Therapy dog handler

• Therapy Dog Handler

Start Date: October 5

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week Hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday–Friday, with a 12:00–1:00 PM lunch

Location: Two assisted living and memory care facilities.

Position Overview

We are looking for a compassionate, dependable, and experienced Therapy Dog Handler to provide meaningful interaction, comfort, and companionship to residents in assisted living and memory care communities. This position combines professional dog handling and daily animal care with resident engagement. The handler will build relationships with residents, assist with activities and outings, and work closely with facility staff to support a positive and safe environment for both residents and therapy dogs.

Responsibilities

• Therapy Dog Care
• Provide daily care and supervision of the therapy dogs
• Maintain the dogs' cleanliness, grooming, and overall well-being
• Bathe dogs as needed
• Brush dogs daily
• Keep nails trimmed and ears clean
• Monitor dogs for signs of stress, discomfort, illness, or behavioral changes
• Safely handle and manage dogs during resident interactions and throughout the facilities
• Recognize when a dog needs a break or should be removed from an interaction Resident Engagement & Support
• Build genuine relationships with residents and learn their individual preferences
• Provide companionship and comfort through appropriate therapy-dog interactions
• Assist memory care residents with gathering for meals and activities
• Encourage residents to participate in activities and social opportunities
• Patiently redirect residents when necessary
• Recognize and communicate resident needs that fall outside the scope of the position to appropriate staff Activities & Outings
• Assist with setting up and cleaning up activities
• Gather residents for scheduled activities
• Assist residents during activities
• Incorporate therapy dogs into appropriate activities
• Assist with resident outings
• Lead activities when needed as a fill in

Teamwork & Communication

• Work collaboratively with facility staff and other team members
• Communicate concerns regarding residents or therapy dogs promptly
• Follow facility policies, safety procedures, and appropriate therapy-animal handling practices
• Maintain a professional, respectful, and positive presence within both facilities

Qualifications

• Experience handling dogs, particularly working dogs, therapy dogs, or other professionally trained dogs
• Experience working with residents in assisted living, memory care, healthcare, or a similar setting
• Familiarity with or experience working with individuals experiencing memory loss or cognitive impairment
• Strong understanding of safe and appropriate dog handling
• Patience, compassion, and emotional maturity
• Ability to calmly redirect residents when needed
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working with people from all walks of life
• Dependable and able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Comfortable performing routine grooming and animal-care tasks

The ideal candidate is someone who genuinely enjoys both dogs and people. You should be comfortable taking responsibility for a therapy dog's daily care while also being willing to slow down, listen, and connect with residents. This is an active, people-focused position where no two days will look exactly the same. The right person will be patient, observant, flexible, and able to recognize what both the residents and dogs need throughout the day. If you're passionate about working with dogs and want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Work Location: In person