Canine Care Specialist job

Apply for the Canine Care Specialist job•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Canine Care Specialist is Zoomies' core operational role — and it's one of the most dynamic jobs in the facility. Each shift, you'll be scheduled to either the dog park or the daycare and boarding side of the facility, so you always know where you're starting and what you're responsible for. That said, we're a fast-moving operation and flexibility is part of the job — our team supports each other across both sides of the building as needed. On the park side, you're the eyes and ears keeping off-leash play safe and fun. On the daycare and boarding side, you're providing attentive hands-on care for every dog in our facility and serving as the primary point of contact for pet parents during drop-off and pick-up. This is a physically demanding, high-responsibility role that requires genuine expertise with dogs, strong communication skills, and the ability to make calm, confident decisions under pressure. We're looking for people who are as comfortable de-escalating a tense dog interaction as they are greeting a member family at the front desk.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of hands-on dog experience required — daycare, boarding, dog park, shelter, rescue, veterinary, or similar environment.
Demonstrated knowledge of dog body language, breed temperments, and group play dynamics; ability to read a room full of dogs and act decisively.
Calm, confident, and capable of making quick, sound decisions in high-pressure situations — you don't rattle easily.
Physically active and comfortable on your feet for extended periods and in both indoor and outdoor environments in all weather conditions — this is a hands-on, high-energy role that keeps you moving throughout your entire shift.
Ability to lift up to 60 lbs.
Friendly and professional communication skills — you'll be interacting directly with pet parents during drop-off and pick-up.
Organized and detail-oriented; able to follow care instructions accurately and document notes clearly for the incoming team.
Team player who communicates proactively with fellow Canine Care Specialists, Customer Success Associates and leadership.
Weekend and holiday availability required.
CPR and Pet First Aid certification required (or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire).
All team members are expected to be willing to perform basic dog hygiene tasks including nail trims as needed.
Dog-friendly personality is non-negotiable — you'll be working around dogs every single day.

Nice To Haves

Experience with dog bathing and basic grooming is a plus — team members who take on bathing duties receive additional compensation.
Openness to occasional overnight shift coverage a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Maintain an active and vigilant presence in the off-leash park areas.
Monitor dog behavior and group dynamics continuously; identify and de-escalate tension, redirect inappropriate play, and separate dogs when necessary.
Communicate with Customer Success staff to receive dogs safely and calmly into the park; perform behavioral assessments on incoming dogs and ensure each one integrates comfortably into the park environment.
Enforce Zoomies park rules and member code of conduct with professionalism and diplomacy; educate guests as needed.
Complete incident reports for any dog behavior events, injuries, or health concerns and communicate findings to management.
Maintain park hygiene at all times — you are the first line of defense for cleaning up after dogs, including waste removal throughout your entire shift.
Provide attentive, hands-on care for all daycare and boarding dogs — feeding, watering, health monitoring, and medication administration per individual dog instructions.
Supervise group play in daycare areas; escalate behavioral concerns to management promptly.
Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of kennels, suites, runs, and all common areas throughout the day; perform thorough end-of-shift cleaning.
Document health concerns, behavioral observations, and incidents clearly; communicate notes to the oncoming shift.
Ensure each dog's kennel card, feeding schedule, and medication instructions are followed accurately and kept up to date.
Serve as the primary point of contact at the daycare and boarding desk during morning drop-off and evening pick-up windows.
Check dogs in and out of daycare and boarding; verify vaccination records and reservation details in our facility software.
Communicate warmly and professionally with pet parents — provide updates on their dog's day, flag health or behavior notes, and answer questions with confidence.
Coordinate with Customer Success Managers on the park side for any cross-department member needs.
Assist with reservation management and daycare scheduling during slower periods.
Complete a daily report card and capture photos for each daycare and boarding dog when stationed on that side of the facility; when on the park side, capture candid photos of dogs in play to share with pet parents and support Zoomies' social media content.