Dog Walker Resume Sample
Dog Walker Resume SampleAllison G. Brookes
Address: 3412 Dulce Meadow, San Antonio, TX
Phone: (210) 784 9647
Email: [email protected]
Current Job: Dog Walker; Pets ‘r’ Us, San Antonio, TX
Objective Statement
Dog Walker with valid certifications and license to walk dogs in San Antonio, Texas is desirous of joining your team of Dog Walkers/Handlers at Bark Town. I am very passionate, patient, and caring of all animals, especially dogs.
Strengths/Special Skills
- Certified Dog Walker – Canine Club; San Antonio, TX.
- Professional Dog Walker – Canine Club; San Antonio, TX.
- Physically -fit
- Well-organized.
- Competent.
Work Experience
Dog Walker – January 15, 2020 to Present
Pets ‘r’ Us; San Antonio, TX
Responsibilities:
- Review the medical history of the dog.
- Meet with the dog owners and discuss behavioural issues, feeding times, special care needs, and other matters of importance.
- Inform the owners of the approach and methods used when walking dogs.
- Maintain a good level of control with the dog; walk at pace and remain focused on situations around the walking path.
- Ensure the protection of people and other animals that may catch the attention of the dog.
- Bring the dog back to the owner’s home.
Dog Walker – June 30, 2019 to December 1, 2019
Bark Club; San Antonio, TX
Responsibilities:
- Meet the dog owners at home.
- Discuss health issues, feeding hours, and other concerns about the dog.
- Take the dogs for a 45-minute walk around the owner’s community or a specific path.
- Protect the dog from aggressive dogs in the area.
- Clean up after the dog if it defecates and dispose of the waste in a proper manner.
Education
College
Human Kinetics
Undergraduate
Concordia University Texas
San Antonio, TX
2018 to Present
High School
Louis D. Brandeis High School
San Antonio, TX
2014 to 2018
How To Write A Good Dog Walker Resume
A good Dog Walker resume is one that resonates immediately with the dog owner and exclaims, “This is the right candidate for the job! I can trust my dog with him!”
Summary of Qualifications
Would you entrust the safety of your child to a nanny who has no papers to prove she is licensed or certified to handle small children?
Pets are members of the family. The head of the household will not hire you as a Dog Walker unless you can prove that you have undergone training, acquired certifications, and if required by your state, a license.
It would be a big plus if you have logged in a few years of experience under your belt.
In some cases, the dog owner will ask you to present character references. You can add a small section in your resume that says:
Character references available upon request.
Then, if you get interviewed, bring the character references with you.
Maximize the Power of the Objective Statement
The Objective Statement is the section of the resume that allows you to have a conversation with the dog owner or recruiter if you’re dealing with an employment agency.
You can use the Objective Statement to stake your claim for the job. Think about this section as your sales pitch: “Why should they hire you?”
“Dog Walker with a license to offer his services in the state of Alabama is hoping to get the opportunity to attend to the needs of your dogs. In addition to being a trusted Dog Walker, I am also trained in Pet Care, Pet Grooming, and first-aid. For the past 2 years, I have been walking dogs in the nearby communities of Airport Hills. I will gladly provide references upon request.”
Use the Combination Format
The great thing about the combination format is that if you have at least one year of work experience walking dogs, you can highlight it on your resume.
The combination incorporates the main feature of the reverse-chronological which is to present your work experience starting from your current or latest. This makes it more convenient for the recruiter to assess your level of qualifications.
But if you don’t have extensive experience, then the combination format turns on the main feature of the function format – to bring your skills and other technical qualifications to the forefront of your resume.
This is the standard format of the combination:
- Contact Information
- Objective Statement
- Strengths
- Courses and Seminars Attended/Certifications Acquired
- Professional License
- Education
- Work Experience
Dog Walker Skills List
To become a Dog Walker, it’s not enough to just love dogs. There are specific skills that you must possess to be entrusted by the pet owner with their beloved dog.
Proof of Competency/Certification for Dog Walkers
A responsible pet owner will only entrust his dog with a person who can establish proof of competency and present valid certification or license as a Dog Walker.
The pet owner wants to be assured you can take care of the dog if something goes wrong or if there’s an emergency.
