Lead Canine Care Specialist

Lead Canine Care Specialist — Urban Doghouse - Aubrey

Full-time · 40 hours/week · $13.50 – $16.50/hour · On-site in Aubrey, TX · Reports to the General Manager

About Us

Urban Doghouse - Aubrey is a locally owned dog daycare, boarding, and grooming facility where intelligent care meets elevated service. Our clients aren't dropping off a pet — they're trusting us with a member of the family. Our daycare runs on structured group play, not an overcrowded free-for-all: purpose-driven playgroups under continuous supervision by trained handlers.

We run on our own care-tracking platform, which logs care routines, medications, and services — so there's less guesswork on your shift. We're a hands-on crew, and everyone works the floor, management included.

The Role

This is a working leadership role — hands-on with dogs while guiding the team. On shift, you set the standard in the yard and kennel, coordinate and coach specialists, and act as the first point of escalation for canine safety. You also step in for management as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Shift Leadership: Coordinate assignments across the yard and kennel, adjust coverage as volume changes, and run shift huddles.
• Training & Coaching: Onboard new specialists on handling, sanitation, feeding, and medication protocols, and verify competency before signing off on solo work.
• Playgroup Supervision: Never leave a yard unattended. Read body language and step in before rough play escalates.
• Emergency Response: Lead the immediate response to fights, injuries, illness, or escapes, and ensure documentation is complete before shift end.
• Animal Health & Nutrition: Oversee feeding and portion tracking, administer medication with correct-dog verification, and report health concerns.
• Grooming Support: Bathe, brush, and trim nails as needed, keep grooming areas clean and stocked, and hold the team to safe grooming handling.
• Facility Standards: Hold the team to cleaning and sanitation standards, and confirm opening and closing checks, gates, and supplies.

Ideal Candidate Traits

• Experience: 1–3 years of animal care — daycare, boarding, or veterinary — with leadership experience preferred. High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Canine Expertise: Strong knowledge of canine behavior, safe pack management, and body-language reading.
• Crisis Composure: Calm de-escalation when a fight breaks out or a dog gets loose — you lead the response.
• Leads by Example: You set the pace on the floor and correct unsafe handling early.
• Patience and Compassion: Never punishment, intimidation, or excessive force — and you correct anyone who uses it.
• Attention to Detail: Accurate feeding, medication, and cleaning logs. Comfortable with basic computer record keeping.
• Reliability and Flexibility: Dependable, punctual, and available for varied shifts including weekends and holidays.
• Physical Stamina: Stand and walk full shifts, bend and kneel frequently, lift 50 lbs, and handle large dogs in all weather.

Nice to have: Pet CPR and First Aid certification.

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week, scheduled in advance within our facility hours:

• Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., closed for lunch 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Holidays: Some holiday coverage is required — our busiest stretches are when clients travel. Holiday hours are paid at a premium rate.

Compensation & Benefits

$13.50 – $16.50 per hour — competitive pay based on experience. Paid every other week. This is an overtime-eligible position — hours beyond 40 in a workweek are paid at time-and-a-half.

• Five days of paid time off
• Holiday pay premium for hours worked on major holidays
• Free or discounted daycare and boarding for your own dogs
• Uniforms provided
• Paid Pet CPR and First Aid certification
• Annual performance reviews with opportunities for salary adjustments
• Team events throughout the year

Training & Growth

We provide leadership and handling training — no formal degree required — and we cover your Pet CPR and First Aid certification. Strong leaders here have the opportunity to become Assistant Managers. This is the role we promote from.