Professional Dog Trainer - Seattle

About Us

The Pet Care Club of Seattle is redefining pet care by integrating behavior, enrichment, and training into everyday life.

We are not a traditional dog walking company—and we are not a traditional training company.

Our model is built on the belief that real behavior change happens in real environments, through consistent, thoughtful interactions, not isolated training sessions.

We are building a team of professionals who see dogs through a behavioral, emotional, and welfare-based lens—not just compliance.

The Role

We are hiring 2 professional dog trainers to help lead and expand our training and enrichment programs.

This role is focused on:
• Private training sessions
• Behavior support and modification
• Integrating training into real-life care environments
• Supporting and guiding our internal team to maintain consistency

You will play a key role in shaping how training is delivered across the entire company.

Our Training Philosophy

We are a force-free, fear-free, science-based training company.

That means:

• We use positive reinforcement as our primary teaching method
• We prioritize emotional safety, agency, and trust
• We utilize desensitization and counterconditioning for behavior change
• We focus on reducing stress, not suppressing behavior

We do not allow:
• Prong, choke, or shock collars
• Startle, intimidation, or correction-based methods
• Dominance theory or “alpha” frameworks

This aligns with modern behavioral science and humane training standards, which emphasize reinforcing desired behaviors and avoiding fear or pain-based techniques.

If you consider yourself a “balanced trainer,” this will not be the right fit.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Conducting private, in-home and real-world training sessions
• Addressing behavior challenges such as:

• Reactivity

• Fear and anxiety

• Overstimulation

• Leash skills and engagement

• Creating customized, humane behavior modification plans
• Coaching clients with clarity and empathy
• Supporting internal staff with training guidance and consistency
• Helping develop and refine training programs within the company

Who We’re Looking For

This role is for someone who:

• Has a strong foundation in learning theory and behavior science
• Understands canine body language at a deep level
• Naturally thinks in terms of:

• Thresholds

• Triggers

• Nervous system regulation

• Believes training should improve a dog’s emotional state, not just behavior
• Can communicate in a way that builds trust with both dogs and humans
• Wants to be part of a company that is raising the standard of care

Preferred Qualifications

• CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, IAABC, or Fear Free Certification (strongly preferred)
• Hands-on experience with behavior cases (not just basic obedience)
• Experience working directly with clients in private training settings

Employment Details

• W-2 employee (not contractor)
• Competitive hourly pay (aligned with Seattle living wage standards)
• Paid training and continuing education opportunities
• Opportunity for growth into senior trainer/program development roles

Why This Role Is Different

Most trainers work in controlled environments.

Here, you’ll be working where behavior actually happens:
• On walks
• In homes
• In real-world environments

This allows for more meaningful, lasting behavior change—and a deeper level of impact.