Dori Tails LLC Dog Walker/Pet Sitter – Level 1 Chicago, IL · Part time Company website

Apply for Dog Walker/Pet Sitter – Level 1

GET PAID to care for other people's pets

Pet sitting and dog walking are a lot of fun! We get to care for all sorts of adorable pets, from lovable cats and dogs, to chickens and small critters like hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits. We even get to work with exciting exotic pets, including cockatoos, boa constrictors, turtles, frogs, and fish!

While we have a blast, we also take our responsibilities seriously. That’s why we look for pet sitters and dog walkers who pay close attention to detail and have great communication skills.

We cover the northeast Chicago neighborhoods of Rogers Park and West Ridge, as well as the City of Evanston. Our service area contains Loyola College and Northwestern University, and is close to the shores of Lake Michgan. Our clients and their pets are amazing!

If you’re friendly, great with people, and eager to learn how to care for pets the Dori Tails way, we’d love to have you join our team! We offer fantastic training that includes hands-on experience in our clients’ homes, plus a few weeks of online classes that you can take whenever it suits you. Join us in caring for pets and making their lives happier and healthier!

Position: Dog Walker/Pet Sitter – Level 1

We are seeking exceptional dog walkers/pet sitters so we can help even more pets and pet parents. 

Please note: We will be accepting applications until we find the right team members, so if you are viewing this posting weeks after it’s been published, please contact us as we may still need more team members!

Days: 2-3 days a week on weekdays to start, additional days and some weekends after training is complete

Hours: 10am-2pm or 1pm-5pm to start, additional hours as business increases

Please note: This is a very part-time job to start. More hours will be available as business increases. Work assigned will be based on staffing levels, performance, and client demand. New team members will start with a lighter schedule, but after onboarding and training are complete, you can work 10-20+ hours per week.

Job Functions

Dog Walks - Safely walk dogs in public places. Knowledge of effective dog-walking techniques, such as short lead control, must be demonstrated.

Drop-in Visits

• All pets: feeding and watering, administering medications, monitoring for health issues, interaction/enrichment, cleaning pet items, other minor tasks.
• Dogs: walk or let-out.
• Cats, pocket pets, exotic pets: scooping/deep-cleaning litterboxes and enclosures.

Pet Care and Management

Must understand basic pet behavior and demonstrate ability to manage pets safely and effectively. Able to identify signs of aggression, stress, pain and fear, as well as cleaning up after pets, including the safe disposal of waste. Must successfully complete additional care training in other pet species and other pet-related topics (provided), and keep skills current.

Pet First Aid

Must successfully complete a Dog and Cat First Aid & CPCR course (provided) and keep skills current. Must demonstrate ability to react calmly and appropriately in an emergency.

Technology

Requires an iPhone or an Android phone with a camera and a data plan, as well as working knowledge of email, internet, and smartphones, and how to take pictures of pets for visit reports and social media channels.

Reporting & Documentation

Complete all necessary reporting and documentation for both internal and client purposes using the company’s mobile apps.

Client Relations

Team Member will go to an interview to meet each owner and their pet(s) to see if the pets are a good match. Excellent interpersonal skills with clients are expected. Maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings is expected and will be measured by client assessments for each assignment. Must communicate clearly and be able to verify that messages are received. The ability to establish trust and rapport is key.  

Privacy and Safety

Guests and pets that do not belong to the client are not allowed in the client’s home. Do not tell anyone that a particular client is away.

Teamwork

Must work well in a team environment as well as independently. This job requires flexibility to accommodate schedule and assignment changes and to support team members.

Attendance and Accountability

Failure to fulfill an assignment without arranging backup could result in injury to a pet and lost clientele. Must be dependable and must use time management skills to ensure visits are started and completed on time. Holiday and weekend work is required. Must communicate any issues that affect pets in a timely manner to clients, and to other company team members and management.

Office, Marketing and Public Relations

Assist with phone calls, emails, and web contacts when needed. Assist with marketing and public relations functions such as distributing cards, posting flyers, door-hangers, etc., and attending events in which the company will be represented.

Attire

Sturdy, casual, weather-appropriate clothing that includes clean, non-ripped long pants and comfortable, sturdy shoes that are suitable for walking 1-5 miles per day and up/down stairs. Shoe coverings, face masks, and/or gloves may be required to be worn in clients’ homes. Must wear company-branded shirt and have an appearance that is neat and clean while attending client Meet & Greets and other events in which the company will be represented.

Requirements

Eligibility/Education/Experience/Other Required:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in caring for dogs and cats is required.
• Must have a car and be able to reach the service area (Northeast Chicago neighborhoods of Rogers Park and West Ridge, as well as the City of Evanston, Illinois) within 20 minutes by vehicle.
• A clean criminal/background check is required. All candidates will undergo a pre-employment criminal/background check.

Physical Requirements to Perform Essential Job Functions:

• Must be able to lift up to 60 lbs and you are capable of moderate-intensity outdoor activity, including walking 1-4 miles and up/down stairs, in all weather conditions.
• Must be able to visually inspect pets in your care, and able to detect animal noises, such as distress whining.
• Must have no barriers or aversions to touching, smelling, or being in close proximity to animals, including sensitivity to pet dander, feathers, urine, feces, vomit, or any other animal feature.

Compensation/Benefits:

• $16.25/hr base rate.
• Bonuses: 50% of surcharges for Wakeup (7am-9am) / Evening/Bedtime (5pm to 9pm) / Weekend (Saturday & Sunday) visits, Additional Pets (example: walking two dogs instead of one), and Holidays.
• Bonuses of $50 ea. for client reviews on Google.
• 100% of client gratuities.
• Mileage: transportation time between appointments will be compensated at the Hourly rate above, and vehicle mileage will be reimbursed at the Federal Rate of 70 cents per mile.
• Smartphone allowance: $5 per pay period.
• Paid training in Dog and Cat First Aid and CPR, dog/cat care, the care of additional pet species, and other pet-related topics.
• Regular performance reviews with compensation increases.
• All supplies provided. Parking is reimbursed, but the need to pay to park is limited.
• Limited benefits package includes PTO.

Who Is This Job Right For?

This job is ideal if you’re seeking supplemental income in a fun, non-office environment. However, if you’re looking for full-time, steady employment, this position may not be suitable for you.

Dependability is crucial, as our clients rely on us to care for their critter kids. We are dealing with living, breathing pets, so it’s essential to be committed to ensuring visits happen, no matter what. This is not a role where you can easily call out.

We work based on our clients’ needs, which means we don’t have traditional 9-to-5 jobs. Our work hours may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Many of the pets we care for may not adjust well to new environments and can be slow to trust strangers. Therefore, we prefer to assign the same team member(s) to each client. Frequent changes in sitters can distress pets, as they form bonds with their caregivers. For this reason, we ask our sitters to commit to at least six months with us. If you know you’ll be moving, leaving for school, or otherwise unavailable within that timeframe, we kindly ask that you do not apply.