Dog Handler

Job Description

Job Description

Responsible for the care, interaction, and basic training of client dogs while in the care of The Doghouse. This includes feeding, medicating, bathing, providing clean environments for, and assessing each dog’s behavior and health as needed to ensure the dog’s most comfortable, enriched stay.

Essential Job Functions

• Providing basic dog care- including feeding, exercising, yard cycling, transporting dogs, setting up suites, managing play groups, and basic grooming
• Following specific feeding/medication instructions, administering medications or first aid, as necessary, and seeking appropriate veterinarian attention when required.
• Use positive reinforcement and basic cues/commands adopted by The Doghouse to encourage good canine behaviors
• Maintaining an environment of balanced interaction to ensure the dogs’ controlled behavior and calm and quiet enjoyment
• Overseeing off-leash activities, including successfully selecting dogs to participate, training recall with line-walks, and managing the environment to prevent breaks away from the group
• Provide bus transportation for canine clients to/from their home
• Communicating with managers and clients honestly and effectively about the behaviors of the dogs, to ensure a partnership with the owners aimed at enriching the lives of the dogs
• Documenting all concerns and maintaining the dog’s file accurately
• Checking in and dismissing dogs, including documentation of personal items received at check-in
• Oversight of dog rooms, including cleaning, sorting, laundry, and reporting maintenance concerns directly to the Manager
• Maintaining and setting up play yards to ensure safe, clean fun for the dogs in our care- including waste pick up, inspection of enrichment structures for hazards or wear, and identifying landscaping needs.
• Assist Front Desk with bringing canine client to their human at the end of the day.

We have various shifts to offer candidates. Starting times range from 6:00 to 11:00 a.m. Shift end times vary from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Occasional weekend shifts will be necessary. A few Holiday shifts per year will also be required. Holidays are paid at double time. Earned Sick Time is also provided. This position begins as part-time, with a trial training period. A trial training period typically lasts two to four weeks, primarily depending on the candidate's prior experience with dogs. There are opportunities for full-time once the training period is completed.

The Doghouse is a Dog Daycare and Boarding facility in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. We are located on 200 acres of wooded land. We provide a beautiful and safe setting for dogs to play and stay. Our primary focus is to provide daily outdoor exercise, routine, socialization, obedience, and lots of affection to our canine clients. Candidates for a Handler position at the Doghouse should have a love for dogs, be calm and positive, and want to provide a safe and healthy environment for our canine and human clients.

Company Description

The Doghouse is a Dog Daycare and Boarding facility in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. We are located on 200 acres of wooded land. We provide a beautiful and safe setting for dogs to play and stay. Our primary focus is to provide daily outdoor exercise, routine, socialization, obedience, and lots of affection to our canine clients. Candidates for a Handler position at the Doghouse should have a love for dogs, be calm and positive, and want to provide a safe and healthy environment for our canine and human clients.