Job Title: Active Outdoor Canine Care Specialist (Dog / Horse Experience Preferred)

About Us

Wolf Mountain Kennel is a premier, high-end luxury dog kennel. We specialize in elite care, offering dogs an active lifestyle filled with mountain trail hikes, swimming, and structured field play. We pride ourselves on a highly educated staff and a supportive, team-oriented work environment.

Who We Are Looking For

This is not a standard indoor kennel job. We are seeking true animal professionals looking for long-term, serious employment—such as equestrian riders, farm hands, vet techs, or dog sports enthusiasts—who thrive in active, outdoor environments and want to build a career in animal care. We invest heavily in our staff through trust, paid training, gear stipends, and milestone bonuses because we are looking for serious, long-term team members. We run a tight workplace. You should be clean and sober. We believe that 'on-time and late' and 'early is on-time.' Animals depend on us. We want someone who is punctual, with a good work ethic. If you seek permanent, steady employment where you can work independently, be part of a team, if you love physical labor, changing weather, and have an innate understanding of animal behavior, or if want to learn from the very best, you will fit right in.

Key Day-to-Day Duties

• Lead Adventure Excursions: Guide groups of dogs on rigorous mountain trail hikes, swim sessions, and high-energy field play.
• Canine Behavior Management: Apply advanced dog knowledge to monitor pack dynamics and maintain a safe, calm environment.
• Health & Wellness Tracking: Conduct daily physical wellness checks, log behaviors, and administer medications accurately.
• Elite Facility Care: Maintain pristine hygiene standards for guest suites, play fields, and common areas.
• Client Communication: Provide high-end customer service, including detailed daily updates for luxury clientele.

Physical Requirements

• Extreme Endurance: Ability to hike 5–10 miles per day on uneven, steep terrain while safely handling multiple dogs.
• Strength & Agility: Routinely lift, move, or restrain dogs weighing up to 100 lbs.
• Weather Resilience: Comfort working outside for 6–8 hours a day in all weather conditions (rain, snow, heat, mud).
• Constant Movement: Ability to spend the entire shift standing, walking, bending, crouching, and lifting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 1–2 years of professional or serious amateur experience handling animals (e.g., horse grooming/training, farm work, vet clinic, dog training, or shelter care).
• Deep natural instinct for animal body language and behavior.
• Strong work ethic with a track record of reliability and long-term commitment.

Perks & Long-Term Incentives

• Competitive Base Pay: $18 – $20.00/hr starting pay DOE, plus client tips.
• Quick Raise: Performance-based salary adjustment after 90 days.
• Retention Milestones: Cash bonuses awarded at 6 months ($500) and 1 year ($1,000) of continuous employment.
• Gear Allowance: Annual stipend for high-quality hiking boots and weather-appropriate outdoor apparel available after 1st year.
• Professional Growth: Balanced dog training skill-building from day 1 provided by in-house animal behaviorist with over 20 years experience.

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

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

Application Question(s):

• Animal Experience: This role is tailored for individuals with a deep background in animal care, such as horse/equestrian work, farm management, vet clinics, or competitive dog sports. Please briefly describe your hands-on experience in any of these areas.
• Physical Demands: Our handlers routinely hike 5 to 10 miles a day on mountain trails and manage active dogs in fields and water. On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your current physical fitness for this level of intense, daily outdoor labor?

• Weather Resilience: We operate in all weather conditions, including heavy rain, snow, summer heat, and mud. Do you have professional or personal experience working or training animals outdoors during extreme weather?
• Career Goals: What are your professional goals for the next 12 to 24 months, and how does this role fit into them?
• Availability: Are you looking for full-time, permanent career stability, or are you seeking temporary/seasonal hours? Please note any schedule restrictions you have.

Ability to Commute:

• Danby, VT 05739 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $20