Dog Walker & Pet Care Professional:

Guilford, CT You know dogs. Like, really know dogs. You can tell the difference between an excited dog and an overstimulated one. You know that the 90-pound sweetheart who "just pulls a little" may require a bit more strategy than enthusiasm. You've handled shy dogs, strong dogs, nervous dogs, stubborn dogs, and probably at least one dog who was absolutely convinced that squirrel needed to be chased. If that sounds familiar, we'd like to meet you. We Let the Dogs Out is an established professional pet care company serving the Connecticut shoreline. For more than 11 years, our clients have trusted us with something incredibly important: the care, safety and happiness of their pets. We're looking for an experienced Dog Walker & Pet Care Professional for the Guilford, CT area. Loving animals is important — but we're specifically looking for someone who brings substantial hands-on experience with dogs. Professional experience in pet care, dog walking, veterinary care, shelters/rescues, boarding/daycare, grooming or dog training is strongly preferred. This Might Be Your Kind of Job If… You're the person friends call when they need someone who actually knows how to handle their dog. You're comfortable reading canine body language and adjusting your approach to the dog in front of you. A big, energetic dog doesn't intimidate you. And when someone trusts you with their pet and their home, you take that responsibility seriously. What Your Days Will Look Like You'll travel between clients in the Guilford shoreline area, providing professional care to dogs, cats, and other pets — walking dogs safely in all kinds of Connecticut weather, reading behavior and adjusting on the fly, caring for cats and small animals, following detailed feeding and medication instructions, and using our mobile apps for scheduling, communication and visit reports. You'll drive between visits in your own reliable vehicle, occasionally transporting dogs when needed. Most importantly, you'll be trusted to make good decisions when nobody is standing over your shoulder. The Dog Experience We're Looking For You don't need to be a professional dog trainer, but you do need meaningful, hands-on experience with dogs — through professional dog walking or pet sitting, veterinary hospitals, daycare or boarding, shelters or rescues, training, grooming, or other animal-care work. Strong personal experience can also qualify if you've regularly handled a variety of dogs, not just your own. You should be comfortable with large, strong, and high-energy dogs, dogs that pull, and managing distractions, and know when a dog needs encouragement, space, structure, or a change of plan. Who Thrives at We Let the Dogs Out? They show up - pets don't understand call-outs. They pay attention - a gate that didn't latch, a dog acting off, a changed instruction all matter. They stay calm when something unexpected happens. They take ownership, working independently but never without support. They communicate - clients want to know their pets are safe and happy. And yes, they genuinely love animals. That part's pretty important too. What You Can Expect From Us Starting pay of $18.50/hour, with yearly reviews and performance-based increases Tips and bonus opportunities Paid training, sick time, and PTO 401(k) Employee discounts and referral program Professional development assistance Ongoing support from an established local team Real opportunities for growth The Practical Stuff To be considered, you'll need: To be at least 18 years old and willing to undergo a background check Significant hands-on experience with dogs, and a genuine love for dogs and cats Confidence handling varying sizes, temperaments, and energy levels Physical stamina for multiple walks a day, year-round, plus the ability to occasionally support large dogs physically A reliable vehicle, valid license, registration, and insurance Comfort with mobile scheduling/communication apps Availability for a consistent, full-time weekday schedule Pet CPR/First Aid certification, or willingness to get it shortly after hire Multiple shifts available: 7am-2pm, 10am-3pm, 1pm-6pm, 5pm-9:30pm, also rotating weekends, evenings. One Last Thing There are plenty of jobs where being five minutes late doesn't really matter. This isn't one of them. Our clients trust us with their pets, their homes and their peace of mind — and we take that seriously. If you have real dog experience, take pride in being someone others can count on, and would rather spend your workday with four-legged coworkers… Come join our pack. We'd love to meet you. on our Work With Us page: https://www.thedogsout.com/work-with-us/

Pay:

From $18.50 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Employee discount Flexible schedule On-the-job training Paid time off Paid training

Work Location:

In person