Fuzzy Buddy's Seeks Dog Handler and Cleaner

Aurora Ave North near 109th, Seattle WA

Description

Fuzzy Buddy's, at 109th and Aurora, is hiring! This is a part time job starting at $16.75, going up to $17.30 in January. The shifts are M-F starting between 2:30 and 4, depending on day, and ending at 7-8pm depending on day. The total hours per week will run between 20 and 24 hours, so if you are looking for a job with more hours or a different schedule please take those specs into consideration. The shift involves some dog handling but the focus of the last 2-3 hours of each shift is mostly on cleaning: vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing, and hosing. This is physically demanding job so it sets all up for success to start with shorter shifts. There will be opportunity to pick up hours here and there when other staff request days off. We are not open on weekends! Our dog clients are great, fun dogs, and the job is fun. Obviously, people who cannot stand the sight/smell of pee, poop, or vomit will not enjoy it. If you have allergies to dogs, this may not be the best fit but I will leave that up to you to decide. Having a strong back and the ability to lift 50 pounds is also important. This is an active job where you are constantly moving. We are looking for someone who is super nice to both people and dogs, someone who remains unfrazzled by chaos, someone who can respond in a heartbeat to a situation while remaining calm and clearheaded. Because a big part of how we keep things safe and friendly in the playroom involves redirecting the dogs before problems even start, being a good observer is very important. After the learning period, staff work independently to get chores done, referring to a written chore checklist for direction and written instructions on what the most crucial tasks of the day are. You must be a self-starter with the chores and not the kind of person who waits around to be told what tasks to do. Although this shift is mostly cleaning-related, having good dog handling skills is essential and will enable you to go on to cover other people’s shifts when they are out due to illness or vacations. Because of that, someone who is an excellent cleaner, but struggles with the dog skills, will not be a good long-term fit. We are strictly positive reinforcement based, so we do not use tools like angry voice, squirt bottles, physical force, alpha rolls, etc. Someone willing to learn everything from the ground up related to good dog handling is essential. If you believe there is nothing new you need to learn about dogs, this is not the job for you. If you bristle when people coach you, you will find this job difficult. You will be working with people who have literally over ten thousand hours supervising dog interactions. Their job is to coach you to be the best dog handler possible as fast as possible. If you are interested in coming in for an interview, please email me your resume as an attachment or in the body of an email. Include the answers to these six questions: + A dog jumps up on you. What do you do? + A dog is pulling on leash. What do you do? + What is the last dog-related book you have read? + If you have a dog, what training equipment do you use on your dog? (Living with a dog is not a requirement.) + Who is the dog trainer or dog author who has most influenced your dog-handling philosophy? (If you have no dog training philosophy, it is fine to admit it!) + Why are you interested in working professionally with dogs? (Tip: I usually do not pull people in for interviews who neglect these questions! Even if you feel your answers are not impressive, I will appreciate your attention to detail!) COVID-19 considerations: We are vigilant and diligent about providing a safe and sanitized environment for staff and clients. Masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing are expected from all. We believe that properly worn masks, vaccinations, and social distancing provide protection from illness, and that the COVID pandemic is a real concern. We prefer to work with people who feel the same. Medical and religious exemptions for vaccination can be accommodated.