Dog Handler (Full-time)

Atlas Paws Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 20,664 - 30,307; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount on grooming and boardin

Job summary

Atlas Paws is Toronto's friendliest dog daycare and boarding club. You will be immersed in a fast-paced, hands-on role, supervising play, reading canine body language, and ensuring every pup goes home happy.

We seek a physically fit, reliable teammate with strong English, flexibility for day, overnight, weekend shifts, and a passion for dogs of every size. Training and benefits accompany the role at our downtown location.

Qualifications

• Genuine love for dogs across all sizes and temperaments.
• Physically fit for 8+ hours on feet with lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Calm under pressure; handle scuffles or stressed owners.
• Strong spoken English; clear team and client communication.
• Legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Reliable, punctual and team-oriented.
• Flexible shifts; 24/7 operation including overnights/weekends.
• Pet First Aid + CPR certification.
• Multilingual ability is helpful for Toronto clients.
• Comfort with grooming tools or nail trims.
• Fear Free certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise group play with dogs of all sizes (small dog room, big dog room, mixed group).
• Read canine body language and intervene before things escalate.
• 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.

Skills

Dog handling

Reading canine body language

Calm under pressure

Team communication

Physical stamina

Multitasking

Flexible scheduling

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 escalates
• 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

Full-time, in-person, downtown Toronto

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.