Tom's Dogs

Dog Walking Apprentice

Tom’s Dogs | Niantic, East Lyme & Old Lyme, Connecticut

Tom’s Dogs is looking for a dependable, outdoors-oriented Dog Walking Apprentice to join our growing pet-care team.

This is an entry-level position with a real training path.

You will begin by shadowing experienced handling and learning our dogs, equipment, safety standards, routes, client procedures, and reporting expectations. From there, you will progress into independently handling neighborhood walks, then begin working alongside Tom on small-group pack hikes before eventually leading appropriate pack hikes independently.

We are not looking for someone who simply likes dogs.

We are looking for someone who can become exceptionally good at caring for them.

The Role

You will initially work alongside Tom and gradually take responsibility for established client routes.

Training will generally progress through:

Trainee → Walker → Pack Leader → Master Pack Leader

The pace of advancement depends on judgment, reliability, dog-handling ability, communication, and consistency rather than simply time in the position.

Early responsibilities will primarily involve neighborhood dog walks. As your skills develop, you may begin assisting with pack outings and eventually running appropriate pack hikes independently.

Most dogs assigned to you independently will already be established Tom’s Dogs clients whose handling, routines, and equipment have been evaluated and prepared in advance.

What You’ll Do

Responsibilities may include:

• Shadowing and learning Tom’s Dogs handling and safety procedures

• Providing structured neighborhood dog walks

• Gradually assisting with small-group pack hikes

• Eventually leading appropriate pack hikes independently

• Driving between client homes throughout the service area

• Transporting dogs when required

• Following client-specific access and care instructions

• Safely handling dogs of varying sizes and energy levels

• Checking and using appropriate walking and safety equipment

• Taking quality photos during services

• Writing a clear report after every visit

• Monitoring canine behavior, body language, physical condition, and surroundings

• Making sound decisions when weather, traffic, dogs, equipment, or schedules do not go exactly as planned

• Communicating promptly when something requires attention

Schedule

We are especially looking for availability on:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, approximately 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Additional work may be available:

• Other weekdays as needed

• Weekends

• Holidays

• During the summer and other high-demand periods

The position will begin at approximately 10 hours per week, with substantial room for additional hours and responsibility for the right candidate.

Some services are recurring every week, while others are scheduled as needed.

This role is best suited to someone who values having a dependable core schedule but is also interested in picking up additional work when available.

Service Area

Most assignments will be concentrated in:

Niantic, East Lyme, and Old Lyme

Candidates should live close enough to make regular local driving practical.

Transportation Requirements

You must have:

• A valid driver’s license

• A reliable vehicle

• Current automobile insurance

• Comfort driving regularly between client homes

• Comfort transporting dogs when assigned

Tom’s Dogs provides a protective rear-seat hammock for dog transportation.

When transporting dogs as part of assigned work, travel time is compensated at $20/hour.

Mileage is reimbursed at $0.50 per mile.

Compensation

Service work is compensated as a percentage of the service price, allowing compensation to increase as you progress into higher-value services and greater responsibility.

In addition:

• $0.50/mile mileage reimbursement

• $20/hour while traveling with dogs

• 100% of client tips go to the walker

There is significant earning and advancement potential for someone who progresses from neighborhood walking into independent pack leadership.

Experience

Professional animal-care experience is preferred but not required.

Particularly relevant experience includes:

• Professional or personal dog walking

• Owning or regularly handling high-energy, strong, or challenging dogs

• Hiking and outdoor recreation

• Kennel, daycare, rescue, veterinary, or training environments

We are willing to train someone with the right temperament.

We are considerably less interested in a long résumé than we are in whether you are observant, dependable, physically capable, teachable, and trustworthy.

What We’re Looking For

You should be:

Punctual. Dogs and clients are scheduled around us. Repeated lateness does not work in this business.

Responsible. You will eventually be trusted with animals, homes, keys, access instructions, vehicles, and client information.

Calm under pressure. Dogs, weather, traffic, wildlife, equipment, and schedules occasionally produce unexpected situations. You need to be capable of thinking clearly rather than panicking.

Comfortable with large and energetic dogs. Safe handling equipment is provided, and dogs assigned independently will generally have already been evaluated and prepared for the service.

Observant. Good pet care depends heavily on noticing small changes before they become large problems.

Physically active. This position involves substantial walking, hiking, getting in and out of a vehicle, uneven terrain, and normal New England weather.

A good communicator. Every service includes photos and a written client report.

Teachable. We have established handling procedures and safety standards. We want someone who is interested in understanding why we do things a certain way, then becoming capable of applying that judgment independently.

Advancement

This position is intentionally designed as an apprenticeship rather than a dead-end walking job.

The progression is:

Trainee

Learn our dogs, routes, systems, equipment, safety procedures, and service standards while shadowing.

Walker

Independently handle appropriate neighborhood walking and individual services.

Pack Leader

Assist with and eventually lead appropriate group hikes and more complex services.

Master Pack Leader

Take on greater responsibility, advanced handling, route leadership, and a larger role within Tom’s Dogs.

As the business grows, we want strong team members to grow with it.

Why We’re Hiring

Tom’s Dogs has reached the point where one person should not be the bottleneck. We grew the team to three, but not fast enough to keep up with demand.

We need someone who can gradually take ownership of established walking routes, provide dependable backup coverage, and ultimately become capable of independently caring for a meaningful portion of our client base.

The immediate need includes helping cover established midday clients while creating additional capacity for new clients and continued growth.

For the right person, this can become considerably more than a few dog walks each week.

How to Apply

Tell us briefly:

• Where you live

• Your Tuesday and Thursday availability

• Your general weekly availability

• Your experience handling dogs

• The largest or most difficult dog you have regularly handled

• Your experience with hiking or outdoor work

• Whether you have a reliable insured vehicle

• Why this kind of apprenticeship interests you

Generic cover letters are unnecessary.

We would much rather hear specifically about your experience, judgment, availability, and comfort working independently with animals.

Learn more about Tom’s Dogs at tomsdogs.com.