Dog Hiker/Adventure Leader - Full Time/Large Vehicle Required

A Dog’s Life is looking for passionate full-time Adventure Leaders to join our team!

Are you interested in starting your career with dogs? Do you love the outdoors? Does it feel satisfying to get your steps in each day? Do you want a work environment that cares about you and your growth? Do you have a large car or SUV? Consider becoming a DOG HIKER with us!

This is for a FULL-TIME hiking position, paid WEEKLY ($900 + average mileage compensation $125 per week). Plus pet sitting opportunities for additional income.

Our mission is “helping pups and their people live their best lives; exploring, connecting and finding peace through nature.” We do this through our off leash group hikes in nature and positive training services, as well as through our team building and development activities.

We are passionate about providing a positive experience for all, our dogs, clients and staff included! While each hiker is expected to work independently throughout the day, we check in with each other regularly, provide a plethora of resources and support, and have worked hard to create a fun and rewarding work environment! We value individuality and support personal growth in all facets for our staff.

Employees of A Dog’s Life can enjoy:

• Paid vacation time
• A casual dress code
• Work/Life balance
• Opportunities for growth
• 10 Team-wide paid holidays
• Free access and support from certified professional dog trainers (CPDT-KA)
• Mileage compensation
• Pet sitting opportunities for additional income
• Opportunity to take their own dog to work with them! We love dogs, after all.

Adventure Leader candidates must have/be able to:

• Hike mild to moderate terrain for 1+ hours, twice daily
• Manage off-leash groups of 4-6 dogs (you will be given training prior)
• Own a wagon, crossover or similar SUV-sized vehicle at minimum (non-negotiable)
• Have a valid U.S. driver's license and up-to-date vehicle registration
• Navigate simple app and browser-based websites
• Take photos using a smartphone and upload them to Google
• Be available to hike dogs Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:00pm
• Utilize or be willing to utilize reward-based training and handling methods with canine clients

Our ideal candidate is:

• Hardworking, responsible, and reliable
• Passionate about working with dogs, interested in a career in the dog world
• Experienced with dog walking, reward-based training, or animal behavior is preferred- a desire to learn more about dog behavior is a must!
• Outdoorsy and enjoys being outside in all kinds of weather
• Comfortable with city driving, has a safe driving record, and enjoys driving
• A team player, communicates well and often
• Confident in their time management skills
• Located within 30 minutes (at rush hour) of our office in Porter Sq., Somerville, MA.

We are looking for someone who loves this job as much as we do, is passionate about being a part of an inclusive team, and committed to providing the best experience possible for our clients. Working with dogs off leash requires a lot of training and relationship building. You must be committed to a career in the pet industry to be considered for this position. We do offer training services as well, so for hikers interested in becoming dog trainers, these hikes offer you an excellent opportunity to practice your skills while continuing your education. We provide plenty of training support to all our hikers and have options to advance into a training role down the line, offering career development opportunities for our staff.

Your cover letter (or initial message with your application) ought to detail your experience with dogs, the type of vehicle you drive, and your personal qualities. Let us know why you would be a good fit for our growing company! We look forward to hearing from you!

If you think you would be a good fit for our team, please send your resume, a cover letter and a list of two references with their contact information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Special Benefits

Employees of A Dog’s Life can enjoy:

• Paid vacation time
• A casual dress code
• Work/Life balance
• Opportunities for growth
• 10 Team-wide paid holidays
• Free access and support from certified professional dog trainers (CPDT-KA)
• Mileage compensation
• Pet sitting opportunities for additional income
• Opportunity to take their own dog to work with them! We love dogs, after all.

Requirements

Adventure Leader candidates must have/be able to:

• Hike mild to moderate terrain for 1+ hours, twice daily
• Manage off-leash groups of 4-6 dogs (you will be given training prior)
• Own a wagon, crossover or similar SUV-sized vehicle at minimum (non-negotiable)
• Have a valid U.S. driver's license and up-to-date vehicle registration
• Navigate simple app and browser-based websites
• Take photos using a smartphone and upload them to Google
• Be available to hike dogs Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:00pm
• Utilize or be willing to utilize reward-based training and handling methods with canine clients