Dog Handler

Position Overview & Purpose

The Dog Handler is responsible for providing direct care for our dogs, as well as their health and safety while on-site, resulting in exceptional customer service and high-quality pet care. 

A Week in the Life of a Dog Handler

The following is a list of general job responsibilities for the Dog Handler position. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive and may be amended to meet changing business needs. 

Daily Operations:

• Live out and be a positive advocate for Downtown Dog Lounge’s safety culture
• Understand and uphold the Purpose and Core Values of the business in actions and words
• Actively oversee a designated dog park/group of dogs in person to ensure positive and safe dog interactions and mitigate escalating behaviors
• Develop thorough knowledge and understanding of dog breeds and dog behavior  
• Follow all safety guidelines and protocols   
• Attend daily recap meetings, as well as read and understand recap daily

Spend Time With Dogs & Their Parents:

• Provide exceptional customer service, including transparent communication 
• Develop strong relationships with customers (dogs and people)  
• Learn basic customer service, Concierge, and front-facing role duties (answering the phone, replying to emails, posting in Slack, etc.)
• Perform additional services such as dog walks, dog jogs, and one-on-one play with a ball 
• Become a proficient POS software/app user 
• Assist with dog rotations and mealtimes
• Assist with running dogs at check-in and check-out  

Support with Cleaning:

• Clean up after dogs 
• Cleanliness of the location 
• Perform additional cleaning and disinfection duties including, but not limited to, taking out the garbage, mopping, cleaning crates and surfaces, laundry, etc.

Support the Team:

• Uphold DDL Purpose and Values, communicating clearly, openly, honestly, and kindly  
• Communicate and participate as part of the team 
• Attend periodic required trainings and All Team Meetings  
• Mentor new team members as assigned  
• Perform other daily tasks as assigned by the Pack Leader and/or Supervisors
• Cross-train for other positions within the company over time (concierge, pack leader, trainer, bather, etc.) 

Downtown Dog Lounge is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We look forward to your application.

Experience and Education:

• Minimum of High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Must be 18 years of age to work independently in the dog parks 

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Comfortable working within close proximity to approximately 30 dogs in an enclosed park 
• Desire to develop a thorough understanding of dog behavior 
• Quick reaction time to unpredictable situations 
• Comfortable working in a loud environment 
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills 
• Comfortable standing for 8 hours at a time 
• Able to lift 45 pounds 
• Must be flexible and will be expected to be available to work most weekends AND during holidays. This is non-negotiable!