Overview Professional Pet Care Specialist — Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Trail Side Tails | Boise Meridian Eagle Garden City North End & Surrounding Areas Love animals? Love being outdoors? Build a career doing both. Trail Side Tails is looking for a dependable, compassionate, professional Pet Care Specialist to join our growing team. We provide personalized, in-home pet care for families throughout the Boise area. Our services range from drop-in visits for feeding, potty breaks, medication and playtime to neighborhood walks, trail adventures, hikes, and personalized care for dogs, cats, and other beloved pets. We are looking for someone who understands that pet care is about much more than simply "letting the dog out." You are stepping into a family's home, caring for a member of their family, and representing a professional pet-care company. The right person will be trustworthy, communicative, responsible, calm under pressure, comfortable working independently, and genuinely excited to spend their day with animals.

THE ROLE

As a Professional Pet Care Specialist, you will provide dependable, loving care for our clients' pets in their homes and neighborhoods.

Your days may include:

Dog walking Drop-in visits Feeding and fresh-water service Potty breaks Playtime and enrichment Cat care Puppy care Senior pet care Medication administration when appropriate and trained Neighborhood walks Trail walks and hikes Multiple-pet households Basic pet-home care while clients are away Detailed visit updates and photos for pet parents Recognizing changes in a pet's behavior, appetite, energy, mobility, or wellbeing Following individualized care instructions for each household Communicating professionally with clients and the Trail Side Tails team Every visit is different. One day you may be taking an energetic Labrador on a trail adventure, and the next you may be spending quiet time with an elderly cat who needs medication and companionship.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for someone who genuinely loves animals and takes their responsibility seriously.

Our ideal candidate is:

Reliable. When a pet parent schedules a visit, they are counting on you. Reliability is one of the most important qualities we look for. Trustworthy.

You will have access to clients' homes and care for animals who cannot advocate for themselves. Integrity and respect for our clients' homes are non-negotiable. Animal-loving.

We want someone who naturally enjoys spending time with dogs, cats, and other pets—not someone simply looking for an easy side job. Observant.

Great pet care means noticing the little things. A dog who isn't acting like themselves, a cat who hasn't eaten, a change in stool, an unusual limp, an open gate, or something unsafe in the home can all matter. Professional.

We expect our team members to communicate clearly, arrive prepared and on time, follow care instructions, and represent Trail Side Tails with professionalism. Comfortable working independently.

Once trained, much of your work will be performed independently. You should be comfortable following instructions, making good decisions, and asking for help when something is outside your experience. Physically capable.

This position involves walking, hiking, standing, bending, lifting pet-care supplies, handling leashes, and working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. Calm under pressure.

Animals can be unpredictable. We need someone who can remain calm, assess a situation, follow company protocols, and communicate quickly when something isn't right.

EXPERIENCE WITH ANIMALS

Professional pet-care experience is preferred but not necessarily required. We will consider candidates with experience such as: Professional dog walking Pet sitting Veterinary or veterinary assistant work Kennel/daycare experience Grooming Animal shelter/rescue work Farm or livestock experience Personal experience caring for multiple pets Training or behavior experience What matters most is that you are responsible, teachable, confident around animals, and committed to providing excellent care. Trail Side Tails will provide training on our company procedures, client communication standards, visit documentation, safety expectations, and pet-care protocols.

A DAY WITH TRAIL SIDE TAILS

Your schedule may look different every day.

You might:

Morning Visit a puppy for breakfast and a potty break Take a high-energy dog for a neighborhood walk Check on a senior dog and administer approved medication Midday Visit a family of cats for feeding, litter care, and enrichment Send photos and a detailed visit report to the pet parent Take a dog on a longer walk or trail adventure Afternoon Complete additional drop-in visits Care for multiple pets in the same household Communicate any concerns to the client and office team The job keeps you moving, gets you outdoors, and allows you to spend your workday surrounded by animals.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Trail Side Tails is committed to creating a professional pet-care position that rewards reliability, responsibility, and excellent service.

Benefits include:

Flexible schedulingWe work with our team members to create schedules that fit their availability while meeting the needs of our clients. Paid mileage reimbursementMileage between qualifying client appointments is reimbursed according to our company mileage policy. Paid trainingNew team members receive training on Trail Side Tails procedures, pet-care expectations, safety, communication, and client experience. Variety of workNo two days—or pets—are exactly alike. Outdoor work if you love walking, hiking, and spending time outside, this is a position where you can incorporate that into your workday. Meaningful work- You aren't simply completing appointments. You are helping families feel confident that their pets are safe, loved, and cared for while they are away. Opportunity to growAs Trail Side Tails continues to grow, dependable team members will have opportunities to take on additional responsibilities and grow with the company. Supportive team environment-Although much of the work is independent, you will have a team behind you. We believe our pet sitters should feel supported when questions or unexpected situations arise.

SERVICE AREA

Our primary service area includes: Boise Meridian Eagle Garden City Boise North End Surrounding communities Because this position involves traveling between client homes, reliable transportation is required. Candidates who live within or near our primary service area are encouraged to apply.

