Now Hiring: Kennel Help
We are looking for a true “dog person” who is motivated to learn more about balanced training and dog behavior modification. Our ideal candidate is someone who is pursuing a career in the dog training industry and is looking for the opportunity to learn from an experienced dog trainer. While this position starts as a Kennel Manager, reliable hard workers who are eager to learn will be given the opportunity to advance into an Assistant Trainer position and be mentored by Jess, the head dog trainer and founder of Sadie’s Rules.
About Sadie’s Rules K9 Training
Before you apply for this position, you need to become familiar with who we are and what we do. This is not a job for just anyone. You need to be familiar with our style of training and comfortable learning our way of doing things. We are a balanced dog training company. If you don’t know what balanced training is, that’s a good place to start. Visit our FAQ page for a short answer to the “What is balanced training” question. Next, visit our YouTube channel to see examples of balanced training in action. If you feel hesitant, then this is not the job for you. If you feel curious and eager to learn the in’s and out’s of balanced training, then keep reading.
We are also a family-owned and family-operated business. Jess and her wife, Emily, run the business from their home in Nellysford, VA with the help of their two children (ages 16 and 13). Any member of our staff must be comfortable working in a home environment alongside our family and our kennel manager, Cindy.
About Jess
Jess Schneiderman is our head dog trainer and the founder of Sadie’s Rules K9 Training. Jess’s introduction to the dog training world came from her struggles with her own dog, Sadie. You can read a bit about their journey here. In the process of trying to help Sadie overcome her aggression issues, Jess learned a lot about different approaches to dog training and dog behavior modification. She eventually found success with Sadie, and soon thereafter friends and family began asking her for help with their dogs. Sadie’s Rules K9 Training evolved from there.
Jess has since been through more formal training programs and worked closely with several mentors. Her training process has evolved significantly over the years, but she remains committed to RESULTS. She knows that training is only successful if the dog’s family is able to maintain it once the dog returns home, and any changes she makes to her training protocols are done with this in mind. Her approach is highly practical, results-based, and oriented toward real life applications. A great way to get a feel for the kind of results we get is to read our Google reviews.
About the position
Our kennel team is a vital part of the Sadie’s Rules team. Down time in the crate (or “kennel”) is a crucial aspect of our training programs and the post-training lifestyle. This makes our kennel room rather unusual compared to others in the dog training or boarding industry. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and it’s tidy. Our kennel staff is devoted to maintaining this calm, orderly environment for the benefit of the dogs in our care.
This position entails:
Part-time or full-time hours on-site at our home in Nellysford, VA (the kennel room is part of our home, not a separate building or facility)
This is an active position and you’ll be on your feet most of the time
Basic dog handling with safety as a top priority
Dog walking utilizing our tools and techniques
Maintaining the cleanliness of the crates, kennel room(s) and the yards, including cleaning dog crates, sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning bedding and mats, scooping poop, etc.
Taking dogs out for potty breaks
Maintaining a safe and calm kennel environment
As a member of our team you’ll have the opportunity to:
Learn how to communicate with dogs using training tools like the prong collar and e-collar
Learn how a dog’s state of mind impacts their behavior, and what factors influence a dog’s state of mind (this is the foundation for understanding dog behavior modification)
Learn the advantages of training in a home environment as opposed to a facility
Learn about real world dog training and balanced dog training
Advance to an assistant trainer position (if you’re motivated, reliable, hard-working and eager to learn)
requirements for this position:
Available for regular part-time or full-time work. There is some flexibility on which days and hours you’ll work but you need to be able to commit to whatever schedule we agree upon.
ABSOLUTELY MUST BE RELIABLE AND ON TIME! Dog care cannot wait. We are counting on you and we need to know you can reliably show up on time every day.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to/from work. We understand that things happen but this is time-sensitive work, so you cannot regularly call out or be late due to transportation, childcare, scheduling conflicts, etc.
Commitment to upholding our standards for training, safety and cleanliness.
Dog handling experience is preferred.
Willingness to learn and to consistently work hard is a MUST.
To apply for this position:
To apply, follow the instructions below. These instructions are the first step in the interview process. If you do not follow them, then you will not be considered for the position.
Read all of the information above.
Check out our Services page, our FAQ page, and our YouTube Channel to get a feel for who we are and what we do, and most importantly, to make sure you’re comfortable learning the balanced training approach.
Email us at jess@sadiesrulesk9training.com. Attach your resume as a PDF (if you don’t have one, you will need to make one and save it as a PDF). In the email, tell us why you want to be part of our team.
Nikki, Jess’s assistant, will respond to your email to let you know we’ve received your application. She will also share more information about the next steps in the interview process.
Thank you for considering our kennel help position. We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully welcoming you to the team!