Job Description

Job Overview
Challenging Dogs Pet Care is hiring Lead Dog Caregivers and Dog Caregivers for the Maryland suburbs surrounding Washington, DC and Baltimore to guide introduction visits for dogs with behavior challenges and provide sitting and walking services. Services may also be conducted in Washington DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia but do not normally extend beyond 30 miles away from a caregivers home location.

Many of the dogs we work with react to other dogs and new people in an unfriendly way. Others are extremely shy and fearful. We conduct a Getting to Know You process to help dogs get to know us in a slow, non-threatening way. Once that is complete, we provide sitting, walking and daycare services.

Please read the full job description, then complete an application and upload your resume here:

Lead Dog Caregiver Responsibilities

1. Interview new clients to collect information on each dogs behavior challenges.

2. Develop and manage the format and schedule of Getting to Know You (GTKY) visits.

3. Facilitate GTKY visits to enable the dog to develop a trusting relationship with you and other staff.

4. Provide sitting, walking and daycare services directly.

Non-lead Dog Caregivers attend GTKY Visits under the supervision of a Lead. Once the GTKY process is complete, Dog Caregivers provide sitting, walking and daycare services directly on their own.

Key Requirements

• Lead Dog Caregivers should have at least two years of experience working with dogs in a professional or volunteer capacity.
• Lead Dog Caregivers should have intermediate knowledge of dog behavior and challenges.
• Both Lead Dog Caregivers and Dog Caregivers:
  • Commitment to an approach that is force free only with no use of punishment.
  • Able to communicate well in person and in writing.
  • Able to effectively manage extensive details related to multiple clients.
  • High-level ability to manage your time effectively and prioritize tasks.

Other Key Requirements for both Dog Caregivers and Leads:

• You must have flexibility to work any day of the week. This includes daytime, evenings, weekends and overnight stays for sitting services. Please note that we highly value a good work/life balance and staff are strongly encouraged to take off the time they need to maintain that.
• You must be available for an average of two weekends per month (for sitting services).
• You should not apply if you have other responsibilities that make you unavailable for 6 consecutive hours or more - for three or more days during the week.
• A high school degree or equivalent.
• A reliable car to drive to/from clients' houses.

Information on Pay and Benefits: The Lead Dog Caregiver position pays $20 to $22 per hour based on experience. The Dog Caregiver position pays $18 to $20 per hour based on experience. For sitting stays that include overnight care, the pay rate for sleep time varies based on the minimum wage of the state in which the service is provided. We provide services in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Challenging Dogs provides a 50 cents per mile reimbursement for mileage and provides paid time off for vacation and sick leave.

Required qualifications:

• 18 years or older
• At least high school diploma or equivalent or higher
• Access to personal devices for work: smartphone - any type
• Access to personal devices for work: computer
• Able to work in an environment with fluctuating temperatures
• Willing to travel locally

Preferred qualifications:

• Management skills: writing schedules
• Management skills: supervising employees
• Available to work: overnight
• Available to work: holidays
• Available to work: early morning
• Available to work: late at night
• Available to work: weekends
• Available to work: weekdays
• Available to work: overtime

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