Dog Care Handler

The Dog Stop • Cumming, GA

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The Dog Care Handler provides safe, attentive, and compassionate care to dogs participating in daycare, boarding, and other services at The Dog Stop | Cumming – Midway. This hands-on role actively supervises dogs, maintains clean and safe play and boarding environments, follows feeding and medication procedures, recognizes changes in canine behavior or health, and promptly communicates concerns to leadership. Handlers contribute to a positive experience for dogs and their families through reliability, attention to detail, teamwork, professionalism, and a commitment to animal safety and well-being.

Handlers provide care throughout their scheduled shifts, follow each dog's Travel Ticket and documented instructions, and complete feeding, medication, enrichment, cleaning, and operational records. They also support customer interactions and business services while following company policies, procedures, and direction from leadership. The position is physically demanding and involves indoor and outdoor work in varying temperatures and weather, handling dogs of various sizes, and exposure to barking, cleaning products, water, pet hair, and odors. The facility operates seven days per week, and schedules may include mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Boarding dogs require care even when the facility is closed to the public.

Previous professional animal-care experience is preferred but not required; training is provided to candidates who demonstrate the appropriate attitude, reliability, and willingness to learn. Team members who demonstrate consistent performance may be considered for advancement into lead or management roles or opportunities in dog training, grooming, customer service, sales, marketing, and other business areas.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Dependable and comfortable working directly with dogs of different breeds, sizes, ages, and temperaments.
• Able to follow detailed written and verbal instructions.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Able to remain calm and make appropriate decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team.
• Willing to clean and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Reliable transportation and consistent attendance.
• Available to work weekends and holidays as scheduled.
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods and frequently bend, kneel, squat, reach, and move throughout the facility.
• Able to safely handle dogs of various sizes and lift and carry approximately 50 pounds independently; request assistance for heavier loads when appropriate.
• Able to work indoors and outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions and around barking dogs, cleaning products, water, pet hair, and odors.
• Able to respond quickly to situations involving dogs when necessary for safety.

Nice To Haves

• Previous professional animal-care experience is preferred but not required.
• Willingness to learn; training is provided for candidates demonstrating the appropriate attitude and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Actively supervise dogs in indoor and outdoor play yards and never leave a playgroup unattended.
• Monitor canine body language, play styles, energy levels, and group dynamics; recognize signs of stress, fear, fatigue, illness, injury, or inappropriate behavior and respond according to company procedures.
• Maintain appropriate dog-to-handler ratios and follow playgroup assignments and policies for VIP dogs, independent players, and individual rotations.
• Safely introduce, move, separate, and rotate dogs using approved slip leads, handling techniques, and safety procedures.
• Immediately report injuries, incidents, unusual behavior, and safety concerns to a Lead or Manager.
• Provide attentive care to boarding and daycare dogs, following each dog's Travel Ticket and documented care instructions.
• Assist with kennel rotations, potty breaks, feeding, water, bedding, and other daily care requirements; monitor and document food consumption and watch for changes in eating, drinking, elimination, energy, or behavior.
• Follow documented feeding and medication procedures; verify the dog, medication, dosage, and instructions, administer medication according to the prescription label and company procedures, and document assigned tasks accurately.
• Promptly report missed medications, discrepancies, refusal to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, or other concerns; do not guess or independently change care instructions.
• Clean and sanitize kennels, play yards, bowls, equipment, and other dog-care areas; promptly clean messes and perform laundry, dishes, trash removal, sweeping, mopping, and other routine cleaning.
• Follow chemical handling, dilution, sanitation, and storage procedures; maintain a clean, organized, odor-controlled facility and report damaged equipment, maintenance concerns, or hazards.
• Conduct approved play-yard activities and enrichment exercises; provide assigned individual or group enrichment, complete scheduled sessions, and document completion.
• Take photos or videos of dogs when requested for customer updates, enrichment documentation, or company social media; help create an engaging environment for dogs.
• Greet customers professionally and courteously; be knowledgeable about company services and identify appropriate opportunities to enhance a dog's stay through services or enrichment.
• Share observations that may help the front desk or management recommend grooming, nail care, enrichment, or other services, and maintain a positive, professional company image.
• Accurately complete required Travel Tickets, feeding and medication records, enrichment documentation, Break Board entries, cleaning or facility checklists, incident or injury documentation, and other assigned operational records.
• Communicate important information during shift changes and promptly escalate significant health, behavioral, medication, or safety concerns to a Lead or Manager.
• Arrive on time and prepared, maintain reliable attendance, follow leadership instructions and company policies, assist coworkers during busy periods, and participate in required meetings and training.
• Maintain professional communication, accept coaching, demonstrate willingness to improve, and contribute to a safe, accountable, respectful, and collaborative workplace.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO), subject to eligibility requirements.
• Paid holidays, when applicable under Company policy.
• 401(k) benefits, subject to plan eligibility.
• Employee's dog may accompany them to work at no charge, subject to Company policies and behavioral requirements.
• 50% discount on boarding and daycare when the employee is not working.
• 20% discount on retail purchases.
• 20% discount on spa and grooming services when performed by another team member.
• Training and advancement opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed