Dog Den’s Internship program provides high school students with a fun and rewarding experience into the animal care industry as well as an opportunity for the interns to build up their professional experiences. Regardless of the path the interns chose as a career, this program will allow the interns to stand out above the rest whether it is applying for college or looking for their 1st job.

​

​We hope that the interns will graduate this program with not only technical skills required for this industry but  come out of the program with a stronger sense of business and work ethics, strong communication skills, more confident and responsible.

​

Working with dogs can be very rewarding but can also be very labor intensive as 80% of the time will be spent on your feet.

​​

School should be the student's #1 priority, so there is no set end date. The program will be completed when the student complete the number of hours needed for the program. Students must fulfill at least 160 hours to complete the program. At the end of the program, student will receive a certificate of completion. Additionally, students who complete 200 or more hours will receive a letter of recommendation. Some schools may allow students to use these hours as part of their required volunteer hours. 

​

Pet Care Intern

In this position, the intern will be learning the following aspects of caring for pets in a daycare & boarding setting, including but not excluded to:

• Checking-in and checking-out customers for Dog Den services, including daycare, overnight boarding, and grooming.

• Keeping the facility clean including the kitchen, laundry, play area, lobby, office, kennels, etc.

• Grooming activities, including bathing, brushing, expressing glands, cleaning ears.

• Posting pictures and videos to keep pet parents apprised of their pets throughout the day.

• Contacting pet parents or vets to make sure all pet’s vaccinations are up to date.

• Emailing and putting together birthday cards for the pets.

• Interacting with the pets and keeping them engaged throughout the day.

• Creating a safe place for dogs to play in, by looking for signs of aggression as dogs interact.

• Marketing research and analysis.

• Performing other general office duties.

 

Topics You Will Learn About:​

As the student progress through their program. Every 20 hours worked Dog Den will go over each of the following topics to cach the students and prepare them for the world after high school.

​

1. Professional Communication

   • How to speak, write, and email professionally

   • Tone, clarity, and active listening

2. Time Management & Organization

   • Prioritizing tasks

   • Using calendars, checklists, and planning tools

   • Meeting deadlines

3. Teamwork & Collaboration

   • Working effectively with others

   • Conflict resolution

   • Understanding roles and responsibilities

4. Problem Solving & Critical Thinking

   • Analyzing problems and brainstorming solutions

   • Making decisions under pressure

5. Workplace Etiquette & Professionalism

   • Appropriate dress and behavior

   • Respecting authority and peers

   • Handling feedback

6. Digital Literacy & Tech Skills

   • Using productivity software (Word, Excel, Google Suite)

   • Online research and digital communication

   • Basics of cybersecurity and digital safety

7. Customer Service & People Skills

   • Active listening and empathy

   • Handling complaints or difficult situations

   • Creating positive experiences

8. Resume Building & Interview Skills

   • Crafting a strong resume and cover letter

   • Interview preparation and role-playing

   • Professional online presence (LinkedIn basics)

9. Financial Basics & Workplace Responsibility

   • Understanding paychecks, taxes, and budgeting

   • Saving, spending, and financial accountability

10. Adaptability & Lifelong Learning

• Being flexible in changing environments

• Embracing feedback and learning new skills

• Growth mindset for career development

​

Candidate requirements:

• 3.0 GPA

• Must be a sophomore, junior or senior.

• Must be able to work at least 2 days per week

• Must be able to work at least 3 hours each time.

 

Qualities of an ideal candidate:

• Self-starter

• Inquisitive

• Focused

• Punctual

• Great work ethics

• Team player

​

How to Apply:

If you are interested, plea send an email to info@dogdenus.com with the following information:

​

Student’s First Name and Last Name:

Student’s Email:

Student's Phone Number:

Parent’s First Name and Last Name:

Parent’s Email:

Parent's Phone Number:

High School:

Class Standing: (Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior)?

GPA:

Where di you hear about our internship?

​

Please have the students answer the following questions:

What are your interests and hobbies?

What is your favorite subject and why?

Do you have any pets? If so, what do you have?

Why do you want to be part of this internship program?

What do you hope to get out of this program?

What are your plans after high school?

How many hours a week are you planning to dedicate to the internship?