Professional Dog Trainer - Seattle
About Us
The Pet Care Club of Seattle is redefining pet care by integrating behavior, enrichment, and training into everyday life.
We are not a traditional dog walking company—and we are not a traditional training company.
Our model is built on the belief that real behavior change happens in real environments, through consistent, thoughtful interactions, not isolated training sessions.
We are building a team of professionals who see dogs through a behavioral, emotional, and welfare-based lens—not just compliance.
The Role
We are hiring 2 professional dog trainers to help lead and expand our training and enrichment programs.
This role is focused on:
• Private training sessions
• Behavior support and modification
• Integrating training into real-life care environments
• Supporting and guiding our internal team to maintain consistency
You will play a key role in shaping how training is delivered across the entire company.
Our Training Philosophy
We are a force-free, fear-free, science-based training company.
That means:
• We use positive reinforcement as our primary teaching method
• We prioritize emotional safety, agency, and trust
• We utilize desensitization and counterconditioning for behavior change
• We focus on reducing stress, not suppressing behavior
We do not allow:
• Prong, choke, or shock collars
• Startle, intimidation, or correction-based methods
• Dominance theory or “alpha” frameworks
This aligns with modern behavioral science and humane training standards, which emphasize reinforcing desired behaviors and avoiding fear or pain-based techniques.
If you consider yourself a “balanced trainer,” this will not be the right fit.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
• Conducting private, in-home and real-world training sessions
• Addressing behavior challenges such as:
Reactivity
Fear and anxiety
Overstimulation
Leash skills and engagement
• Creating customized, humane behavior modification plans
• Coaching clients with clarity and empathy
• Supporting internal staff with training guidance and consistency
• Helping develop and refine training programs within the company
Who We’re Looking For
This role is for someone who:
• Has a strong foundation in learning theory and behavior science
• Understands canine body language at a deep level
• Naturally thinks in terms of:
Thresholds
Triggers
Nervous system regulation
• Believes training should improve a dog’s emotional state, not just behavior
• Can communicate in a way that builds trust with both dogs and humans
• Wants to be part of a company that is raising the standard of care
Preferred Qualifications
• CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, IAABC, or Fear Free Certification (strongly preferred)
• Hands-on experience with behavior cases (not just basic obedience)
• Experience working directly with clients in private training settings
Employment Details
• W-2 employee (not contractor)
• Competitive hourly pay (aligned with Seattle living wage standards)
• Paid training and continuing education opportunities
• Opportunity for growth into senior trainer/program development roles
Why This Role Is Different
Most trainers work in controlled environments.
Here, you’ll be working where behavior actually happens:
• On walks
• In homes
• In real-world environments
This allows for more meaningful, lasting behavior change—and a deeper level of impact.