Assistant Dog Trainer

Assistant Dog Trainer, Board & Train Program

A New Leash On Life School for Dogs | Shelby Twp, Michigan | Part-time, 3–4 days/week | $16-$18.50 to start

About us

A New Leash On Life is a premium board and train program. Dogs live with us for six weeks and learn everything through play, relationship, and real-life situations. Walks, games, and daily routines do the teaching. Owners come to us because they want a dog that's genuinely well behaved, on and off leash, and they're willing to invest in that.

We're a small operation with a big reputation, and we're growing. This is our first hire, which means you'd be learning directly from the owner, every day, one on one.

The job

You'd work alongside our lead trainer with 5 to 7 dogs at a time. A typical day: Two training sessions in the morning (roughly 7 a.m. to noon)

• A mid day break / lunch
• An afternoon session
• Walks, play sessions, bike rides, feeding, potty breaks, and yes, cleaning up after dogs.

Shifts run about 8-9 hours with the midday break built in, 3–4 days a week. You get at least three full days off every week. (This schedule may change, but this is a full-time position)

You won't be running dogs solo on day one. Expect a real apprenticeship: shadowing, handling dogs side by side with the lead trainer, and gradually taking on your own sessions as you earn it.

Who does well here

• You've handled dogs professionally or seriously: daycare, shelter, foster, vet clinic, grooming
• Big dogs don't rattle you, and neither does a dog with a bite history.
• Patience is your default. Occasional whining, barking, and accidents in crates don't wreck your mood
• You genuinely enjoy interacting and playing with dogs. You're playful, relaxed, and engaging, but you also know when to be calm, confident, and assertive.
• The animal comes first. Always. Frustration never touches the dog.
• You go with the flow. We run on a tight schedule, but when a dog has an accident in their crate, you adapt without feeling flustered or like you've fallen behind.
• We joke around a lot and don’t walk on eggshells. If blunt humor or casual language bothers you, you likely won’t enjoy working here.

One thing to know before you apply

We're a balanced training program. Alongside play and relationship building, we use tools like prong collars and remote collars for off-leash reliability, and we teach owners to use them correctly. If you're firmly opposed to these tools, this won't be the right fit, and that's okay.

Pay and growth

• $16-$18.50hr to start, depending on experience. Local postings for similar work run $14–$16, and we pay above market on purpose
• Structured raises: a clear path to $28–$30+/hr as you take on more responsibility
• Full training in our methodology, from a trainer who has attended some of the best dog schools as well as apprenticed under some of the top board and train programs in the country
• Overtime opportunities for occasional extra coverage days

How to apply

Send a short note about your experience with dogs and why this job interests you to as well as you resume. Candidates who move forward will complete a paid working interview at our facility so we can determine whether it's the right fit for both of us. During this training period, compensation will be at a slightly reduced training rate before transitioning to the standard pay rate.

Pay: $16.00 - $18.50 per hour

Work Location: In person