Certified Dog Trainer - Bothell

The Pet Care Club of Seattle; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

W-2 employment

Competitive hourly pay

Paid training and continuing education

Job summary

The Pet Care Club of Seattle is hiring a Professional Dog Trainer to expand our in-home training and enrichment programs across Seattle, from Capitol Hill to Mill Creek, northern end of our territory.

This role focuses on private sessions, behavior modification, and integrating training into real-life care environments, using force-free, science-based methods. Join a team dedicated to humane, effective dog training and client coaching.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in learning theory and canine behavior science.
• Deep understanding of canine body language.
• Working knowledge of behavioral thresholds, triggers, and nervous system regulation.
• Belief that dog training should improve a dog's emotional state, not just its behavior.
• Excellent communication with dogs and clients.
• Certification in CPDT-KA / KPA-CTP / IAABC or Fear Free, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Hands-on experience with dog behavior cases beyond basic obedience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct private in-home and real-world dog training sessions.
• Address dog behavior challenges including reactivity, fear and anxiety, overstimulation, leash skills, and engagement.
• Create customized humane behavior modification plans for each dog.
• Coach dog owners with clarity and empathy.

Skills

Learning theory

Canine behavior

Body language

Communication with clients

Force-free methods

Education

CPDT-KA / KPA-CTP / IAABC / Fear Free Certification

Job description

The Pet Care Club of Seattle is redefining pet care by integrating behavior, enrichment, and training into everyday life. We're not a traditional dog walking company, and we're not a traditional training company — our model is built on the belief that real behavior change happens in real environments through consistent, thoughtful interactions, not isolated training sessions.

About the Role

We're hiring a Professional Dog Trainer to help expand our dog training and enrichment programs in Seattle. Our service area spans from Capitol Hill to Mill Creek, and we're specifically hiring for the northern end of our territory.

This dog training position focuses on:

• Private, in-home dog training sessions
• Dog behavior support and behavior modification
• Integrating training into real-life care environments

You’ll play a key role in shaping how dog training is delivered across the entire company!

Our Training Philosophy

We are a force-free, fear-free, science-based dog training company. That means:

• Positive reinforcement as our primary dog training method
• Prioritizing emotional safety, agency, and trust
• Reducing stress, not suppressing behavior

Our company does not use or allow:

• Prong, choke, or shock collars
• Startle, intimidation, or correction-based training methods
• Dominance theory or "alpha" training frameworks

This approach aligns with modern behavioral science and humane dog training standards, which emphasize reinforcing desired behaviors over fear- or pain-based techniques.

Responsibilities

• Conduct private, in-home and real-world dog training sessions
• Address dog behavior challenges including: Reactivity, Fear & Anxiety, Overstimulation, Leash Skills & Engagement
• Create customized, humane behavior modification plans for each dog
• Coach dog owners and clients with clarity and empathy

Qualifications

Required:

• Strong foundation in learning theory and canine behavior science
• Deep understanding of canine body language
• Working knowledge of behavioral thresholds, triggers, and nervous system regulation
• Belief that dog training should improve a dog's emotional state, not just its behavior
• Strong communication skills with both dogs and human clients:
• CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, IAABC, or Fear Free Certification — or equivalent hands-on, force-free training experience
• Hands-on experience with dog behavior cases (beyond basic obedience)
• Experience working directly with clients in private dog training settings

Note: This role is built around force-free, science-based methods. If you identify as a "balanced trainer" who uses correction-based tools or techniques, this won't be the right fit.

Benefits

• W-2 employment (not contractor)
• Competitive hourly pay aligned with Seattle living wage standards
• Paid training and continuing education opportunities
• Career growth path into senior trainer/program development roles