Are you a dog lover and looking to turn your passion into a fulfilling career? If so, you’re in luck! There are a range of opportunities within the veterinary and animal care professions for you to work with our loyal and furry companions.
From helping dogs stay healthy and happy, to training them to be their best selves, there’s a wealth of jobs working with dogs available for every dog enthusiast. In this blog post, we’ll delve into some of the most exciting career options working with dogs:
1. Veterinary Surgeon
If you have a strong interest in animal health and well-being, becoming a veterinary surgeon might be the perfect path for you. As a veterinary surgeon, you’ll diagnose and treat health issues in dogs and other companion animals.
Veterinary surgeons in general practice carry out a wide range of tasks from promoting and maintaining the health of animals through to diagnosing and treating sick and injured animals. As a veterinary surgeon you must be good with both animals and people. You must be empathetic and be able to talk sensitively to owners about the care and treatment of their animals. Once you have completed formal training, you can undertake further learning and professional learning in canine health and behaviour.
Read the Veterinary Surgeon job profile
2. Veterinary Nurse
Veterinary nurses are key members of the veterinary team, and is a fantastic career option for dog lovers. They work alongside vets to provide care and treatment to a variety of animals including dogs, and spend a lot of their time working with dogs and dog owners. Each day you are likely to be involved in a variety of different tasks, from helping a veterinary surgeon in theatre to advising an owner on the most appropriate method of flea control for their pet. In order to train as a veterinary nurse, you have to complete a veterinary nursing qualification approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). You can qualify as a veterinary nurse via a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship or veterinary nursing degree programme.
Read the Veterinary Nurse job profile
3. Canine Hydrotherapist
Canine hydrotherapists apply hydrotherapy techniques to help dogs recover from injury or to maintain fitness. Treatments are usually carried out for diagnosed conditions or injuries on dogs referred by a veterinary surgeon, although hydrotherapy is also used as an enjoyable form of exercise. As a canine hydrotherapist, you will need to be compassionate, have a strong interest in dogs and relevant experience handling them. You must be able to swim, and it is important to have good observation skills, along with a mind for enquiry and an aptitude for science. Good communication skills are essential, and the ability to work in a team with other professionals.
Read the Canine Hydrotherapist job profile
4. Kennel Worker
Kennel workers care for dogs in kennels or animal rescue centres. You will need to be confident in handling animals and be able to cope with the physical demands of the job, such as cleaning out kennels and walking dogs. Your day-to-day work could include preparing food and feeding, grooming animals, exercising dogs, cleaning out kennels, answering telephone calls and record keeping.
Kennel workers can work with dogs in a variety of different establishments such as boarding establishments, dog rehoming and animal rescue organisations (for example at charities like Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and more), breeding kennels, assistance dog kennels or other kennels such as hunt or race yards. As you gain more experience and qualifications, you could pursue supervisory and management positions within this setting, for example by becoming a Kennel Manager or even starting your own boarding kennels. Undertaking an advanced animal care qualification such as the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management, or achieving a leadership and management qualification, could help you pave the way to taking on more responsibility at work, which could boost your earning potential and open up other opportunities and jobs working with dogs in the future.
Animal care apprenticeships such as the Level 2 Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship can help you gain practical skills and hands-on experience working with dogs in a kennel setting.
Read the Kennel Worker job profile
5. Dog Groomer
Dog groomers play a vital role in maintaining the physical well-being of dogs by keeping their coats clean and well-groomed. This career allows you to combine your creativity with your love for dogs, making them look and feel their best.
As a dog groomer you will have the knowledge to carry out basic health checks, identify parasites and signs of infection, bath, dry and style all dogs to ‘breed standard’ or customer specification. You will discuss with the owner the dog’s history such as its temperament, health, medical history and age. You will then discuss what grooming the dog requires; this could range from a bath and tidy up, to a full clip or hand strip and can include nail clipping and cleaning ears. As part of the role you will also advise owners on grooming requirements and coat care of their dogs in between grooms.