Only those who attended formal training for Dog Walkers can guarantee the pet owner they would know what to do given different situations.
Physically-Fit
Dogs have plenty of energy. It’s hard to keep up with a dog that loves to walk in the great outdoors. Now, imagine if the client has a Great Dane or several dogs that you have to walk at one time.
If you can’t keep up with the dog, you won’t be able to give it the exercise it needs.
Patient with Dogs
It may take a while to earn a dog’s trust. You have to be patient and remain confident that in time and with persistence, the dog will take to you as its walker when its master is not available.
Expert Time Management Skills
There are pet owners who want their dogs to walk at a specific time of the day. In some cases, the pet owner may ask you to walk his dog because of an emergency situation, and he cannot be home in time.
As a Dog Walker, you have to be ready to accommodate the instructions of your clients. If there are conflicts in scheduling, try your best to resolve them by negotiating with your clients and ask if they are willing to adjust their schedule by a bit.
Ability to Notice Changes in Behaviour
Changes in a dog’s behaviour can mean something is not right with its health or well-being.
If the dog has become aggressive or reclusive, it could be undergoing emotional distress. On the other hand, if the dog has become more passive and inactive, it might be a sign of a health issue.
Having the ability to notice changes in behaviour can help you act on the problem before it gets worse. A good and trustworthy Dog Walker will share his thoughts about the animal’s condition with the owner right away.
Knowledge of Grooming Dogs
Proper grooming is essential for dogs, especially for long-haired breeds. You should know how to remove mats, clip their nails, and clean their ears.
You don’t have to be an expert animal stylist but getting involved in the grooming of the dog will help develop a stronger relationship with the animal as well as spot possible health issues.
Dog Walker Duties And Responsibilities For The Work Experience Section
Dog owners probably have the same scope of work or list of duties and responsibilities they expect to see in your work experience section.
The list will include these standard duties and responsibilities:
- Meet with clients to discuss the needs and requirements of the dog.
- Review the health and medical history of the dog.
- Coordinate with the client on the dog’s schedule.
- Monitor changes in behaviour.
- Keep close watch over the pet’s activities while outdoors.
- Follow the feeding schedule as prepared by the pet owner.
- Manage the dog expertly during the scheduled walk.
- Clean up after the dog if the pet urinates or defecates.
- Dispose of the waste matter in a proper manner.
- Check up on the condition of the dog before turning the pet over to the owner.
- Perform grooming and cleaning of the dog as necessary.
- Ensure the safety of the pet throughout the designated schedule.
If you’ve had more than one client, don’t copy and paste one job description to the next.
The key to having an interesting work experience section is to make each experience unique. You can do this simply by adding details that are unique to the specific job you handled.
Entry Level Dog Walker Resume
Are you thinking of earning good money as a Dog Walker for the first time? Yes, if you have an entry-level Dog Walker resume, you can still be considered for the position. However, like other jobs, you have to prove you can do the work and be trusted with the pets.
- Take Up Dog Walking Courses – It’s not enough to say you walk your own dogs, therefore, you know what you’re doing. There are skills that are specific to becoming a Dog Walker that you have to learn.For example, what to do in case the dog gets injured or swallows poison accidentally.
Fortify your Dog Walker entry-level resume by signing up for Dog Walker certification courses.
- Get a Professional Dog Walker License – Whether your state mandates that all Dog Walkers should be regulated, it won’t hurt your case to apply and acquire a professional Dog Walker license.A professional license adds to your credibility and will boost your qualification even if you’re becoming a Dog Walker for the first time.
- Develop Other Skills – What you lack in work experience you can make up for in skills and other qualifications.Learn other skills such as Pet Grooming and Animal First-Aid. These additional skills will enhance your overall value proposition to the dog owner.
- Include Informal Dog Walker Experience – Did you Pet Sit for your neighbor’s dogs while they were away on vacation? If you did, you can include this as part of work experience.Give more details to add credibility to your claim. For example, include the type of dog, how often you walked the dog, and how frequently you took care of your neighbor’s pets.
Working as a Dog Walker may start out only as a side hustle but who knows? If you’re good enough to be in demand in your neighborhood, this could be a first “step” toward a professional Pet Care business!
