Home Dog Walker Resume template
Dog Walker resume template
A clean starting structure with example content grounded in what dog walkers actually do day to day, not generic filler. Download and replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Which resume format should you use?
Reverse chronological
You have a steady work history. This is the format almost every recruiter and ATS expects by default.
Functional
You're changing fields or have gaps in your employment. Leads with skills rather than a job-by-job timeline.
Combination
You're early career or have worked consistently but for only a few employers. Blends a skills summary with a shorter chronological history.
This template uses the reverse chronological format: the one most dog walkers should default to, since most Australian recruiters and ATS software expect it.
Professional summary
Reliable dog walker with hands-on experience handling dogs of different breeds, ages and temperaments. Comfortable managing group walks, reading canine body language and keeping owners updated through pet care apps. Fit, punctual and focused on safe, calm walks that fit each dog's needs.
Key skills
- Animal care and handling, including lead control and group management
- Canine body language and stress signals
- Positive reinforcement and force-free handling
- Pet first aid and emergency response
- Client communication and written updates
- Route planning and time management
- Operations management for daily walk schedules
- PetPocketbook
- Time To Pet
- Rover
- Google Calendar
- Waste disposal and hygiene
- Physical stamina and dexterity
Experience: example bullet points
- Walked dogs on scheduled routes, matching pace and route length to age, breed and health needs.
- Managed group walks of up to six dogs, using lead rotations, rest breaks and distance to keep the group calm.
- Fed and watered dogs according to owner instructions, including medication prompts where required.
- Cleaned up after dogs and disposed of waste, and disinfected leads, harnesses and vehicle crates between client groups.
- Updated owners after each walk through Time To Pet with notes on toileting, behaviour and any health concerns.
- Coordinated bookings and cancellations across Google Calendar and Rover, keeping daily runs efficient.
- Identified early signs of lameness, heat stress or illness and contacted owners promptly for direction.
- Trained new casual walkers in group handling, waste disposal and client update standards.
Education
No formal degree is required. Typical preparation includes a Certificate II in Animal Studies or Certificate III in Animal Care Services, canine first aid, and a current national police check. Public liability insurance and an ABN are standard for independent walkers.
Keywords an ATS is likely to scan for
Applicant tracking systems match your resume against terms in the job ad before a person ever sees it. Only include the ones that actually apply to your experience, but if a term below matches something you've done, use the same wording the job ad uses.
- dog walking
- pet care
- animal handling
- canine body language
- positive reinforcement
- force-free handling
- lead control
- group dog walks
- pet first aid
- waste disposal
- client communication
- route planning
- PetPocketbook
- Time To Pet
- Rover
- Google Calendar
- national police check
- public liability insurance
- ABN
- council registration
- microchipping
- companion animals legislation
Getting past ATS screening
- Match the specific skills, certifications and terms used in the job ad, not just your own wording for the same thing.
- Keep formatting simple: no tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers or graphics. Parsers frequently drop content placed in these.
- Submit as .docx or PDF unless the job ad specifies otherwise.
- Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) rather than creative alternatives.
- List your core skills and technical competencies in their own section so a keyword scan can find them instantly.
This is a starting point, not a guarantee of interviews. Tailor every bullet point to your own real experience and the specific job ad.