You can get a dog grooming job by undertaking a dog grooming apprenticeship, or by undertaking qualifications such as the Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants and the Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming. Dog grooming can offer the flexibility to work part time or even work from home. There is also opportunity to become self employed and set up your own dog grooming service. You can search for dog grooming jobs on websites such as Indeed, or by looking up your local dog grooming salons to see if there are any upcoming job opportunities.
Read the Dog Groomer job profile
6. Dog Behaviourist / Clinical Animal Behaviourist
Understanding canine behaviour is crucial for ensuring their overall welfare. As a dog behaviourist (also known as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist), you’ll have the rewarding task of working with dogs to analyse and modify problem behaviours, helping dogs to overcome anxiety, fear, and aggression. Your expertise can help create better-behaved and well-socialised dogs, leading to stronger bonds between dogs and their owners.
Animal Behaviourists often work on veterinary referral, and help not just dog owners, but other companion animals such as cats, horses, rabbits and other small furries and birds. Animal Behaviourists often also give talks and demonstrations, and provide mentoring and training for those wishing to enter the profession. You could undertake additional training in order to specialise in dog behaviour.
Read the Clinical Animal Behaviourist job profile
7. Dog Handler
For those who are interested in a career working closely with dogs, becoming a dog handler could be your calling.
As a dog handler, you would be teamed with a specially trained dog and would be responsible for its care and control. The police, Army, RAF, HM Revenue and Customs, the fire service, search and rescue organisations and private security firms all offer dog handler job opportunities. If you love dogs and you are keen to use your observation skills, this could be just what you are looking for.
For those looking for a dog handler course to help build their career, you could consider studying the Level 2 Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship with the Animal Handling and Interaction pathway.
Read the Dog Handler job profile
8. Assistance Dog Trainer
Assistance dog trainers and instructors train dogs to help people who have physical disabilities, medical conditions and hearing or sight difficulties. In addition to training the dogs, trainers are also likely to be involved in giving talks and demonstrations, raising funds and helping to train other trainers. You could work for organisations such as Guide Dogs, Dogs for Good, Support Dogs, Medical Detection Dogs, Canine Partners, Dog A.I.D or Hearing Dogs.
Entry requirements will vary depending on the organisation you are applying for the job with. However, as with most jobs working with dogs, gaining any relevant work experience or qualifications can strengthen to your application. For example, you could stand out from other applicants by studying the Level 2 Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship with the Animal Handling and Interaction pathway.
Read the Assistance Dog Trainer job profile
9. Dog Walker / Dog Sitter
Dog walkers offer their services, helping owners to exercise their pets. Dogs are usually taken for walks during the day whilst their owners may be engaged with work commitments, or for short periods, when they are away. For those looking for flexible work opportunities, dog walking is a suitable option and it is likely you’ll be able to find part time dog walking jobs using online platforms as well as word-of-mouth. As you gain more experience, you could expand and offer other pet care services to clients, including pet sitting in the owner’s home, pet boarding, puppy and pet visits, pet taxis, and even dog grooming. You could increase your knowledge of dog welfare and boost your credibility as a dog walker or dog sitter by undertaking a formal animal care qualification, such as the Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care (Online Learning).
Read the Dog Walker job profile
10. Pet Retail
If you’re an innovator at heart, working in the pet product industry might be the perfect fit. From designing toys and accessories to developing innovative health and safety products, you’ll be enriching the lives of dogs and their owners alike. There are also customer service, marketing and business development roles available at a range of companies in the pet industry, such as pet care stores or animal charities.
Unsure how to get your career with dogs started? Find out how at Careers With Animals Day
For those interested in careers working with dogs but not sure how to get started, our annual Careers With Animals Day would be a great place to start. Whether you’re at school and looking at your options, employed in a different field and looking for a career change or unemployed and looking at how you can get back into work, this event will give you the chance to listen to relevant people and organisations within the animal care and veterinary industry, gain advice, ask questions and receive guidance on training. Read more about Careers With Animals Day
Career opportunities are endless when it comes to working with dogs. Whether you choose a career that involves their health, behaviour, or happiness, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of dogs, as well as the lives of their owners. So, take the leap, and let your love for dogs lead you to a rewarding and fulfilling career path!