Senior Dog Handler / Assistant Manager at We Love Dogs LA, West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Dog Handler / Assistant Manager

About Us

At We Love Dogs , we are passionate about providing the highest standard of care for our canine clients. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, structured, and enriching environment for dogs while giving their owners total peace of mind. We are a growing team looking for a dedicated leader to help us elevate our daily operations and mentor our staff.

The Role

Are you an experienced dog handler who knows pack dynamics inside and out?
Are you a current shift lead or assistant manager looking to take the next step in your career?

We are seeking a Senior Dog Handler / Assistant Manager to join our leadership team. 

In this role, you will not only be hands-on with the dogs, ensuring their safety and happiness, but you will also act as the right hand to the Manager. You will help train junior staff, oversee daily operations, communicate with clients, and ensure our facility runs smoothly and safely.

Note: This is an active, on-your-feet leadership role. It requires a deep understanding of canine behavior, a cool head under pressure, and the ability to lead a team by example.

Key Responsibilities

Canine Care & Pack Management

• Oversee Playgroups: Actively manage and supervise dog playgroups, ensuring safe play and immediate intervention when necessary.
• Behavioral Assessment: Evaluate new dogs during trial days and continuously monitor the behavior and health of our regular pack.
• Emergency Response: Act as the primary point of contact during health or behavioral emergencies on the floor, executing protocols efficiently.

Leadership & Operations

• Team Mentorship: Train, guide, and support junior dog handlers in canine body language, safety protocols, and facility maintenance.
• Shift Supervision: Open or close the facility, manage daily task checklists, and ensure all cleaning and feeding schedules are strictly followed.
• Step-Up Leadership: Seamlessly assume the  Manager’s duties during their days off, including handling staff scheduling adjustments and resolving immediate operational issues.

Client Communication

• Customer Service: Greet clients, and address any questions or concerns with professionalism and empathy.
• Administrative Duties: Assist with booking, checking dogs in/out using our facility software.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in dog daycare, boarding, training, or a high-volume shelter environment.
• Leadership: Previous experience as a shift lead, supervisor, or assistant manager is highly preferred.
• Canine Expertise: Exceptional understanding of canine body language, breed tendencies, and pack dynamics.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills for both team management and client relations.
• Physical Demands: Ability to spend the majority of the shift on your feet, lift up to 50 lbs , and work in an environment with moderate noise levels and cleaning solutions.
• Availability: This is a full time job 30+ hours per week and must be available weekends and also weekday mornings and evening shifts.

What We Offer

• Competitive Compensation: starting at $20-$22 per hour based on experience and availability. Frequent performance based reviews and raises.
• Career Growth: Room for role and position growth as our business expands.

How to Apply

If you are ready to step into a leadership role and help shape an amazing team, we want to hear from you! 

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your experience with dog handling and team leadership.

We Love Dogs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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