Canine Welfare Training Technician

Guide Dogs for the Blind; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & holidays

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, CA is hiring a Canine Welfare Training Technician to care for adult dogs in training, maintain health, and support enrichment activities. The role is full-time with weekend shifts and occasional holidays, contributing to a team-driven mission.

You will work closely with trainers and veterinary staff, documenting care routines, and helping to prepare dogs for life-changing partnerships with their future handlers.

Qualifications

• Previous experience caring for dogs in kennels, veterinary, or training settings preferred.
• Physical stamina to stand for long periods and perform lifting and cleaning tasks.
• Comfort with digital tools to track care and records.
• Strong communication and dependable attendance in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily expert care including feeding, bathing, medications, exercising and grooming adult dogs in training.
• Monitor dog behavior and health and report observations accurately.
• Support kennel cleanliness and sanitation to uphold high standards.
• Assist in basic obedience reinforcement and training enrichment.
• Collaborate with trainers, veterinary staff and volunteers; maintain detailed records.

Skills

Dog care & welfare

Kennel duties

Observation & reporting

Team collaboration

Physical stamina

Job description

Training a guide dog starts with expert care. At Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), our mission depends on the care and conditioning of exceptional dogs in training. As a Canine Welfare Training Technician at our San Rafael, CA campus, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring the physical health, mental enrichment, and daily well-being of the adult dogs preparing for a life of service.

This role is hands-on, physically demanding, and team-oriented, requiring attention to detail and a strong sense of purpose. You’ll use your expertise to support daily routines while contributing to a positive, structured environment where dogs can thrive. In return, we offer a generous starting pay rate, a collaborative culture, and a clear path for professional growth, including the potential to build a career in canine welfare or guide dog training.

What you’ll do:

• Provide daily expert care, including feeding, bathing, administering medications, exercising, and grooming adult dogs in training
• Monitor dog behavior and health, and report observations accurately
• Support kennel cleanliness and sanitation to uphold high standards
• Assist in basic obedience reinforcement and training enrichment
• Collaborate with trainers, veterinary staff, and volunteers
• Maintain detailed digital records and documentation

What you’ll love:

• Our mentorship training program, including opportunities for continued education
• A collaborative work environment where you’ll form long-lasting friendships
• Supporting dogs in formal training and those preparing for alternate careers
• Having a career with an impact, creating partnerships between guide dogs and people
• A generous benefits package that includes vacation & holidays, health insurance, retirement savings plan and more

The experience and skills you’ll need:

• Previous experience caring for dogs in a kennel, veterinary, or training environment preferred
• Physical stamina to be on your feet for most of the day and perform activities like bending, lifting, hosing, and scooping
• Comfort using digital tools and learning new systems to track care
• A team-first attitude, strong communication skills, great work-ethic and dependable attendance

This is a full-time position requiring work on weekends including 4 day shifts and 1 evening shift per week. Some holiday shifts are also required.

Meet our Canine Welfare Training Technicians:

https://www.guidedogs.com/meet-our-cwtts

Guide Dogs for the Blind

At Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), we believe that everyone deserves to move through the world safely and confidently - to live the life they want to live. As the largest guide dog school in North America, we have graduated more than 16,000 guide dog teams from across the U.S. and Canada since our founding in 1942. GDB not only improves mobility for our clients, we further inclusion. Join our team of more than 300 employees and share your passion for our mission.

At Guide Dogs for the Blind, we respect, value, and appreciate all differences. We welcome all qualified candidates irrespective of your race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Individuals with disabilities, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability and need assistance and/or accommodation with applying for a job, please feel free to contact our Human Resources department.

Pay Range

$26.00/hour