COMMUNICATION IS PART OF THE JOB

Professional pet care requires excellent communication. After visits, our clients want to know: Did their pet eat? Did they go potty? How was their energy? Did anything seem unusual? What did you do during the visit? Did you notice anything that needs attention? You will be expected to provide timely, professional visit updates and photos through our company-approved communication system. We don't just care for pets—we give their people peace of mind.

SAFETY & RESPONSIBILITY

Pet care comes with real responsibility. Our team members are expected to follow Trail Side Tails safety procedures, including: Proper leash and door/gate security Safe handling of pets Awareness of environmental hazards Appropriate interaction between multiple pets Careful entry and exit from client homes Reporting injuries, illness, escapes, property concerns, or other incidents immediately Following individualized client instructions Never ignoring a concern simply because it seems minor When something doesn't feel right, we want you to speak up. We would much rather receive a question or concern than have a team member try to handle a potentially serious situation alone.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE A

successful

Trail Side Tails Pet Care Specialist:

Arrives when they say they will Treats every pet as an individual Follows the client's instructions carefully Provides safe and attentive care Notices changes in pet behavior or wellbeing Communicates clearly and promptly Takes pride in their work Respects clients' homes Takes initiative Handles unexpected situations calmly Builds trust with both pets and their people Our best team members become people our clients specifically request because their pets know them, trust them, and are excited to see them.

THIS JOB MAY BE A GREAT FIT IF

… You might love this position if you: Are happiest around animals Enjoy walking or hiking Prefer an active job over sitting at a desk Want a flexible schedule Enjoy working independently Are responsible and dependable Have excellent attention to detail Want meaningful work Enjoy meeting new people and animals Take pride in doing things the right way Want to build experience in the pet-care industry

THIS POSITION MAY NOT BE A GOOD FIT IF

… This probably isn't the right role if: You frequently cancel or change plans at the last minute You don't enjoy being outdoors You are uncomfortable around dogs or cats You dislike driving between appointments You are uncomfortable entering clients' homes You have difficulty following detailed instructions You aren't comfortable communicating with clients You're looking for a job where you can simply "hang out with dogs" This is a professional pet-care position. We have fun, we love what we do, and we absolutely believe pet care should be rewarding—but our clients are trusting us with their homes and the wellbeing of their animals. We take that responsibility seriously.

REQUIREMENTS

Must be 18+ Reliable transportation Valid driver's license Reliable and consistent availability Ability to travel throughout our service area Comfortable working independently Comfortable working with dogs, cats, and other household pets Ability to safely walk and handle dogs of varying sizes and energy levels Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions Smartphone with reliable internet/data access Ability to communicate professionally with clients and team members Must be willing to complete company training Must successfully complete any required screening/background-check process

WHY TRAIL SIDE TAILS?

At Trail Side Tails, we believe pet care should feel personal. Our clients aren't looking for someone to simply check a box on a schedule. They're trusting another person with a member of their family. We are building a team of people who understand that difference. If you are dependable, compassionate, active, and passionate about animals, we'd love to meet you.

APPLY TODAY

Tell us a little about yourself and why you think you'd be a great fit for Trail Side Tails.

Please include:

Your experience with animals Your previous work experience Your general availability The areas of Boise/Meridian/Eagle/Garden City you are comfortable serving Why you want to work in professional pet care Any experience with dogs, cats, puppies, senior pets, medication, hiking, training, veterinary care, or other animal-related work We are looking for people who want to become trusted members of the Trail Side Tails family—not simply fill a shift. Come help us give Boise-area pets the care, attention, adventure, and love they deserve. Duties Lead engaging and safe walks for dogs of various breeds and sizes, ensuring proper handling and animal restraint techniques. Monitor dog behavior during walks, recognizing signs of stress or discomfort, and adjusting activities accordingly. Provide basic dog training cues to promote good manners and obedience during outings. Communicate effectively with pet owners about their dogs' behavior, health status, and walk progress. Maintain a clean and safe walking environment by inspecting equipment and securing leashes or harnesses. Assist with pet sitting or overnight in-home care when needed, ensuring animals are comfortable and well-cared for in their familiar environment. Support additional animal care tasks such as pet grooming, administering medication (if qualified), or handling animals with veterinary or veterinary technician experience. Qualifications Demonstrated experience in dog handling, animal handling, or pet care roles such as veterinary assistant or technician is highly preferred. Knowledge of animal behavior, pet exercise routines, and pet grooming techniques. Ability to perform outdoor work in various weather conditions while maintaining high energy levels. Strong client communication skills to update pet owners confidently about their pets' well-being. Experience with kennel management, heavy lifting (for supplies or equipment), and animal restraint methods. Prior experience in veterinary or veterinary technician roles is a plus, providing insight into animal health needs. A passion for animals combined with excellent customer service skills to build trusting relationships with clients. Begin a rewarding career where your dedication makes a difference—helping dogs stay happy, healthy, and active while building lasting bonds with their families!

Pay:

From $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

Flexible schedule Health insurance Mileage reimbursement On-the-job training Paid training

Work Location:

On the road