Professional Dog Handler in Milton Keynes

Pay: £12.21-£15.00 per hour

Hourly Rate: From £12.21 per hour (with progression to £15 per hour and additional bonuses and incentives).

Hours: Minimum 15 hours per week guaranteed, progressing to full-time (37+ hours) as competencies develop, full training given for all aspects of the role.

Working Hours: You must be available Monday to Friday, varied times depending on client bookings.

Training & Development: As a valued member of our team, you will receive in-house training certificates in key areas of animal care, including Canine Emergency First Aid, dog behaviour, and pet handling techniques. You'll also have the chance to expand your skills through specialized training sessions through trusted third-party providers from related sectors, ensuring you're always learning and growing in the role.

Company vehicle: paid fuel to and from work using company van.

Requirements

• Full UK (manual) driving licence
• Minimum age 23 (due to insurance requirements)
• Prior experience working with animals — ideal candidates also own and care for their own pets
• Must live locally (within ~10 miles of Irthlingborough) due to occasional last-minute bookings

This is not a cosy "walk a few fluffy dogs" job. This is a skilled, physical, fast-paced animal-care role involving:

• Handling untrained, reactive, excited, or strong dogs
• Structured group dog walks (up to 6 dogs) once trained
• Working outdoors in all weather
• Solo, independent work for most of the day
• Visiting homes to care for cats, rabbits, small animals, poultry, and other pets

If you want a calm, predictable, or easy job with animals, this role is not for you. We are looking for people who want a career in professional pet care — people who can stay calm, think clearly, and handle animals confidently in real-world, messy, unpredictable situations.

Honest Realities of the Job

• Weather & Physicality: You will get muddy, soaked, hot, cold, windblown — sometimes on the same day. Dogs will jump on you, pull, get dirty, or need washing. Nails break, hair gets messy, clothing gets messy — this is expected and normal.
• Dog Handling Is a Skilled Profession: Dogs require constant awareness, corrections, structure, and boundaries. You must be alert and calm while managing groups, especially during loading/unloading safely into vans. Some dogs are anxious, reactive, or fearful — training prepares you for this.
• Independence & Solitude: Most of your workday is solo: driving, walking, and caring for animals alone. Many people underestimate how much time they spend in their own thoughts. Weekly team check-ins and occasional joint sessions help, but day-to-day work is independently performed. This role suits people who thrive without needing constant social interaction.
• Phone & Communication Demands: Your phone becomes a work tool: You'll be taking many photos of pets, communicating with clients and the internal team, receiving detailed instructions through our systems, and problem-solving gaps in information (clients sometimes forget things). If being highly connected, organised, and responsive on your phone is challenging, this role may not be a fit.

Your training stages include:

• Private walks, house sits, and simple visits
• Shadowing group walks and learning structured techniques
• Gradual introduction to group walks with experienced handlers
• Full group walking once confidence, competence, and safety standards are proven

Long-Term Growth

• Guaranteed pay increases the longer you stay with us
• Opportunities to specialise in behaviour, training support, or care leadership
• Full-time hours available as competence increases (typically within 2 months)

Benefits

• Guaranteed minimum 15 hours per week
• Fast progression to full-time as competencies develop
• Company van to take home (fuel and expenses covered)
• Uniform & equipment provided
• Comprehensive training in behaviour, handling, first aid, client service
• Career progression opportunities
• A stable, long-term career in professional pet care
• £400 towards cost of new mobile phone for long term team members
• Incremental and yearly pay raises

What You'll Be Doing

• Walking structured group walks (up to 6 dogs) — once trained
• Private walking for individual households
• Supporting our in-house dog behaviourist with assessments
• Visiting multiple homes per day for multi-species pet care (cats, rabbits, chickens, etc.)
• Building trust and relationships with pets and clients
• Attending ongoing training sessions
• Overnight house sitting & in-home day care (extra pay available)

About Us

We are the leading home-based pet care service in the area. Joining Paragon Pet Care means:

• Upholding the highest standard of care
• Being reliable, consistent, and trustworthy
• Delivering excellence in every visit, message, and interaction
• Working with integrity, respect, and professionalism
• Every team member matters — the work you do directly impacts pets, clients, and the reputation we've built.

Pay Progression & Opportunities:

• 6 months: £12.80 per hour + CPD training in Canine Emergency First Aid, abundance of in house training
• 12 months: £13.20 per hour + yearly bonus
• 24 months: £13.80 per hour
• 36 months: £15 per hour
• 36 months +: Opportunity to qualify as an Animal Behaviourist (ABTC certification) based on performance and contract terms.
• Longer term opportunities to work in the dog training side of the business, conducting group classes and individual training sessions with clients, rates of pay of + £30 p/h is not uncommon.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a cover letter explaining:

• Your experience with animals
• Why this role suits you
• Why you want to join Paragon Pet Care
• How you manage independence, responsibility, and outdoor work

Indeed applicants MUST also apply through our website, go to "careers" page on our official website and submit an application there and on indeed, failure to follow this step may result in rejection of your application.

This Role Is NOT for You If…

• You're looking for a cosy, calm, or predictable job with animals. This is active, outdoor work in all weather. You will get muddy, wet, hot, cold, messy, and physically tired. Dogs will jump on you, pull, mouth, scratch, and test boundaries.
• You aren't comfortable working alone most of the time. Most days involve being out on your own — driving, walking, managing dogs, problem-solving. If you need constant social interaction, supervision, or reassurance, this job will feel isolating.
• You struggle with change or uncertainty. Schedules change, bookings move, new dogs join, weather shifts, and you will need to adapt calmly and quickly.
• You prefer clear step-by-step instructions for everything. Animal care involves judgment calls, quick thinking, and figuring things out when owners forget details (which happens often).
• You don't want a job that gets physically or mentally demanding. This role involves lifting dogs, handling strong animals, washing muddy pets, managing reactive behaviour, and working under time pressure.
• You're uncomfortable using your phone constantly for work. Your phone becomes your main tool: photos, updates, client messages, internal notes, tracking, and problem-solving.
• You're mainly looking for an easy "job with animals". We offer a career in pet care — with progression, professional training, and responsibility — not a soft, casual dog-walking role.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: £12.21-£15.00 per hour

Benefits: Company car

Experience: Animal care: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification: Driving licence for manual cars (required)

Work Location: In person