Part-Time Animal Care Specialist, Dog Daycare and Boarding (Marpole, Vancouver)

Dogtology is a boutique, dog-first daycare, boarding, and walking facility in Marpole, Vancouver, where happy dogs happen. We are kennel-free and fully supervised, and we cap our ratio at one staff member to fifteen dogs. We pride ourselves on keeping owners updated in real time through our client portal, and on a cooperative, inclusive communication loop that makes our owners feel less like customers and more like family.

Our purpose-built, two-floor space includes a one-of-a-kind indoor agility floor and a zen garden.

What sets us apart is skill. We specialize in dogs who are often anxious, over-excited, or overstimulated, integrating and managing them so the whole group thrives together. This work grows out of ten years of rescuing, homing, and rehabilitating Asian village dogs, and Dogtology exists to help dogs like these flourish and stay in the homes that adopted them.

We are seeking two experienced Animal Care Specialists to be calm, capable anchors on our floor.

Our approach

We are a positive, science-based, enrichment-focused facility. Our staff actively engage, manage, and enrich the dogs rather than simply supervise them, and we use reward-based, force-free handling, never fear, intimidation, or punishment. If that is not how you work with dogs, we will not be the right fit for one another.

What you will do

- Actively engage, enrich, and manage the dogs, indoors and on walks: lead play and enrichment, guide rest, and separate or regroup dogs whenever needed. This is hands-on work, not passive supervision
- Read each dog and keep groups safe and settled: integrate anxious, reactive, and high-energy dogs, match them by size, energy, and temperament, and step in early to de-escalate tension and manage flight risks at doors and gates
- Administer feeding and medication on schedule, and watch each dog for signs of illness or stress, logging what matters and raising concerns early
- Handle check-ins and check-outs, operate the point-of-sale, and give owners a warm, clear summary of their dog's day at pickup
- Write explicit, accurate daily reports and keep owners updated in real time through our client portal
- Work as a team on the floor and complete thorough shift handovers, so the next person knows exactly where each dog and each task stands
- Keep the facility clean, hygienic, and safe across both floors, including cleaning up after the dogs (urine, stool, and accidents)
- As you settle in, help train and mentor new team members and model our standards on the floor
- On overnight boarding stays, settle the dogs, complete overnight checks, and respond to whatever arises

What we are looking for (essential)

- At least one year of hands-on experience handling multiple dogs at once, in a professional or structured setting such as a dog daycare, boarding or kennel facility,



shelter, rescue, or veterinary clinic. This is a requirement, not a preference
- Demonstrated skill reading and handling dogs, including those who are anxious, reactive, or present a flight or bite risk. This is the core of the role
- A calm, purposeful presence under pressure: you can tell a play bark from a warning and respond with intention rather than panic
- An eye for canine health and welfare: you recognize common signs of illness or stress and understand basic preventive care
- Exceptional reliability: punctual, prepared, and someone the team can depend on
- Follows instructions closely, in the moment and over time, and sticks to our routines and standard operating procedures rather than improvising
- Strong multitasking and composure: able to manage several priorities at once and stay steady when a day does not go to plan
- Sound, independent judgment: comfortable working on your own and making good decisions without someone looking over your shoulder, including on quieter shifts and occasional overnights
- Coachable and team-minded: you take feedback well, act on it, and offer teammates the same kind, constructive feedback in return. We train and mentor each other, so we want someone who wants to grow with us and help others do the same
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with a friendly front-desk manner: clear, professional reports and owner updates, warm service at check-in and pickup, and the confidence to hold a genuine two-way conversation and flag issues early
- Technologically capable: comfortable using tablets, apps, and a smartphone for check-ins, logging, reporting, and taking payment at the point-of-sale. A personal smartphone with a data plan is required
- Physically fit: able to stay active for a full shift, walk at least two hours a day across several trips, climb stairs several times a day, safely handle up to six dogs on leash at a time, and safely lift and restrain dogs of all sizes (some over 50 lb)

Assets (an advantage, not required)

- Experience fostering or handling reactive dogs
- Knowledge of animal behaviour theory and canine body language
- A genuine desire to grow and advance in the animal care field
- Relevant education or training in animal science, a veterinary assistant program, or a related field
- Pet first aid or CPR certification
- A valid driver's license and access to a vehicle

Schedule

- Part-time, on a three-days-on, four-days-off rotation, with shifts of approximately 10 hours




- Day shift start times vary by day, ranging from as early as 7:00am to around 8:30am
- Weekend availability is required. Shifts include some weekends on a rotating basis, so please apply only if you can work weekends when scheduled
- Primarily daytime to start, with some overnight availability required for occasional boarding stays. Overnights may become more regular over time, depending on your interest and our needs

Details

- Starting from $21 per hour for an experienced, capable handler
- In person, in Marpole, Vancouver
- Start date: as soon as possible

Perks

- Paid, hands-on training in our positive handling approach and our systems, so you are set up to succeed rather than thrown in
- Free on-site parking
- Bring your own dog to work at no cost while you are on shift, when we are not at capacity and provided they have passed our temperament and vaccination check, are safe around a group, and can integrate into the pack
- 20% off Dogtology boarding for your own dog

How to apply

Please send your resume along with a few sentences describing the most difficult dog you have handled: what was happening, and what you actually did. That tells us more than anything else. Apply to [email protected]

Pay: $21.00-$23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25.0 – 30.0 per week

Benefits

- Casual dress
- On-site parking
- Store discount

Application question(s):
- This is a part-time, in-person role in Marpole on a 3-days-on, 4-days-off rotation, and it includes some weekend shifts on a rotating basis (Saturday and/or Sunday). Are you available to work weekends when scheduled?
- Day shifts start at variable times, as early as 7:00am. Can you reliably start that early?
- Are you willing and able to do occasional overnight boarding stays, working independently?
- Do you have your own smartphone with a data plan? We run real-time updates through a portal.
- Are you able to be on your feet a full shift, walk at least two hours a day, climb stairs several times a day, and safely handle and restrain dogs of all sizes, some over 50 lb?
- We use positive, reward-based, force-free handling only, never fear, intimidation, or punishment. Is that how you work with dogs?
- Do you have at least one year of hands-on experience handling multiple dogs at once, in a professional or structured setting (dog daycare, boarding or kennel facility, shelter, rescue, or veterinary clinic)?
- What is the earliest date you could start?
- Do you have a valid driver's license and access to a vehicle?
- Briefly describe your experience with dogs, including any daycare, boarding, grooming, vet, rescue, or fostering work, and roughly how long.
- Tell us about the most difficult dog you have handled: what was happening, and what you actually did

Licence/Certification:
- pet first aid or CPR certificate? (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Animal Care Specialist (Vancouver)
🏢 Dogtology
📍 Vancouver