Qualified Dog Daycare Handler – Animal Care and Basic Grooming

Position description

Animal Magic Pet Grooming requires a qualified and experienced Dog Daycare Handler to work across its dog daycare and animal-care services.

The position is primarily responsible for safely handling and supervising dogs in individual and compatible group environments. The position also includes providing structured enrichment, exercise and daily care, monitoring animal welfare, completing basic grooming and maintaining clean and safe animal-care facilities.

Duties

The successful applicant will:

Safely receive, handle and move dogs throughout the workplace.

Supervise individual dogs and compatible groups within the daycare environment.

Monitor dog interactions and maintain appropriate group arrangements.

Introduce, separate or relocate dogs according to workplace safety procedures.

Provide suitable physical exercise, controlled play, scent activities, puzzle activities and other structured enrichment.

Provide suitable rest periods and manage dogs’ transitions between activities.

Follow individual feeding, handling, exercise, enrichment and care instructions.

Observe dogs for changes in health, behaviour, stress, comfort and general wellbeing.

Record and report animal-welfare, health, behaviour and safety concerns.

Complete required daycare, animal-care, enrichment and incident records.

Undertake basic grooming, including bathing, drying, brushing, coat maintenance and nail care.

Communicate professionally with clients about their dogs’ care, participation and wellbeing.

Clean and disinfect kennels, daycare areas, grooming areas, equipment and animal-care facilities.

Comply with animal-welfare, infection-control, work health and safety, emergency and incident-reporting procedures.

Essential qualifications and experience

Applicants must:

Hold ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services.

Have at least three years of relevant paid experience in dog daycare, kennels, boarding, shelters or closely related animal-care work.

Have experience safely handling dogs of different sizes, breeds, ages and temperaments.

Have experience supervising dogs in individual and group environments.

Have experience delivering animal-enrichment activities.

Have experience undertaking basic dog-grooming activities.

Understand canine body language, stress indicators, animal welfare and safe handling.

Be able to maintain accurate animal-care and workplace records.

Communicate effectively with clients and team members.

Be physically capable of safely handling dogs and undertaking active animal-care duties.

Applicants must provide a copy of their ACM30122 qualification certificate and academic transcript.

Desirable requirements

Additional canine first-aid, daycare, animal behaviour or grooming training.

Experience preparing individual enrichment or animal-care plans.

Experience supporting dogs requiring modified handling arrangements.

Experience working in a professional grooming, boarding or daycare facility.