Dog Handler ​/ Kennel Technician

Wage: $18-$24/hour to start based on experience, plus tips (100% of tips are distributed to the team; typical additional $1-3/hour in effective wages). Structured raises to $22 at 6 months, $23 at 12 months, and $24+ at 24 months for handlers who join at the base rate. Career ladder posted publicly:
Handler ->
Lead Handler ->
Assistant Manager ->
Manager.

Hours:

36-40 hours per week, with occasional overtime up to 45 hours during peak seasons paid at time-and-a-half. Weekend and holiday rotation is required. This is a scheduled shift job — you'll get a published schedule each week and be expected to work your assigned shifts. If you're looking for something you drop in and out of, this isn't it.

Location:

Green Acres K9 Resort, 26075 SE Highway 212, Boring, Oregon 97009

Green Acres has been Portland-metro's family-owned boarding and daycare resort for 19 years. We sit on a 260,000 square-foot campus with pool, creek, pond, and real grass. Dogs live like they're on vacation, and we treat them that way. This isn't a warehouse job — this is a career track for people who genuinely love working with dogs and want to grow with a stable, respected small business.

• Manage playgroups of 8-15 dogs safely — composing, monitoring, breaking up misbehavior calmly, never punitively
• Feed, water, and administer medications per each dog's care plan
• Clean kennels, yards, and common areas throughout the day — yes, that includes urine, feces, vomit, and the occasional mystery. If that's a deal breaker, this is not your job.
• Perform temperament assessments on new dogs
• Escort dogs to/from pickup and drop-off, handle owner conversations at the counter
• Log incidents accurately and immediately
• Support the overnight and grooming teams as needed
• Follow SOPs for vaccinations, playgroup composition, cleaning, and emergencies

• Calm under pressure. A yard of 12 excited dogs doesn't rattle you.
• Service industry background (restaurant, retail, hospitality) OR prior kennel/vet clinic experience
• Physical fitness — you'll be on your feet all shift, occasionally lifting 40+ pounds, and moving fast
• Reliable transportation to Boring
• Comfort with weekend and holiday rotation
• Two references from prior employers
• Genuinely likes dogs — but understands that liking dogs is not a job skill; consistency, safety judgment, and physical stamina are

• People who just want to hang out with dogs all day
• Anyone who thinks kennel work is a lifestyle rather than a job with structure and accountability
• Applicants who can't commit to weekend/holiday rotation

• Starting wage $18-$24/hour with a written raise schedule ($22 at 6 months, $23 at 12 months, $24 at 24 months)
• 10 days PTO year one, 15 days year two — accrued from day 1
• QSEHRA health benefit — $250/month toward your individual health insurance premium
• 50% off boarding and daycare for your own dogs
• Hard cap 45 hours per week — no burnout schedules
• Guaranteed 2 consecutive days off each week
• Holiday rotation — the same 3 people don't cover Thanksgiving every year
• Quarterly team bonus ($250/person) when we hit a zero-bite-incident quarter
• 100% of tips are distributed to the team — pooled and split among staff
• Career ladder posted publicly — you know exactly what you need to do to advance
• Weekly 15-minute 1:1 with the owner — feedback goes both ways

You'll hear from us either way. If we're not moving forward, we tell you why.

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