United Pets is an established Force Free pet care company based in Vancouver, BC. We love animals of all sizes and breeds; though dogs are our focus, we also have cat, rabbit, and reptile clients. To ensure we maintain a high level of service, United Pets is looking to add more animal loving individuals to our team.

About the position:

MUST HAVE A VEHICLE

We are looking to hire one person to be our lead Group Walker and also cover private walks as the schedule allows. This person must have a vehicle that can safely carry up to 6 dogs, and know how to efficiently navigate pick ups/drop offs as well as manage the dogs at local off-leash parks. We work in all weather conditions; from January snow to August heat (with safety procedures for extreme weather).

Being prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at you will go a long way towards ensuring you enjoy long days outside with the dogs.

This is currently an independent contractor position, and we offer competitive rates to reflect this. This also means you are in charge of submitting your own invoices, covering parking fees, supplying your own equipment such as treats, poop bags, etc, and keeping your vehicle safe and clean. Completing safety courses such as Pet First Aid will lead to higher compensation, as it shows an extra level of safety and knowledge.

The core walking hours are 10am – 3pm, Mon – Fri, but we do offer services in the 9am – 5pm range and beyond. 3 days a week minimum is preferred, Tues-Thurs especially.

Our service area is from Downtown, to Kits, to East Van, with group dogs being mostly in East Van to reduce drive time. We do not cross bridges/go to North or West Van for our groups.

What you’ll do day to day

Group Walks:

Review the dogs scheduled for your group and map an efficient route for pick ups, pick up all dogs on the route while maintaining a calm vehicle environment to reduce stress or over-excitement in the confined area, and transport them to the approved off-leash space. Once there, dogs are taken out of the vehicle, on leash, one at a time and from the side of the vehicle NOT facing the road. Once in the off-leash area, dogs may be let off leash or switched to a long line as per their specific recall skill,



and the play time gets started!

We use trail etiquette and prefer passing other groups off to the side rather than head on and keep play time with other groups to a minimum to reduce friction or frustration. Water is offered at intervals or as needed, as well as taking breaks from play for reducing over-excitement. Our dogs know their photo-op spots and will pose and wait for their treats before moving on, so you will also need to take high-quality group photos as well as candid play photos for our client and social media use.

Once the walk is over, dogs are put back on leash before approaching the trail head and loaded back into the car in the same one-by-one method as arrival. Send the post-walk reports before leaving the parking lot, with photos and potty updates as well as funny notes on what their dog enjoyed that day. On warm days, one more water offering should happen in the car before starting your drop off route.

Drop off is typically the reverse route from your pick ups, and again keeping dogs relaxed along the way. Opening vehicle doors for dogs is always done furthest from the road to prevent accidents, and side doors are often safer than the large trunk door.

Private Walks:

Arrive at the clients house within the pick-up window provided, and let yourself in according to the entry method (keys, lock box, code, fob, etc). Use the clients equipment for harness/leash and get the dog ready according to the weather (some dogs have jackets or booties for rain/snow), and start the timer on our app. The walks are typically done in their neighborhood, though you are welcome to pop them in your car and head to a nearby park or quieter block.

Encourage the dog to engage in their environment, such as putting paws on trees/boulders or jumping on to benches and ledges depending on the dogs mobility,



and navigating traffic and other dogs/people calmly. On-leash greetings with other dogs are typically avoided and you will more likely be crossing the street to increase distance and avoid other dogs altogether. Use approved treats according to each dogs dietary needs to reward calmness around triggers and build a bond.

At drop off, remove dogs equipment, make sure they have fresh water available, and toss/scatter treats for the dog to reduce stress when you leave. Send a post-walk report with photos, potty health, and notes about any challenges or successes with the owners training goals.

Notes: We are a Fear Free certified dog walking company, and it is incredibly key that the walkers we hire have the same values regarding tools/equipment. Many of our clients are working with local fear free/force free/positive reinforcement trainers and we do our best to follow science-backed information about handling and maintain consistency in the cues used to assist in their training goals. Many of our dogs are/were reactive at some point in their life and through consistent and positive handling we have seen large reductions in their reactivity, and we require recent walkers to help us maintain this positive feedback and positive reinforcement history.

Experience

- Prior experience working with dogs or in a pet care environment is required, experience with reactive dogs preferred; enthusiasm and willingness to learn are essential
- Strong customer service skills to interact positively with pet owners and team members
- Ability to handle multiple dogs safely while maintaining control and calmness in various situations
- Comfortable working outdoors in different weather conditions
- Excellent communication skills to relay information clearly and professionally

This role is perfect for energetic individuals who love animals, enjoy working outdoors, and thrive in an independent setting. Join us to make a positive difference in the lives of pets and their owners every day! Pay: $19.00-$27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15.0 – 30.0 per week

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Flexible schedule

Work Location: On the road

📌 Group Dog Walker (Vancouver)
🏢 United Pets Vancouver
📍 Vancouver