shampoo bottles, counters, tables, walls, etc.

Completes and reviews “Grooming/Bathing” sheet and “matted dog release form”.

Wag App – completes all Spa memories and report cards each day.

My Paradise reservation system – printing reports, saving notes & reading guest profiles. Enter cost for each guest on invoice and tip line.

Ensure effective and timely reporting to hotel management on injuries to both humans and pets as well as potential safety concerns.

Proactively fill bathing appointment gaps by engaging in house guests/clients, follow up with lapse clients, facilitate local marketing.

Proper radio etiquette – radio with an earpiece is worn during each shift. Radio communication is expected daily. Announce breaks, “copy” arrivals, departures, answer questions from fellow team members, overall prompt communication.

Understands layout of hotel, different room sizes & amenities included with each room.

Room Card understanding/usage – colors, recording behavior & health notes.

Facility maintenance – alert manager or shift lead to add to maintenance doc.

Inventory – alert manager or shift lead if low on stock.

Assistance in other departments as needed following cross training in the department.

Qualifications:

Professional Bathing Experience a must

Genuine love for dogs and comfortable working with all dog breeds and temperaments.

Strong Communication, customer service and teamwork skills

Responsible and reliable

Ability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays.

• Ability to work and communicate appropriately in a team environment

Physical Requirements:

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Ability to reach and bend while standing for a long period of time.

Ability to handle large, active dogs.

Ability to be around dogs and cats for an extended period of time.

We will never ask for personal information and a manager/HR will reach out directly for an interview.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $18.39 - $20.89 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Referral program
• Retirement plan

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)
• Night Shift (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Oakland, CA 94607 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Oakland, CA 94607: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $21