Dog Handlers – Morning Shift - The Crate Escape (thecrateescape.com)
Naperville, IL | $16.50–$17.50/hour | 30–40 hrs/week
Love dogs? We do too. Come join the pack!
About Us
For over 20 years, The Crate Escape has been Naperville’s go-to dog daycare and overnight facility. We're more than just a place for dogs to hang out—we're a trusted second home, and our team is a big part of what makes it so special. Learn more about us at www.thecrateescape.com! Please check our social media/Facebook page for a sneak peek at what we do.
About the Role
We're on the hunt for awesome humans to join our team as Morning Dog Handlers. If you're energized by wagging tails, don’t mind a bit of fur on your clothes, and love the idea of building bonds with dogs and their human family, keep reading.
You’ll be working with large packs of dogs — this is not a solo dog-walking gig. It’s fast-paced, physical work that requires patience, awareness, and a whole lot of love. You’ll be responsible for keeping dogs safe, happy, and giving them the time of their lives.
What You'll Do
- Arrive on time for a 6am/7am to 1pm shift – Monday through Friday, plus one weekend shift per month.
- Be willing to work holidays as needed – but at a holiday payrate!
- Supervise dog play groups and keep a watchful eye on dog behavior – time to wear your Alpha hat!
- Administer breakfast and medication (as needed)
- Clean, clean, clean (did we mention clean?)—yes, poop scooping is part of the job!
- Build relationships with dogs and their humans
- Be super reliable, we need people who will be on time and ready to go every single day
- Maintain a safe and positive environment for all pups
- Communicate with teammates and think like an owner—if something can be done better, speak up!
- Really strong candidates will be interested in assisting with social media content, parent report cards, or helping us grow our business (bonus points for creativity!)
- Help out on weekends and holidays when needed (with extra holiday pay!) Working weekends and holidays might not be for everyone, we get that! But caring for dogs doesn’t break for Saturdays, Sundays, federal holidays, or Santa Claus!
What We’re Looking For
- Folks who have experience with dog handling dogs in large groups. We will provide extra training to ensure we have a common understanding of expectations around dog handling; however, we are hoping for a candidate who knows the ins and outs
- A Self-starter: You don’t wait to be told what needs doing—if a water bowl is empty, you’re already on it.
- Energetic: You can keep up with a room full of zoomies, don’t mind being on your feet all day. Coffee helps, but loving dogs helps more.
- Social media savvy: You want to capture the perfect action shot on your phone, a goofy grin, or a couple dogs cuddling—and you’re interested in turning everyday daycare moments into posts that make our pet parents smile.
- To us, the safety of dogs and people is number one, it must be your number one too.
- A true dog lover who gets that working with dogs isn’t always easy—but it’s always worth it
- Someone who wants to form lasting connections—with both pets and people
- A team player who’s dependable, observant, and ready to jump in
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, sometimes messy environment
- Strong communicator and willing to give and receive feedback
- Interested in growing with us long-term (some of our team has been with us for years, and we love that!). We want you to strive to go beyond your current role and help us build this business.
Job Details
Morning Shift: 6:00 AM/7AM – 1:00 PM (varies based on the day)
Pay: $16.50–$17.50/hr based on experience
Holiday Pay
40 hours of paid time off accrued throughout the year
30–40 hours/week
Occasionally flexible scheduling to support your teammates
Ready to Join the Pack?
If you’re looking for more than just a job—if you want to be part of a team that feels like family, do meaningful work, and get tail wags daily—we’d love to meet you. If we do make time to chat, let us know what you think from our website and Facebook posts, we will know you’ve looked and are engaged!
Our hiring process: We start with a quick phone chat, then invite you in for an in-person meet-and-greet where we’ll show you around the facility. If all feels like a good fit, you’ll come back for a paid trial day to experience the pups, the pace, and the daycare life firsthand (and get paid while you do it!).
Apply now and let’s make tails wag together!
Pay: $16.50 - $17.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
