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 a professional dog trainer to help lead and expand our training and enrichment programs. Our service area generally spans from Capitol Hill to Mill Creek, but we are specifically looking for help in the northern end of our territory.

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

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.