Be a part of the Buddy team.

Buddy K9 is a small wellness studio for dogs on Ventura Blvd in Studio City. Through swimming in our heated indoor pool and our underwater treadmill, we offer water exercise for dogs recovering from surgery or injury, managing arthritis, or working on weight loss, as well as offering preventative tools for healthy dogs who just love to stay fit. We're not a veterinary clinic, but this isn't doggy daycare either. Many of the dogs we see are aging, have limited mobility, or are living with a new diagnosis, and their owners trust us with their care. We're looking for a warm, strong, reliable part-time teammate to run our fun & fitness sessions and to take that responsibility as seriously as we do. This is a very physical job that can be frustrating and hard, but with the right attitude it's also incredibly rewarding, silly and fun. It's definitely not a typical office or admin job.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead Fun & Fitness swims and underwater treadmill workouts for dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. Including by not limited to assisted water entry & exit, assisted movement, supervision and time keeping.

• Carry, assist and guide dogs up and down the pool ramp.

• Run our water treadmill sessions, including operation of the digital screen & supervise pet movement.

• Greet clients, run sessions with owners present, and build friendly, professional relationships with regular customers.

• Use our online system to take payments, make new bookings, and add session notes to client's records.

• Answer client messages and confirm upcoming appointments.

• Keep the pool, treadmill, towels and studio spotless and sanitized, including washing and folding towels.

• Open or close the studio, including cleaning the floors, equipment and water maintenance.

• Clean up and sanitize after any bathroom accidents, in the water or in the studio.

• Rinse and towel-dry dogs with a handheld shower after each session (no grooming, no blowdryers).

• Flag anything unusual to our lead water exercise specialist.

THIS IS A LEARNING ROLE:
This isn't a dog-sitting job. You'll learn and study proper handling, water safety and exercise technique for each dog, and you'll shadow our experienced team until you're ready to run sessions on your own. We'll give you hands-on training and reading material, and we expect you to put in the time to master it. We're not looking for someone who just wants a part-time job. We want someone who loves dogs and is eager to grow alongside us as we expand. While we are not a veterinary clinic, our lead coach was previously a hydrotherapy instructor in the UK, and taught these techniques to veterinarians, vet techs and other students, so this is also an incredible opportunity to learn and hone new skills from a qualified source.

ROOM TO GROW:
You'll start with our easiest clients, mostly swimming dogs who need little help. As your skills and confidence build, you'll learn to work with more involved clients, including treadmill sessions for dogs getting back to activity after surgery or injury, alongside our lead specialist. We'll invest in you if you're excited and willing to keep learning.

ABOUT YOU:
You're great with people and pets. Many of our owners are worried or upset about their dog's health, so they need someone kind, patient and reassuring. You'll often be one-on-one in the studio with a client for 30–45 minutes at a time, chatting with them while you run their dog's session. This matters a lot to us, because the comfy vibes of our space is just as important as the services we offer. We don't want it to feel like a stressful vet's office, and our team plays a big part in keeping guests comfortable.

• You're OK working on your own, since after training you'll often be the only one running the studio.

• You want part-time work and are flexible with hours. We want a team player who feels like a partner, not just another employee.

• You're reliable and on time. Our sessions are booked well in advance, and the schedule is tight, so once a shift is set, you show up on-time and ready to go.

• You're trustworthy and discreet, and you represent Buddy with the love and care we put into creating the space.

• You're tidy and detail-oriented, including with payments and client notes.

• You're comfortable working in water, obviously. We'll provide a wetsuit or waders, but you WILL get wet, a lot.

• You follow our guidelines for talking with clients about their dogs, and you never give medical advice.

• You're comfortable learning new software and working with computers.

• You love dogs and are comfortable with dog hair, poop, pee and lots of slobber. Many of our dogs have trouble controlling their bladder or bowels, so you won't flinch at getting dirty or cleaning up accidents.

• A vet assistant or vet tech background is a big plus, but attitude and willingness to learn matter more to us than experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
We can’t stress this enough… This is a Physical Job!

• You must be able to lift and carry a wet dog of up to 100 lbs, by yourself, up and down a pool ramp and/or small pool ladder.

• There is no lift or second person to help, and it will happen regularly, though not every shift.

• You'll be on your feet, bent over and wet for much of your shift.

• Swimming dogs take real strength to hold in place and to keep from jumping out of the pool.

• You're calm and confident with dogs of all sizes and temperaments, including nervous, reactive or occasionally aggressive dogs who may pull, jump or nip occasionally.

SCHEDULE & PAY

• Part-Time (to start), about 20-25 hours a week, with a flexible schedule we can work out together.

• Weekend work is required, as you’ll be providing relief and coverage for our full-time staff & the days we are currently closed.

• Every Sunday, every other Saturday & every other Monday, plus weekday hours we can customize to work for your schedule.

• $22/hr during training, then $22–30/hr once you're working on your own, depending on experience.

• Benefits available for eligible team members.

• Start date: flexible, around January 2027.
  

TO APPLY: Email hello@buddyk9.com with your resume, plus few lines about yourself and your experience with dogs.