Senior/Lead Dog Sitter / Walker
Challenging Dogs Pet Care, LLC is hiring a part-time to full-time Senior/Lead Dog Sitter/Walker in the Richmond, VA area. In this position you would work with new clients to help their dogs get to know Challenging Dogs staff, and also provide overnight sitting, daycare or walking at clients’ houses. New staff typically start as part-time but may become full-time depending on availability and the number of bookings available. You must be available year-round.
Please read the full job description then visit our website to complete an application and upload your resume. https://challengingdogs.com/job-opportunities/
What are challenging dogs? The dogs we work with have difficulty with other dogs and/or with new people. Some challenging dogs react to other dogs and new people with a combination of barking, lunging, and growling while others may be extremely shy and fearful. We use a carefully planned process to help dogs get to know us in a slow, non-threatening way. Challenging Dogs Pet Care does not accept dogs who have serious aggression issues.
How this differs from typical dog sitting: Working with reactive, fearful dogs is different than typical dog sitting. You will focus on reducing the stress and anxiety that many of our clients’ dogs have.
Requirements:
- To be full-time, you must have availability in your schedule for seven days a week, including flexibility for daytime, evenings and weekends. You must be comfortable with significant variability in time off because your schedule will vary week by week.
- To be part-time, you must have flexibility for daytime, evenings and weekends.
- You must have at least a high school degree and have a reliable car to drive to/from clients' houses.
- You must have at least two years of experience working with dogs in some capacity beyond caring for family or friends’ dogs.
- Good time management is critical for this position. Your schedule will vary day by day, and traveling to clients’ homes requires frequent planning ahead to arrive on time and to juggle multiple appointments.
- Attention to detail is also critical. You will care for a variety of dogs and paying close attention to their needs, habits and preferences is extremely important.
Primary Job responsibilities:
1. Plan and lead visits with new clients to help their dog get to know Challenging Dogs staff in preparation for service delivery. (Getting to Know You Visits - GTKY)
2. Provide sitting, daycare, and walking services for clients' dogs in the client’s home.
Specific responsibilities for Getting to Know You (GTKY) visits:
1. Work with other senior staff to understand a dog’s behavioral challenges in preparation for “getting to know you” (GTKY) visits.
2. Work with senior staff to plan the number and format of GTKY visits.
3. Facilitate visits and revise format as needed.
Specific responsibilities for sitting and daycare:
- Participate in multiple visits with a new owner and dog to help the dog become familiar with you.
- Arrive at the client’s home for the scheduled arrival time.
- Provide meals and medications (food provided by owner).
- Provide at least four potty breaks during the day.
- Provide an adequate amount of physical exercise and mental stimulation for the dog.
- Communicate regularly with the dog's owner to provide updates and pictures.
- Provide updates to senior Challenging Dogs staff about the stay.
- Use desensitization and counterconditioning for calm behavior on walks.
Specific Responsibilities for Walking:
- Participate in multiple visits with a new owner and dog to collect information and help the dog become familiar with you.
- Travel to the client's home and take the dog for 30-minute walks, using counterconditioning and desensitization techniques as necessary.
- Communicate regularly with the dog's owner to provide updates and pictures.
- Provide updates to senior staff about the walk.
Other Information
We provide on-the-job training as well as separate training sessions to equip you with the knowledge you need to work with a large variety of challenging behaviors. Our senior staff also ensure someone is always available for coaching or troubleshooting while dogs are in your care.
Information on Pay and Benefits: This position pays $19/hour and reimburses for mileage. Your hours can vary from 20 – 40 hours per week depending on your availability and the number of bookings available. Staff receive paid time off for vacation, holiday and sick leave.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: From $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Night shift
- Overnight shift
- Weekends as needed
Application Question(s):
- Are you available year round?
- Do you have your own reliable transportation (other than public transport)?
- Please describe your required minimum 2-Years of dog handling experience if not documented on your resume.
Experience:
- dog handling (excluding personal/family/friends dogs): 2 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: On the road