How to hire a guide dog instructor

How to hire a guide dog instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step guide dog instructor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a guide dog instructor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new guide dog instructor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a guide dog instructor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A guide dog instructor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, guide dog instructors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents guide dog instructor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Guide Dog Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Guide Dog Instructor	Animal care and service workers provide care for animals. They feed, groom, bathe, and exercise pets and other nonfarm animals... Show more	$15-34
   Dog Trainer	Dog trainers can be self-employed or work for animal clinics, shelters, and dog daycares, where they teach dogs commands and resolve various behavioral issues. They may also choose a specialization, such as service dog, puppy, or trick training, show dog grooming, and aggression management... Show more	$10-22
   Service Dog Trainer	A service dog trainer specializes in training dogs to perform service tasks for disabled handlers. They teach dogs to follow specialized commands and to be calm in stressful situations... Show more	$11-23

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kids
   • Adventure
   • CPR
   • Kayaks
   • Responder
   • Canoe
   • PowerPoint
   • Professional Development
   • Social Studies

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the canoe landing including guests, workers, and canoe traffic in a way that all run smoothly and safely.
   • Guide weekend adventure climbing trips.
   • Assist with kids' camps - teaching about/riding horses.
   • Instruct customers on canoe and kayak use and safety technique.
   • Work with dog owners to solve individual pet behavioral problems.
   • Help customers rent bikes, kayaks and other beach activities at a partner resort.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your guide dog instructor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A guide dog instructor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, guide dog instructors' average salary in washington is 51% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level guide dog instructors 54% less than senior-level guide dog instructors.
   • Certifications. A guide dog instructor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a guide dog instructor's salary.

   Average guide dog instructor salary

   $49,458yearly

   $23.78 hourly rate

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   Entry-level guide dog instructor salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a guide dog instructor job description

   A good guide dog instructor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a guide dog instructor job description:

   Guide dog instructor job description example

   
   Full Time
   Salary starting at $60,000/ Based On Experience
   
   Purrks & Benefits:

   • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
   • $1,000 sign-on bonus
   • Paid time off
   • Amazing discounts on all products and services
   • Discounted pet insurance
   • Free small dog daycare
   • Working with dogs every day

   We are looking for full-time Grooming Instructors to join our high-energy, fun, and customer-friendly teams in our Los Angeles salons.
   
   Are you an experienced Dog Groomer, who takes his or her craft seriously? The personal pride in grooming an animal is a necessary quality that Healthy Spot looks for in a talented Groomer!
   
   You will be providing supervision and technical skills training to a group of grooming apprentices, ensuring they are able to groom to Healthy Spot's standards.
   
   If you are the type of person who sees grooming as an art and is ready to be surrounded by like-minded individuals, please apply!
   
   What will you need?
   - Professional experience/training
   - Strong teaching, supervisory skills
   - Excellent written and verbal communication
   - Knowledgeable of a wide variety of grooming tools
   - Knowledgeable of dog breeds and standard cuts
   - Approachable, friendly, flexible, and cooperative
   - Able to work independently and with a team
   - Ability to consistently demonstrate good judgment and decision-making skills
   
   *Healthy Spot considers qualified applicants with criminal histories.*
   
   Healthy Spot Grooming Safety Standards
   
   *Professional experience/training required. If you are interested in starting a career in dog grooming, we have apprentice bather positions available. Please visit our website at www.healthyspot.com/careers to apply.*

   --
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find guide dog instructors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your guide dog instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit guide dog instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting guide dog instructors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new guide dog instructor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the guide dog instructor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new guide dog instructor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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