Dog Handler (Casual)

Atlas Paws Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 20,664,000 - 31,684,800; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount on grooming & boarding

Casual position

Job summary

Atlas Paws Inc. is Toronto’s friendliest dog daycare and boarding club, operating across three locations with a grooming salon and diverse daycare groups. You will work hands-on with dogs, reading body language, managing play, and staying calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires genuine love for dogs, physical fitness for long shifts, and strong English communication. Flexible weekend/overnight availability is needed, with staff discounts on grooming and boarding.

Qualifications

• Love for dogs across all sizes and breeds, including large dogs.
• Physically able to be on your feet for 8+ hours and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Strong communication with team and clients in English.
• Legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Experience in daycare, boarding, vet clinic, shelter, training or walking.

Responsibilities

• Supervise group play with dogs of all sizes in separate rooms.
• Read canine body language and intervene to prevent conflicts.
• Handle 20+ dogs at a time with calm confidence.
• Assist with feeding, watering and medication as trained.
• Clean suites and play areas, manage accidents.
• Check dogs in and out for boarding.
• Assist with shuttle transfers between locations.
• Maintain detailed daily notes for each pup.

Skills

Dog care experience

English proficiency

Physical fitness

Reliability

Team player

Work authorization Canada

Can-do attitude

Multilingual

Education

Pet First Aid + CPR certification

Tools

Grooming tools familiarity

Job description

Atlas Paws is Toronto's friendliest dog daycare and boarding club. Three locations across the core, a busy grooming salon, and daycare groups that range from chihuahuas to leonbergers. Our team is small, scrappy, and dog-obsessed.

The role

You’ll spend your day with the crew. Reading body language, managing play, breaking up the occasional zoomie spiral, making sure every dog goes home tired and happy. This isn't a sit-behind-a-desk job — it's hands-on, fast-paced, and physical. If "I get to hang out with 30 dogs all day" sounds like a dream rather than a punishment, you’ll fit right in.

What you’ll actually do

Supervise group play with dogs of all sizes (small dog room, big dog room, mixed group)

Read canine body language and intervene before things escape

Handle 20+ dogs at a time with calm confidence

Feeding, watering, medication administration (we train)

Cleaning: suites, play areas, the occasional accident (there are many accidents)

Check dogs in and out of suites for boarding

Help with shuttle transfers between locations

Keep detailed daily notes on each pup

What we need from you

Genuine love for dogs across the entire size spectrum — yes, even the 120-lb mastiff and the 4-lb yorkie who screams

Physically fit: 8+ hours on your feet, occasional lifting to 50 lbs, bending, kneeling, the occasional sprint

Calm under pressure — you can handle a scuffle, a sick dog, or a stressed owner without losing the plot

Strong spoken English (you’ll be in constant communication with the team and clients)

Legally entitled to work in Canada

Reliable, punctual, team-first attitude

Flexible on schedule — Atlas Paws runs 24/7. Most shifts are daytime, but occasional overnights, weekends, and holiday coverage are part of the role

Willing to get shit done — the floor doesn’t mop itself

Previous experience: daycare, boarding, vet clinic, shelter, training, walking

Pet First Aid + CPR certification

Multilingual (Toronto clients speak everything — Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, French, Korean, you name it)

Comfort with grooming tools or nail trims

Fear Free certified preferred — our entire team is certified, and we’ll cover the cost if you’re not yet

The deal

In-person, downtown Toronto, casual position: primarily weekends or overnights, with optional weekday shifts based on business needs and availability. Casual employees may be scheduled irregularly and are not guaranteed a set number of hours each week.

Competitive hourly wage (discussed in interview)

Staff discount on grooming and boarding

You’ll be surrounded by dogs all day. We’re not going to oversell this — if that doesn’t sell itself, it’s not your job.